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Copyright of Cybernetics & Systems Analysis / Kibernetiki i Sistemnyj Analiz is the property of V.M. Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics of NAS of Ukraine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Process parameter optimization and selection play a crucial role in additive manufacturing, particularly in determining the quality and characteristics of the final product. Among these parameters, the infill pattern holds significant importance as it directly influences the structural integrity, production time, and material usage efficiency of the printed object. This research focuses on identifying the most suitable 3D printing infill pattern process parameters for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material, specifically for applications in pipeline construction. The criteria considered for process parameter selection include printing time, ultimate tensile strength, ultimate flexural strength, and surface defect minimization. Various infill patterns, including hexagonal, line, solid, triangle (35°), triangle (55°), and line patterns, are evaluated as alternatives. Utilizing the multi‐criteria decision‐making technique known as analytical hierarchy process (AHP), a systematic approach is employed to determine the optimal printing pattern. The findings of this study reveal that the hexagonal infill pattern outperforms other selected patterns in terms of meeting the criteria set forth for pipeline construction using TPU material. This research contributes to enhancing the efficiency and quality of additive manufacturing processes in pipeline applications, emphasizing the importance of informed parameter selection for achieving desired performance outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high level of genetic purity, preservation and maintenance of genetic uniformity of parental lines and hybrids are necessary conditions in heterotic breeding of a sunflower. The main method for determining the genetic purity of sunflower genotypes is the method of field soil control with the assessment of plants based on morphological traits. The purpose of the experiment was to study the possibility of effectively using the method of electrophoresis of storage proteins of seeds in determining the typicalness of parental lines and the hybridity of sunflower hybrids. 13 samples of maternal sterile lines, 26 samples of hybrids were analyzed using the methods of soil control and the method of analyzing the spectra of seed storage proteins. Research results have proven the highly effective method of electrophoresis of storage proteins in determining the genetic purity of seed of lines and hybrids. The concurrence between the results of the two methods in determining genetic purity was 84.4% for maternal sterile lines, 69.2% for hybrids. The method of analysis allelic variants of helianthinin increased the reliability of the results obtained in determining the level of genetic purity of lines and hybrids by 7.7%. The presence of atypical plants in sunflower crops on the trait of “high” and “low” leads to unreliable, increased indicators of the level of genetic purity by 23.1% with the method of analysis of the spectra of storage proteins of sunflower seeds. The electrophoresis method, based on the analysis of the spectra of storage proteins, can be used as a rapid method in determining the genetic purity of sunflower genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevance. During the formation of cabbage heads, under certain conditions, white cabbage is damaged by a burn of the top of the inner leaves of the head, which abroad received the stable name “tip burn”. This disorder is interpreted as a physiological or non-infectious disease, the cause of which is a violation of calcium intake. The disease manifests itself inside the cabbage head, resulting from the interaction of environmental stress factors and the predisposed genotype. The most effective way to combat this disorder is to develop highly tolerant hybrids. This is especially true for the south of Russia, where the stress load on plants is maximum.Purpose of the study – to develop a principle for selecting parental pairs for developing hybrids that are resistant to the tip burn of the inner leaves of a cabbage head, and to identify promising hybrids. Materials and methods. In 2021-2022 in FSBSI "Federal Scientific Rice Centre", in the department of vegetable growing, 45 hybrid combinations obtained on the basis of 10 inbred lines were assessed under field conditions for the trait "burn damage to the inner leaves of the cabbage head." An analysis of the combining ability of lines according to Griffin, and an analysis of the inheritance of the trait according to Heiman were carried out. In 2023, a competitive test of promising hybrids was carried out.Results. In both years of research, 5 lines had negatively stable TCA for burn damage: Ten4270, Yas25p, Bs1f, Agr 82, 270Hn111. SCA of lines is more subject to changes from year to year. The effects of SCA in hybrids due to dominance, epistasis and overdominance in individual combinations significantly influence the manifestation of the trait in the direction of decrease or increase. The principle of selecting parental pairs to develop stable hybrids is based on a combination of lines with a negative SCA value; in some cases, it is permissible to include one line with an average SCA and low SCA. Analysis of genetic parameters according to Heiman confirms the prevalence of non-additive inheritance of the lesion; in unstable forms, the disorder is controlled by dominant polygenes and is highly heritable.

