Breeding Rice lines for physio-functional food through indica ‘Zhaxima’ × japonica ‘Nanjing 46’ haploid technique

Resistant starch (RS) encompasses those forms of starch which are not accessible to human digestive enzymes and are fermented in the colons producing short chain fatty acids. The plant materials containing RS are few in the world. In this contribution, the culture ability of callus from anthers of F1 plants from, landraces, ‘Zhaxima’(Oryza sativa var. indica, high-RS rice line with 7.705 ± 0.142, g/100 g) × ‘Nanjing 46’ (Oryza sativa var. japonica, rice variety with RS content (g/100 g) of 0.200 ± 0.001 crosses were studied for obtaining high RS rice plants. The results showed that when M8 basic induction medium was added with 1.5 mg /L 2,4-D、2 mg /LNAA and 0.3 mg /L KT, the inductivity of callus was high as 32.14% for 21 d after pretreatment at 4 °C for 3 d; When MS differentiation basic medium was added with 2 mg /LKT and 3 mg /L ABA, the frequency of regeneration for callus was 50.3% with only a regeneration frequency of 4.55% grown into green seedlings. The RS content in the seeds was between those of the two parents and was partially normally distributed, the highest RS contents of the regenerated plants was as high as 7.66 ± 1.197%. This produced an efficient technology for regenerating stable rice lines with high RS and good eating quality using anthers culture.

Extension Professionals Preparedness for Demand-Driven Agriculture Extension Services in Nepal

A self-administered survey was conducted among agricultural extension professionals in Nepal in August - September of 2015 to examine their level of competency for demand-driven extension services to estimate the predictors for demand-driven competency, and to identify ways to acquire these competencies. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Data revealed that respondents perceived themselves as having amoderate level of competency. Those with high educational levels perceived themselves as having higher competency. Extension Professionals (ER) viewed preservice, in-service, basic induction, and workshop/seminar/webinar as appropriate ways to acquire competencies. Government professionals leaned much more toward in-service and basic induction training than non-government professionals.

Collinearity Judgment as a Function of Induction Angle

The misalignment which is seen in the Poggendorff illusion can be studied with better control by using a configuration which has only two line segments. Two experiments were conducted in which subjects judged collinearity of a test segment, this judgment being subjected to a biasing influence from a second (induction) segment. Exp. 1 held the test segment at one of three orientations relative to the observer (30°, 45°, and 60°) and systematically varied the orientation of the induction segment in 15° increments through the range of possible positions. The orientation of the page relative to the observer was varied as well. Exp. 2 varied the test segment through a greater range of angles and sampled more levels of induction segment orientation. Analysis indicated that projection errors follow orderly rules similar in kind to but different in magnitude from those observed for the Tilt Illusion, most notably, (a) misprojection is greatest when the orientation of the interfering line is similar to that of the line segment being projected and (b) the strength of this influence decreases as the relative angle becomes orthogonal. Also, the orientation of the segment being projected relative to the observer serves to modulate the strength of the basic induction effect. These perceptual interactions are discussed in relation to neural models for orientation selectivity.

Feedback Control of Saw Blade Temperature With Induction Heating

Control of the axisymmetric temperature distribution in a circular saw has been shown to be an effective means of reducing blade vibrations. Theoretical and supporting experimental analyses of a basic induction heating coil design are presented here. An IR thermometer was designed to measure the blade temperature. Transient heating, transient cooling and steady state temperature experiments on circular saws were conducted both in the laboratory and in production. The true set point temperature was maintained to within 2 C.