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In soybean, lodging is sometimes caused by strong winds and rains, resulting in a decrease in yield and quality. Technical measures against lodging include "pinching", in which the main stem is pruned when excessive growth is expected. However, there can be a decrease in yield when pinching is undertaken when the risk of lodging is relatively low. Therefore, it is important that pinching is performed after the future risk of lodging has been determined. The lodging angle at the full maturity stage (R8) can be explained using a multiple regression model with main stem elongation from the sixth leaf stage (V6) to the blooming stage (R1) and main stem length at the full seed stage (R6) as the explanatory variables. The objective of this study was to develop an areal lodging prediction method by combining a main stem elongation model with areal main stem length estimation using UAV remote sensing. The main stem elongation model from emergence to R1 was a logistic regression formula with the temperature and daylight hours functions f (Ti, Di) as the explanatory variables. The main stem elongation model from R1 to the peak main stem length was a linear regression formula with the main stem length of R1 as the explanatory variable. The model that synthesized these two regression formulas were used as the main stem elongation model from emergence to R8. The accuracy of the main stem elongation model was tested on the test data, and the average RMSE was 5.3. For the areal main stem length estimation by UAV remote sensing, we proposed a soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVIvc) that takes vegetation cover into account. SAVIvc was more accurate in estimating the main stem length than the previously reported vegetation index (R2 = 0.78, p < 0.001). The main stem length estimated by the main stem elongation model combined with SAVIvc was substituted into a multiple regression model of lodging angle to test the accuracy of the areal lodging prediction method. The method was able to predict lodging angles with an accuracy of RMSE = 8.8. These results suggest that the risk of lodging can be estimated in an areal manner prior to pinching, even though the actual occurrence is affected by wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zwitterionic phospholipid polymer poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-n-butyl methacrylate) (PMB) is amphiphilic copolymer, and it has been reported to directly penetrate cell membranes and have good cytocompatibility. Conventional PMBs are linear-type random copolymers that are polymerized by a free radical polymerization technique. In contrast, star-shaped polymers, or simple branched-type polymers, have unique properties compared to the linear types, for example, a viscosity based on the effect of the excluded volume. In this study, a branched architecture was introduced into a PMB molecular structure, and a 4-armed star-shaped PMB (4armPMB) was synthesized by an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique known as living radical polymerization. Linear-type PMB was also synthesized using ATRP. The effects of the polymer architecture on cytotoxicity and cellular uptake were investigated. Both 4armPMB and LinearPMB were successfully synthesized, and these polymers were verified to be water soluble. Pyrene fluorescence in the polymer solution indicated that the architecture had no effect on the behavior of the polymer aggregates. In addition, these polymers caused no cytotoxicity or cell membrane damage. The 4armPMB and LinearPMB penetrated into the cells after a short incubation period, with similar rates. In contrast, the 4armPMB showed a quicker back-diffusion from the cells than that of LinearPMB. The 4armPMB showed fast cellular internalization and exiting behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]