The purpose of the current study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative indicators of seeds of pea samples. The study was carried out in the southern part of the Rostov region in the fields of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. The objects of research were 12 pea samples developed by the ARC “Donskoy”. The zoned variety ‘Aksaisky Usatiy 5’ was used as a standard. Quality characteristics of peas, such as protein percentage in seeds and their ability to boil soft, are highly dependent on environmental conditions and often have a negative correlation with seed productivity. One of the goals in pea breeding is to change this inverse correlation between productivity and seed quality. The mean productivity of the varieties and lines in the Competitive Variety Testing through the years of study was 3.66 t/ha on average. The standard ‘Aksai Usatiy 5’ (3.46 t/ha) was reliably exceeded by such varieties and lines as ‘G-1181’ (4.17 t/ha), ‘Kazak’ (4.02 t/ha), ‘AKM’ (3.99 t/ha), ‘G-1313’ (3.80 t/ha). The samples with the highest protein percentage (second quality class, 22.0–25.0 %) were ‘Aksaysky Usatiy 5’ (23.7 %), ‘Skif’ (24.4 %), ‘Kazak’ (23.1 %), ‘AKM’ (23.6 %), ‘G-1141’ (24.3 %), ‘G-1172’ (25.0 %), ‘G-1181’ (22.3 %). The mean boiling time was 75 minutes. The minimum boiling time was 63 minutes for the varieties ‘Aksaisky Usatiy 5’, ‘Skif’, 65 minutes for the line ‘G-1234’ and 70 minutes for the line ‘G-1288’. The mean coefficient of the ability to boil soft over the years of study was 2.20, varying from 1.92 to 2.61. The mean protein yield over the years of study was 0.85 t/ha. The varieties ‘Kazak’ (0.94 t/ha), ‘AKM’ (0.93 t/ha) and breeding lines ‘G-1181’ (0.93 t/ha), ‘G-1313’ (0.90 t/ha) showed the best indicators. The maximum values of protein yield were identified at maximum productivity of 4.2–4.3 t/ha and 23.5–24.0% of protein in seeds.

The current paper has presented the results of an analysis of promising winter barley lines and varieties developed by the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” to select valuable genotypes for breeding programs. The basis for the analysis of the studied samples was the methodology for a comprehensive estimation of breeding results, developed by the researchers from the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” and the FSBEI HE DSTU. The study was conducted at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2021–2023. Sowing was carried out in 6-fold repetition, the local variety ‘Timofey’ was taken as a standard. There have been analyzed 14 economically valuable traits, identified as the most significant according to the methodology for a comprehensive estimation of barley breeding identifiers. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a comparative estimation of breeding winter barley lines according to the most significant traits for the selection of promising samples. The studied varieties and lines were ranked according to a set of traits and properties into three groups, such as promising, not very promising, and unpromising. The promising group included the new varieties ‘Step’ and ‘Alabai’, sent to the State study in 2, 5, 6 and 8 regions of the Russian Federation in 2022 and 2023, respectively, as well as the lines ‘Parallelum 2015’, ‘Parallelum 2136’, ‘Pallidum 2100’ and ‘Bezosty 2074’, characterized by high indicators of a complex of basic economically valuable characteristics and properties. These samples are being planned to send to the State Commission of the Russian Federation for Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements.

