STUDIES ON THE STIMULATION OF CATALPA BIGNONIOIDES WALT. SEED GERMINATION

Catalpa is a tree with an attractive ornamental value and compact shape. Catalpa bignonioides Walt., is a tree with heights of up to 35 meters and a large trunk. It is an exotic species in North America areal. It grows well in a warm and humid climate, on alluvial, fertile, deep, temperate soils. It has a light temperament, withstands winter frosts well, but is sensitive to late frosts. The degree of germination varies both between species and within them. Within batches of seeds of the same species varies depending on the origin, year of harvest and individual trees. There are different methods and techniques for overcoming drowsiness depending on the seeds. Various pre-treatments are used such as scarification and hot and cold aeration to stimulate the embryo. The paper presents the stimulation of seed germination at catalpa, using different concentrations of Nitragin: 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5%, 0.7%, 0.9% and following the seed germination interval.

Finely dispersed salt particles morphometric properties obtained by carnallite solutions spray drying

Currently, there is no consensus on the salt caves aero ionic environment effects mechanism on the human body, however, there is physiotherapy a separate type, based on such exposure health-improving effect, known as speleotherapy. To recreate the salt cave environment aero ionic composition, a halo chamber is used. To reduce their cost, recreating the air environment methods by contacting flowing air means with carnallite rock finely dispersed powder and dry and wet aerosols generators have been developed. When implementing these methods, both the powder obtained directly by crushing the rock and the powder obtained by salt solutions evaporation drying can be used. The study aim is to reveal finely dispersed salt particles morphometric properties obtained by carnallite solutions spray drying based on different dispersion raw materials. It has been established fine salt particles those morphometric properties obtained by spray drying of carnallite solutions based on different dispersion raw materials differ in average size, sphericity factor, topography character and chemical composition. Particles formed by solution evaporation on the macro disperse raw materials (3-5 mm) basis have larger size, smaller fractional range, more compact shape and relief characterized by multifractality. At the same time, solution-based particles from macro disperse raw materials contain more impurities. Particles a distinguishing characteristic from solution-based lumpy raw materials is the potassium cluster distribution on the surface.

Recovery of Ionospheric Signals Using Fully Convolutional DenseNet and Its Challenges

The technique of active ionospheric sounding by ionosondes requires sophisticated methods for the recovery of experimental data on ionograms. In this work, we applied an advanced algorithm of deep learning for the identification and classification of signals from different ionospheric layers. We collected a dataset of 6131 manually labeled ionograms acquired from low-latitude ionosondes in Taiwan. In the ionograms, we distinguished 11 different classes of the signals according to their ionospheric layers. We developed an artificial neural network, FC-DenseNet24, based on the FC-DenseNet convolutional neural network. We also developed a double-filtering algorithm to reduce incorrectly classified signals. That made it possible to successfully recover the sporadic E layer and the F2 layer from highly noise-contaminated ionograms whose mean signal-to-noise ratio was low, SNR = 1.43. The Intersection over Union (IoU) of the recovery of these two signal classes was greater than 0.6, which was higher than the previous models reported. We also identified three factors that can lower the recovery accuracy: (1) smaller statistics of samples; (2) mixing and overlapping of different signals; (3) the compact shape of signals.

Districting that minimizes partisan bias

The shapes of electoral districts determine how votes translate into seats. When districts favor certain political parties, electoral results can be disproportionate and the public may lose faith in the political process. Disagreement about appropriate district shapes is subjective, rarely resolved, and often leads to lawsuits. Previously, many authors have called for objective districting criteria. We offer a novel synthesis of models that enables the proactive comparison of district maps, by relating a planar graph partition, the single-member plurality rule, the maximin decision rule, and any agreed measure of partisan bias with a territorial map and historical vote results. Historical vote totals avoid the complexity and uncertainty associated with counterfactual models of vote swing. Districting plans could be objectively compared on such criteria as party proportionality or compact shape to reject plans with worse bias. Objective tools to reduce partisan bias in district maps could boost collaborative participation, increase perceptions of fairness and justice, and reduce costs.

Strengthening Structures in the Petiole–Lamina Junction of Peltate Leaves

Peltate- or umbrella- shaped leaves are characterised by a petiole more or less centrally attached to the lamina on the abaxial side. The transition from the petiole to lamina in peltate leaves resembles a significant and abrupt geometrical change from a beam to a plate in a very compact shape. Since these leaves have not been subject of many studies, the distribution of that specific leaf morphology in the plant kingdom was investigated. Furthermore, the connection between the petiole and lamina of several peltate species was studied anatomically and morphologically, focusing on the reinforcing fibre strands. We found peltate leaves in 357 species representing 25 orders, 40 families and 99 genera. The majority are herbaceous perennials growing in shady, humid to wet habitats mainly distributed in the subtropical–tropical zones. Detailed anatomical investigation of 41 species revealed several distinct principles of how the transition zone between the petiole and lamina is organised. In-depth analysis of these different types accompanied by finite element-modelling could serve as inspiration for supporting structures in lightweight construction.

