Multi-information analysis for recommendation of flooded-irrigated rice for adaptability and phenotypic stability

The GxE interaction is one of the major difficulties of plant breeding programs, both in the selection phase and in the recommendation of cultivars. To assess adaptability and stability, various statistical methods are used. The simultaneous use of some methodologies, using multi-information criteria for cultivar’s recommendation, can extract information that cannot be observed using each methodology separately. The aim of this work was to perform a large description of the behavior of flooded-irrigated rice genotypes, responding to environmental variations, using methods already established in the literature, but exploring the particularities of each methodology that together establish an information criterion for cultivar recommendation. To this end, 18 rice genotypes belonging to flood-irrigated rice breeding program were evaluated over four agricultural years, 2012/2013 to 2015/2016, totaling 12 environments (3 sites × 4 years). Multi-information estimates were performed to adaptability and stability analysis. There was no sign for the effect of the genotypes, and there was the significance of the effects of environment and GxE interaction. The aggregation of information and the large description of the behavior of the flooded rice genotypes demonstrated to be an efficient tool for studies of adaptability and stability.

Pollution-Induced Tolerance of Soil Bacterial Communities to Oxytetracycline-Spiked Manure

The use of manure as a fertilizer is a common agricultural practice that can improve soil physicochemical and biological properties. However, antibiotics and their metabolites are often present, leading to the adaptation of soil bacterial communities to their presence. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the extensively used, broad-spectrum antibiotic oxytetracycline on soil microbial community adaptation using a pollution-induced community tolerance assay. Manure-amended soil was spiked with oxytetracycline (0, 2, 20, 60, 150, and 500 mg kg−1) three times every ten days in the selection phase. The detection phase was conducted in Biolog EcoPlates with a second oxytetracycline exposure (0, 5, 20, 40, 60, and 100 mg L−1). All treatments demonstrated decreased metabolic activity after exposure to ≥ 5 mg L−1 oxytetracycline during the detection phase. Meanwhile, a significant increase in tolerance was observed following exposure to ≥ 20 mg oxytetracycline per kg soil during the selection phase. Therefore, the pollution-induced community tolerance approach with Biolog EcoPlates was a useful system for the detection of antibiotic selection pressures on soil bacterial communities. It is important to properly manage animal waste before their application to the soil to reduce the occurrence of antibiotic-resistance in the environment.

Can a repository site be safer than safe? – Criteria and methods for a safety-oriented comparison of repository sites

In the course of the German site selection procedure, repository potential sites will be rejected if it becomes apparent that they will probably not meet the regulatory safety requirements (EndlSichAnfV). It is therefore likely that the remaining sites of the final selection phase (which is specified by paragraph 19 of the StandAG) will meet the safety requirements and are therefore capable of being approved. Under these circumstances, finding the site with the highest possible level of safety (as required by the StandAG) calls for a further differentiation of safety above the level of safety that is prescribed by the safety requirements. Based on this differentiation, operational criteria have to be developed for a safety-oriented comparison of repository sites and systems; however, finding suitable criteria is not a trivial task if the repository systems that are available for selection make use of different host rocks and therefore differ with respect to the internal structure and safety concept. Between 2007 and 2010, criteria and associated evaluation methods for a safety-oriented comparison of approvable repository sites were developed by project 3607R02589 of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) within the joint project VerSi. The robustness of the repository system was proposed as a central criterion for site comparison. In the years to follow, criteria and evaluation methods were tested and refined by BfE/BMU projects 05504/2 and 4719E03250, which finally showed a substantial need for further research and development. The presentation outlines the results of these three projects and discusses the questions that are still open.