Currently, in our country there is growing interest in the cultivation of high-tech pea varieties, which are characterized by uniform maturity, high productivity, and lodging resistance. Thus, breeding for lodging resistance is one of the most important criteria in pea breeding programs. The purpose of the current study was to search for anatomical indicators that could serve as a criterion when selecting pea samples for lodging resistance. The field trials were carried out in the fields of the laboratory for legumes breeding and seed production, the laboratory study was conducted in the laboratory for cell breeding of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” in 2022–2023. The estimation of lodging resistance was carried out on 22 pea samples of the regional and foreign breeding. The studied samples differed in plant height, morpho-anatomical features of a stem structure, and lodging resistance. Based on the results of estimating an anatomical structure of a pea stem, there were identified such samples with a complex of traits (number of bundles, ratio of a number of bundles to stem tissues) as ‘Lu-153-06’, ‘G-1234’, ‘G-1193’, ‘G-1288’, ‘AKM’, ‘G-1313’, ‘Flagman 10’, ‘G-1313’. The analysis of correlations between anatomical indicators and field resistance to lodging has shown a high positive correlation with a stem height (r = 0.78±0.14), a mean negative correlation with a plant height (r = -0.66±0.17), and a mean positive correlation with a number of vascular bundles (r = 0.69±0.16). The experimental results allow concluding that the estimation of lodging resistance based on an anatomical structure of a pea stem is effective and can serve as a tester for lodging resistance.

This work introduces two innovative rolling pair concepts to minimize slippage and reduce mass in cam-roller systems of large-scale hydraulic drivetrains: The variable contact length and the Shifting Contact Geometry concepts. Both aim to improve traction in the low contact force phase in cyclically loaded rolling contacts. The shifting contact geometry concept was validated using three custom rolling contacts: a line contact, a double elliptical contact, and a combination of both (i.e., shifting contact geometry). The tests were conducted under synchronized cyclic loading to mimic the conditions in a hydraulic drivetrain. Furthermore, a model from previous work was implemented to make predictions and compare them against the experimental results. During preliminary tests, the double elliptical contact displayed superior tractive behavior than the line contact under the same load thanks to higher contact pressures. Under synchronized cyclic loading, the line contact displayed high sensitivity to applied resisting torques at low contact forces, leading to high slide-to-roll ratios and traction force peaks. In contrast, the rolling pair with shifting contact geometry exhibited minimum slippage even under high resisting torques, resulting in substantially lower (and in most cases negligible) slide-to-roll ratio and traction force peaks. The simulations also captured this behavior, proving the validity of the model for predicting and comparing the rolling-sliding dynamics of these two different rolling pairs. This study demonstrates that rolling pairs with shifting contact geometry can not only improve the tribological performance of cam-roller contacts in large-scale hydraulic drivetrains but also yield a more favorable dynamic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1747 John Creed's proposal for a "Machine that shall write Extempore Voluntaries" was presented to the Royal Society. A transcriptive device with rotating cylinders and steel pencils, the "fantasy machine," as it has since come to be called, sought to inscribe and store the effusions of keyboard improvisations in real time. Musicological accounts of this machine have typically focused on its ostensible objective (almost always judged to have missed its mark) to record the fleeting improvisations of musical genius, undistorted by memory or later composerly reflection. But at the heart of Creed's quest to delineate what he called the "minutest Particles of Sound" were rather the "intelligible Characters" that appeared via a mechanized process of inscription. This article argues that Creed's preoccupation with character and line makes visible a version of knowing through and about music—about how sound could be conceived, captured, and communicated—that shaped perhaps the foundational concept in discourse about music for the next two hundred years: style. In the eighteenth century, style and stilus—manner and tool, expression and technology—were inextricable. The mechanical experiments of Creed and his contemporaries, the music of C. P. E. Bach, and the widely read theories of William Hogarth chart an understanding of inscriptive-semiotic matter that was premised on the intertwined workings of body and tool. This