Type V myosin focuses the polarisome and shapes the tip of yeast cells

The polarisome is a cortical proteinaceous microcompartment that organizes the growth of actin filaments and the fusion of secretory vesicles in yeasts and filamentous fungi. Polarisomes are compact, spotlike structures at the growing tips of their respective cells. The molecular forces that control the form and size of this microcompartment are not known. Here we identify a complex between the polarisome subunit Pea2 and the type V Myosin Myo2 that anchors Myo2 at the cortex of yeast cells. We discovered a point mutation in the cargo-binding domain of Myo2 that impairs the interaction with Pea2 and consequently the formation and focused localization of the polarisome. Cells carrying this mutation grow round instead of elongated buds. Further experiments and biophysical modeling suggest that the interactions between polarisome-bound Myo2 motors and dynamic actin filaments spatially focus the polarisome and sustain its compact shape.

Understanding the strain-dependent structure of Cu nanocrystals in Ag–Cu nanoalloys

Strain effects lead to transition of the Cu nanocrystal from a non-compact shape to a compact octahedron with increasing amount of Cu.

Promising apple clonal rootstocks in Crimea

Современная экономика диктует необходимость быстрой и эффективной окупаемости затрат, вложенных в производство продукции садоводства. Это требует интенсификации отрасли. Одним из путей решения поставленных задач является закладка садов на клоновых подвоях, обеспечивающих высокое, стабильное плодоношение, с плодами отменных вкусовых качеств, подбор новых подвоев, приспособленных к условиям Крыма и не уступающих по комплексу хозяйственно-биологических свойств районированным в регионе. В статье освещены результаты многолетнего изучения 14 клоновых подвоев в сочетании с 2 сортами яблони. Определена сила роста изучаемых привойно-подвойных комбинаций в почвенно-климатических условиях Предгорного Крыма. Комбинации сортов Аскольда и Ренет Симиренко с подвоями ЕМ-IX, КД 4, КД 5 по показателям параметров кроны относятся к слаборослой группе. Деревья на К 104 по силе роста занимают положение промежуточное между ЕМ-IX и ММ-106, но имеют хорошо развитую корневую систему и компактную форму кроны. Выделенные комбинации рано вступают в плодоношение (на 2-3 год). Средний урожай таких насаждений равен 24,4-30,6 т/га. Отобранные подвои обладают большим биологическим потенциалом и эффективными хозяйственно-биологическими свойствами и представляют интерес для южного садоводства. Modern economy prescribes the necessity of rapid and efficient returns of costs invested in horticultural production. It requires an intensification of the industry. One of the ways to achieve this goal is to establish gardens on clonal rootstocks ensuring high and stable crop-bearing with fruits of excellent taste, selection of new rootstocks, adapted to the conditions of Crimea and not inferior in terms of the economical and biological properties to those already recognized in the region. The article highlights the results of a long-term study of 14 clonal rootstocks in combination with 2 apple varieties. We determined the power of growth of the grafting and rootstock pairs in the soil and weather conditions of the Piedmont Crimea. Combinations of ‘Ascold’ and ‘Renet Simirenko’ varieties with rootstocks EM - IX, KD 4, KD 5 in terms of crown parameters belong to a dwarf group. By the power of growth, the trees on K 104 are intermediate between EM - IX and MM - 106, but they have a well-developed root system and compact shape of the crown. The obtained combinations come into fruiting early (in the 2nd-3d year). The average yield of such plantations is 24.4-30.6 t / ha. The selected rootstocks have great biological potential and effective economical and biological properties proving to be promising for southern horticulture.

Type V Myosin focuses the polarisome and shapes the tip of yeast cells

The polarisome is a cortical proteinaceous micro-compartment that organizes the growth of actin filaments and the fusion of secretory vesicles in yeasts and filamentous fungi. Polarisomes are compact, spot-like structures at the growing tips of their respective cells. The molecular forces that control form and size of this micro-compartment are not known. Here we identify a complex between the polarisome subunit Pea2 and the type V Myosin Myo2 that anchors Myo2 at the cortex of yeast cells. We discovered a point mutation in the cargo-binding domain of Myo2 that impairs the interaction with Pea2 and consequently the formation and focused localization of the polarisome. Cells carrying this mutation grow round instead of elongated buds. Further experiments and biophysical modeling suggest that polarisome nanoparticles use multiple copies of Myo2 and an actin filament polymerizing activity to drive the assembly of the polarisome and sustain its compact shape.