Feature Level Fusion of Biometric Images Using Modified Clonal Selection Algorithm

In feature level fusion, biometric features must be combined such that each trait is combined so as to maintain feature-balance. To achieve this, Modified Clonal Selection Algorithm was employed for feature level fusion of Face, Iris and Fingerprints. Modified Clonal Selection Algorithm (MCSA) which is characterized by feature-balance maintenance capability and low computational complexity was developed and implemented for feature level fusion. The standard Tournament Selection Method (TSM) was modified by performing tournaments among neighbours rather than by random selection to reduce the between-group selection pressure associated with the standard TSM. Clonal Selection algorithm was formulated by incorporating the Modified Tournament Selection Method (MTSM) into its selection phase. Quantitative experimental results showed that the systems fused with MCSA has a higher recognition accuracy than those fused with CSA, also with a lower recognition time. Keywords: Biometrics, Feature level Fusion, Multibiometrics, Modified Clonal Selection Algorithm, Recognition Accuracy, Recognition Time.

The World Deepest Electrically Heat-Traced Flowline

Electrical heat tracing technologies for flowline applications have been in development phase for some time. Yet in recent years, the efforts to deploy this technology on real life applications have intensified, leading to several projects in the industry simultaneously adopting this solution. As often seen with technology development, implementing the serial number 1 of a technology requires one project with favorable conditions and parameters, but also the stakeholders willingness to face the challenge associated to being first, and having to cross the final gap between the qualification program and this real life application. This paper presents how a specific project met all the conditions to be the first to select and implement a deepwater EHTF® (Electrically Heat-Traced Flowline) solution. This paper presents the Project from the concept selection phase, to the execution and offshore installation of the final product. This provides an overview of why this technology was selected, and how the Project was executed, with a focus on the main challenges encountered and the associated solutions. The concept selection phase for this two-well development consisted of comparing subsea tie-in architectures to tieback architectures using one or several new risers. The EHTF® emerged as the highest value solution, offering the best compromise between technical, economical, risk and schedule criterion, as it enabled single line tieback, while significantly reducing the operational risks associated to such architecture. A FEED was launched to further define and accurately estimate the concept, in order to reach FID. Close collaboration between the Operator and the Contractor at every step of the process allowed the solution to be selected and developed in a fast track manner while enabling the Contractor to provide an optimized, tailor-made solution. The project execution involved many work sites, including the Vigra spoolbase in Norway for EHTF® fabrication, as well as the Seven Vega, which was a brand-new addition to the pipelay vessels fleet at the time of the Project. Many challenges arose during the project execution, as the qualification program was being completed, but adequate solutions were developed, allowing the Project to continue its course. Obviously, there were many lessons learned along the way, which will feed into further product development plans, in order to improve its technical performance and competitivity. Heat tracing solutions offer great opportunities for single line long tieback development which often come with elevated operating risk profile due to complex wax and hydrate management. Enhanced thermal performance of resistive heating systems makes it possible to operate with low power consumption, which is a key in today's world of energetic efficiency.

Troll Phase 3: The Next Step for a Groundbreaking Giant

An important driver for maximizing value creation for the Troll Phase 3 gas project offshore Norway was to identify means to reduce the pressure drop in the value chain from the reservoir to the onshore terminal. Using a design-to-cost approach in the concept selection phase, this has affected design of the wells, subsea production system, pipeline and the new inlet separator on the Troll A platform; all of which have been designed to preserve the energy from the reservoir as much as possible. The final design has enabled a significant increase of the project value by accelerated gas deliveries, reduction of the energy consumption and thus lowering the CO2 emissions. Calculations show that 1 bar pressure drop in the Troll Phase 3 value chain increases the project NPV (8%, pretax) with approx. 45 Million USD and reduces the power consumption by 11 GWh/year. The well tubing size was increased to 9 5/8", reducing the required number of wells by ~40%. Factoring both wells and subsea facilities, this optimized well concept alone represents a total cost saving of nearly 300 million USD. The project has piloted a modification to the Vertical X-Mas Tree (VXT) design featuring an increase from 5 1/8" to a 7" production wing outlet to minimize the pressure drop across the subsea production system. This VXT design has become the new company standard for gas field developments. The big bore wells and subsea production system design also ensures acceptable gas velocities in the late production phase with low reservoir pressure. The total reduced pressure drop obtained through these and other measures is estimated to 19 bar, realizing a project NPV improvement of approx. 850 million USD (8%, pretax).