mid-eighteenth-century moment, I argue, reveals a foundational stylistic materialism in which style was not yet in the service of the biocultural taxonomies of nineteenth-century modernity, but indexed instead a more ambiguous and generative convergence of the syntactical, typographical, and corporeal—a complex nexus of tools, instruments, bodies, and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the goals of new programs for silkworm breeding is to investigate the ability to withstand environmental fluctuations. Silkworms are cold-blooded organisms, meaning that their body temperature and metabolic processes are affected by the temperature of the environment. Silkworms are sensitive to temperature changes, and exposure to cold temperatures can affect their growth, development, and overall health. So far, no special attention has been paid to improving compatibility traits in Iranian silkworms. The requirement of this goal is to improve the traits related to resistance to stresses and adaptation to new conditions. Achieving this regard requires expanding the country's silkworm gene bank, especially in the field of commercial lines. New genetic resources should also be made available while identifying the genetic capabilities of the existing lines. In the meantime, producing eggs that are resistant to cold stress is one of the proposed solutions to deal with this stress. For this purpose, it is necessary to determine the level of resistance or susceptibility to cold stress in commercial lines used in the production of commercial eggs, and the desired lines should be rated from this aspect. With this rating, recommendations can be made to create crosses between the mentioned lines aiming at producing commercial eggs resistant or sensitive to cold stress and distributing each batch of these eggs in different geographical areas with different climates. In the present study, the performance of commercial lines of Iranian silkworms including 31, 32, 103, 104, 151, 153, and 154, under cold stress was investigated in control and challenge treatments. Methods: After the steps of preparation for breeding, silkworm eggs were kept in a hatching room under standard temperature and humidity conditions for 12 days. The standard conditions for breeding were temperature (25 ± 2 °C), relative humidity (75 ± 5%), and photoperiod (16 hours light/ 8 hours dark). Mulberry leaves of modified varieties were used to feed the larvae. To induce cold stress, 300 larvae on the third day of the fifth instar (in the form of three replicates of 100 larvae) were incubated at 0 °C for 12 hours and then returned to the standard rearing conditions at 25 °C. The production traits the characteristics of cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell percentage, number of cocoons per liter, cocoon weight per liter, the average weight of a cocoon, the average weight of the best cocoon, the average weight of a middle cocoon, the average weight of a weak cocoon, and the average weight of a double cocoon, as well as some traits related to longevity, including the percentage of live larvae, the percentage of dead larvae, the percentage of pupal losses, and the percentage of produced butterflies, were investigated in each cold stress and control treatments. For statistical analysis, the generalized linear model (GLM) procedure was used in SAS software, and means were compared with Tukey's statistical test at a significant level of 0.05. Results: In general, the highest and lowest values of traits were not the same among the genotypes and under applied stress conditions, but some genotypes showed higher performance for a larger number of traits. Among the studied traits, those related to cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell percentage are the most important traits for breeding purposes, which have high economic values and are used to improve cocoon performance. Meanwhile, the live and dead larvae percentage traits, along with death pupae percentage and productive moth percentage, are important indicators related to viability, which showed significant differences between the studied lines. The results of mean comparisons showed that the larvae of the control group generally had better performance in all the examined traits than the larvae under cold stress, with a significant difference (P < 0.001). However, two lines 153 and 154 from the cold stress group had higher performance in many production and longevity traits than the other lines under cold stress and even some lines of the control group. Conclusion: The temperature of the breeding environment is one of the factors that, in the case of fluctuation, leads to the deviation of breeding conditions from the optimal state and damage. In general, cold stress and low temperatures have different effects on insects, considering the intensity and duration of the insect's exposure. In addition, the stage of life, the evolution degree of adaptation mechanisms, and adaptation to the environment greatly affect the insect's response to cold stress. The results of the present research show that the performance of commercial lines of Iranian silkworms is affected under cold stress conditions, and lines 153 and 154 have higher resistance than the other lines. Hence, they can be prioritized in the production of commercial hybrids in terms of resistance to cold stress and production and survival records. Further studies are suggested to measure the molecular and biochemical characteristics of some proteins related to temperature stress in different treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research was conducted to determine the mean performance of parental variety and lines and heterotic effects in F1 hybrids of upland cotton. Six parental genotypes were included in the present study: Yulduz, Niso, Guliston, SS-BK, T-1336, and T-1391. All six parents were randomly crossed, and ten F1 hybrids were developed for evaluation. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The mean squares from the analysis of variance revealed that parents and F1 hybrids differed significantly in their mean performance regarding all the traits studied, except those hybrids were non-significant for staple length. The importance of heterotic effects was evident from the significant mean squares of parents vs. hybrids. The mean performance revealed that F1 hybrids performed better over the parents for the traits due to the manifestation of heterotic effects. The crosses Niso x Yulduz among the hybrids formed more bolls per plant. Also, they gave yet Niso x Yulduz maximum lint %, and longer fiber was measured in Yulduz x Guliston and Guliston x Yulduz. Also, T-1391 x Niso va SSB K-1 x Niso o formed a higher boll weight. The parental performance was not reflected in hybrid combinations; therefore, the potentiality of parents per se may not be taken for granted for expecting similar performance in the F1 hybrids. The heterotic effects of the hybrids revealed that at least three hybrids viz. Niso x Yulduz va Niso x Guliston were identified, and they exhibited relative heterosis above 50% and heterobeltiosis over 45% for bolls per plant. The hybrids also expressed a fair amount of heterosis for boll weight, lint %, and fiber length. The high heterotic effects for bolls per plant, boll weight, lint %, and fiber length highlight the promising potential for heterosis breeding in upland cotton, offering a bright outlook for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basil is a culinary herb in high demand all year round, either fresh, dried, or frozen. Field basil crops are commercially predominant, while greenhouse crops can cover the demand for fresh basil during the off-season. The leaf aspect of basil has great importance for the food industry, and a great diversity of genotypes has been created. The aim of this research was to conduct a comparative characterization of 12 basil genotypes (green and purple leaf) that present interest for breeding programs from a national germplasm collection. The study examines the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments in basil cultivated in field versus greenhouse conditions as indicators of plant performance and herb quality from the perspective of ensuring fresh plant material all year round. The experimental median indicated that photosynthetic leaf pigments accumulated in higher concentrations in the field relative to the greenhouse conditions, in descending order: β-carotene, lutein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b. The trend was not as consistent for chlorophyll b, since four out of twelve genotypes presented higher levels in the greenhouse than in the field, while the overall values were not much lower in the greenhouse than the field (16.82%). All genotypes accumulated much higher carotenoid contents in field conditions relative to greenhouse conditions (>200%) and could also provide better nutritional advantages given their demonstrated health benefits. The differences in photosynthetic leaf pigments have both nutritional (the carotenoids), shelf-life, and processing relevance (chlorophylls) and serve as quality markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to evaluate the general and specific combinational ability of inbred winter rye lines in plant height and to identify relatively short-stemmed combinations. The starting material for the crossing was 22 homozygous rye lines carrying sterile cytoplasm of the Pampa type. The male fertile homozygous lines mf H‑1423, mf H‑1247, mf H‑732, and mf H‑842 were used as testers, in which the plant height was 122, 120, 102, and 100 cm, respectively. Test crosses were carried out in isolated plots according to the topcross scheme. A total of 88 simple F1 hybrids were produced. These were tested on plots of 8.0 m2 in three repetitions. The average height of