Application of Cluster Analysis for Polymer Classification According to Mechanical Properties

The selection of the appropriate polymer material represents one phase in the product design, both, in terms of data on the different properties of the material and for detailed assessments and selection of the best material for the selected product. In the material selection phase, it is necessary to define criteria related to the mechanical properties of the material (strength, stiffness, toughness). Another important item is certainly the stress-strain diagram by which the materials can be classified into certain groups, based on their mechanical properties. The paper presents a study of materials classification according to the following groups: Hard and brittle, Hard and strong, Hard and tough and Soft and tough materials, using the cluster analysis (k-means algorithm).

Exploring the Effects of Interruptions in Different Phases of Complex Decision-Making Tasks

Objective The study aims to examine the effects of interruptions in major phases (i.e., problem-identification, alternative-development, and evaluation-and-selection) of complex decision-making tasks. Background The ability to make complex decisions is of increasing importance in workplaces. Complex decision-making involves a multistage process and is likely to be interrupted, given the ubiquitous prevalence of interruptions in workplaces today. Method Sixty participants were recruited for the experiment to complete a procurement task, which required them to define goals, search for alternatives, and consider multiple attributes of alternatives to make decisions. Participants in the three experimental conditions were interrupted to respond to messages during one of these three phases, whereas participants in the control condition were not interrupted. The impacts of interruptions on performance, mental workload, and emotional states were measured through a combination of behavioral, physiological, and subjective evaluations. Results Only participants who were interrupted in the evaluation-and-selection phase exhibited poorer task performance, despite their positive feelings toward interruptions and confidence. Participants who were interrupted in the problem-identification phase reported higher mental workload and more negative perceptions toward interruptions. Interruptions in the alternative-development phase led to more temporal changes in arousal and valence than interruptions in other phases. Conclusion Interruptions during the evaluation-and-selection phase undermine overall performance, and there is a discrepancy between behavioral outcomes and subjective perceptions of interruption effects. Application Interruptions should be avoided in the evaluation-and-selection phase in complex decision-making. This phase information can be either provided by users or inferred from coarse-grained interaction activities with decision-making information systems.

FDEIR: Content-Based Image Retrieval using Fast Demeanor Ensemble Features

The demand for CBIR-based systems is increasing day-by-day with the increase of its applications. Nowadays, various digital information systems like Medicine, Digital Libraries, Biodiversity information systems, Fingerprint Identification, crime prevention, and many more are in trend, and all these systems need accuracy. Several Automated Systems were earlier developed using features to improve the systems' accuracy, but it introduces complexity and speed. A fast Demeanor Ensemble features-based approach is proposed to cope with this issue, which also deals with accuracy, speeds up the system, and reduces its complexity. Different shape-based features are used to form 3-set composite features, followed by the selection phase where the ALO algorithm is utilized and reduces system complexity. The accuracy of the proposed system is estimated using distance-based matching methods. Correl-1000 dataset is used to analyze the system's performance based on different metrics, and the results show the proposed system's ability.

Determining, Implementing, and Evaluating Training for School Librarians in Rural China

This paper describes the development of a training program for primary and middle school librarians in rural China. There are three full-day training sessions. Phase 1 focuses on the role of school librarian and librarian survival skills, including: creating a welcoming library, rudimentary library organisation, simple book repair etc. Phase 2 focuses on reading promotion and activities and an introduction to collection development and book selection. Phase 3: focuses on incorporating reading into curriculum and addresses the link between reading and academic achievement and interaction with teachers. To date phases 1 and 2 have been completed in three provinces.