plants in F1 hybrids was 129 cm and ranged from 114 to 145 cm. The hybrids with the mf H‑732 and mf H‑842 testers turned out to be the shortest-stemmed, and the tallest ones were those with the mf H‑1423 tester. Both general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combinational abilities made a significant contribution to the variance of the plant height trait. The genotypes ms H‑422 and ms H‑1179 had a significantly higher GCA compared to other lines, while ms H‑700 and ms H‑1058 had a lower GCA. Among the testers, the high-stemmed mf H‑1423 and mf H‑1247 lines had a significantly high GCA, and the short-stemmed mf H‑732 and mf H‑842 testers had a significantly low GCA. Combinations involving short-stemmed testers made up a group of the shortest-stemmed hybrids, in which plant height varied from 114 to 120 cm. It has been shown that lines with low effects are of great value for practical breeding not only for GCA, but also for SCA. The ms H‑700 line is of interest, which simultaneously combines low GCA and SCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a comparative study of the milk productivity and reproductive ability of the first-calf cows of the black-and-white Holstein breed in the context of genealogical lines. The initial material was information from the primary zootechnical and breeding records of cows (n = 3211). For comparative analysis, groups of animals were formed in accordance with their linear affiliation: the first group – individuals of the Vis Beck Ideal 1013415 line, the second – the Montwick Chieftain 95679 line, the third – the Reflection Sovering 0198998 line. It was found that the animals of the V. B. Ideal line differed in the highest coefficient of lactation (1363 kg) and the coefficient of lactation constancy (93.2 %). According to the level of milk yield between the groups, the differences were not significant. Cows of the R. Covering line had the best indicators of reproductive ability. They had the lowest age of first fruitful insemination (16.7 months) and calving (26.8 months), as well as the shortest interbody period (13.4 months). They also outperformed the animals of the compared lines in terms of reproductive ability (0.91) and fertility index (46.3). In terms of calf yield per 100 heads (82.8 %), the best were cows of the M. Chieftain line. In all lines, positive correlation coefficients were obtained between milk yield and service and interbody periods (+0.237...+0.278), which indicate that with an increase in milk yield, the duration of service and interbody periods increases, and this indicates a process of deterioration in the reproductive abilities of cows. Cows were evaluated according to the fertility index (according to I. Dokhi). It was found that cows with a rating of "good" fertility, compared with animals rated "medium" and "low", had lower milk yield, shortened duration of the service period and increased reproductive ability. The line of R. Sovering was distinguished by the largest number of cows (56.9 % heads) with good reproductive ability, the average value of the fertility index was 51.2. The presence of low negative correlation coefficients between the fertility index and milk yield, against the background of an increase in milk yield, indicates a decrease in the fertility of cows.

Dihaploid lines, or lines obtained on the basis of doubled haploids, are a valuable material for the creation of high-heterosis corn hybrids. The most eff ective method of evaluating the starting material when selecting parental couples for obtaining hybrids is diallell analysis. The article presents the results of the analysis of indicators of 6 dihaploid corn lines and 30 simple corn hybrids of the dialle scheme. The combinative ability of lines along the stem length, the cob attachment height, and the panicle length was studied. The eff ects of the GCA and SCA dispersion, as well as the components of genetic dispersion for the above characteristics were revealed. Lines with high GCA and SCA rates were identifi ed. The variation of the indicators of combinative ability during the years of the study indicates that the degree of strength of the eff ects of GCA and the dispersion of SCA morphometric parameters in certain lines varies to some extent under the infl uence of growing conditions. The analysis of the components of genetic dispersion showed that, depending on the growing conditions, the formation of stem length was infl uenced by 1 to 3, cob height by 1 to 3, and panicle length by 1 to 2 genes or groups of genes. A pattern has been revealed: in more favorable conditions in 2021 and 2023, the number of genes that control the manifestation of the stem length and the panicle length traits increases. A signifi cant impact of dominance components (H1 , H2 ) has been established. Dominance in stem length, ear height and panicle length is directed towards the parental forms with greater expression of the trait.

Tailor-welded blanks (TWB) facilitate strategic material placement, ensuring desired materials are positioned appropriately, while single-point incremental forming (SPIF) enables versatile shape manufacturing with minimal tooling. Despite both methods offering customization benefits, their combined potential remains largely unexplored. This study utilized friction stir welding to create one-millimeter-thick similar and tailor-welded blanks from AA6061 and AA6003. The weld quality was ensured through metallurgical analysis and mechanical testing. SPIF of welded blanks exhibited formability comparable to parent materials, free from weld-line movement or fractures in the weld zone during forming. However, TWBs demonstrated formability between their constituting parent materials. Fractures occurred in almost all blanks due to bi-axial stretching in the corner of the D-shape. Investigation into the effect of tool size and geometry revealed that too small tool diameters induced localized deformation, contributing to failure. While flat-bottomed tools exhibited higher material thinning than hemispherical tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of Ablai Khan KazUIRandWL: Series 'Pedagogical Sciences' is the property of Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations & World Languages and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A model of the multichannel queuing system is considered. Each channel contains some service lines. There are several input flows. Each customer requires several lines to be serviced. If the channel does not have a sufficient number of service lines, it is possible to reorient this customer to another channel. The service line has a distribution function of a general form depending both on the flow and on the number of lines required by the customer. A fast simulation method aimed to evaluate the blocking probability of customers of a certain flow with a given number of service lines is proposed. The method is compared with the Monte Carlo method using numerical example, and the gain in simulation time is illustrated in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of the multichannel queuing system is considered. Each channel contains some service lines. There are several input flows. Each customer requires several lines to be serviced. If the channel does not have a sufficient number of service lines, it is possible to reorient this customer to another channel. The service time has a distribution function of a general form depending both on the flow and on the number of lines required by the customer. A fast simulation method aimed to evaluate the blocking probability of customers of a certain flow with a given number of service lines is proposed. The method is compared with the Monte Carlo method using numerical example and the gain in simulation time is illustrated in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the conditions of the Ryazan region, adaptive properties and ecological plasticity of 8 breeding lines of spring soft wheat (standard Agatha variety) were studied in 2020–2023 according to the "yield" trait using diverse statistical methods. Ecological plasticity (bi), stability (σ2d ), index of environmental conditions (Ij) were determined by S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Russell, variation – by B. A. Dospekhov, stress resistance and genetic flexibility – by A. A. Rossielle, J. Hemblin, index of ecological plasticity – by A. A. Gryaznov, indicator the level of the variety yield stability – according to E. D. Nettevich, homeostaticity (Hom ), breeding value (Sc) – according to V. V. Hangildin, relative stability, stability criterion – according to N. A. Sobolev, multiplicativity (KM) – according to V. A. Dragavtsev. It has been established that the yield level is mostly influenced by the factor "environment" – 51.5 %, the contribution of the factor "genotype" is 11.5 %. The average yield in the experiment was 5.19 t/ha, favorable conditions in 2022 (Ij = 0.50) allowed the yield to be 17.9 % higher than in 2021 (Ij = -0.52). Lines 2-17 (6.24 t/ha) and 21-17 (6.05 t/ha) had high yields, their genetic flexibility index was 5.58 and 5.41 t/ha, respectively. Lines 1-17, 465-17 and 531-17 had the highest resistance to stress (-0.63, -1.00), they are characterized by high yield stability (σ2d = 0.27–0.65) and the least decrease in it under adverse conditions. Strong responsiveness to changes in environmental conditions was noted for lines 290-17, 2-17 and 21-17: bi – 1.25–1.29, KM – 2.22–2.27. According to the degree of homeostaticity, line 1-17 was distinguished (Sc – 4.63, PUSS – 212, Hom – 18.3), these indicators exceeded the average values by 10.2 %, 81.0 abs. %, 98.9 %, respectively. According to the results of the integrated assessment by the ranking method, breeding lines 1-17; 465-17 and 21-17 showed varying degrees of adaptability, environmental stability, homeostaticity and had a high rating. The lowest rating in terms of the sum of the ranks of adaptability and plasticity parameters was obtained by the standard Agate variety.

[Objective] As a new type of rail transit, the embedded medium-low speed maglev system relies on non-contact support for vehicle and track systems, and the vehicle running mechanism is embedded within the track beam. Therefore, it is crucial to study the values of the minimum curve radius in the planar layout, considering the vehicle-track matching principles and the structural characteristics of both vehicle and track beam, to support engineering design. [Method] The characteristics of embedded medium-low speed maglev systems are introduced, together with the basic principles for determining the values of the planar minimum curve radius. Based on the theory of vehicle ride dynamics, passenger comfort standards and the determination of planar minimum curve radius for embedded medium-low speed maglev lines are analyzed. [Result & Conclusion] Under a constant train operating speed, the planar minimum curve radius mainly depends on the allowable values of the transverse slope angle and the unbalanced centrifugal acceleration. Referring to the test results of other rail transit systems, relevant standards, and the actual construction and operation of conventional medium-low speed maglev systems worldwide, it is suggested that the maximum transverse slope angle should not exceed 8°, and the maximum unbalanced centrifugal acceleration should be no more than 0.4 m/s2 in general and 0.6 m/s2 under challenging conditions. For an embedded medium-low speed maglev system designed with a speed of 200 km/h, the recommended values for the planar minimum curve radius are generally 1 800 m and 1 600 m under normal and challenging conditions, respectively.

Abstract According to the expression of miRNA in pathological processes, miRNAs can be divided into oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Prediction of the regulation relations between miRNAs and small molecules (SMs) becomes a vital goal for miRNA-target therapy. But traditional biological approaches are laborious and expensive. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a computational model. In this study, we proposed a computational model to predict whether the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and SMs is up-regulated or down-regulated. Specifically, we first use the Large-scale Information Network Embedding (LINE) algorithm to construct the node features from the self-similarity networks, then use the General Attributed Multiplex Heterogeneous Network Embedding (GATNE) algorithm to extract the topological information from the attribute network, and finally utilize the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) algorithm to predict the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and SMs. In the fivefold cross-validation experiment, the average accuracies of the proposed model on the SM2miR dataset reached 79.59% and 80.37% for up-regulation pairs and down-regulation pairs, respectively. In addition, we compared our model with another published model. Moreover, in the case study for 5-FU, 7 of 10 candidate miRNAs are confirmed by related literature. Therefore, we believe that our model can promote the research of miRNA-targeted therapy.

There has been presented a three-year estimation of winter durum wheat samples developed by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” sown after various forecrops according to such indicators as productivity, protein and gluten content, SDS-sedimentation, grain hardness. The purpose of the study was to estimate productivity and grain quality of promising winter durum wheat varieties and lines sown after various forecrops in the conditions of the southern part of the Rostov region. The research material included 12 samples sown after peas, maize for grain and sunflower, and in green-manured fallow. The variety ‘Kristalla’ was used as a standard. As a study result (2020–2022), there was found that the mean grain productivity of winter durum wheat varieties and lines of was ranked as follows: 8.60 t/ha when sown in green-manured fallow; 6.55 t/ha when sown after peas; 6.38 t/ha when sown after maize for grain; 4.57 t/ha when sown after sunflower. The maximum mean productivity according to forecrops was shown by two winter durum wheat varieties ‘Yakhont’ (6.98 t/ha) and ‘Lakomka’ (6.96 t/ha). According to the forecrops, the protein percentage in grain varied from 13.79 to 14.71 %, which corresponded to the first quality class, the gluten content was 25.7–27.8 % (class 2). There has been revealed that 25 % of the samples had very strong SDS-sedimentation, 67 % had strong and 8 % had an average one. According to grain hardness, there have been identified such samples as ‘Kristella’ (92 %); ‘Yakhont’ and ‘Almaz Dona’ (87 %); ‘Lakomka’ and ‘483/17’ (85 %).

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Fe3Al combines with steel to form bimetallic metal can benefit from steel's mechanical strength and make full use of Fe3Al's excellent performance under high temperatures. However, due to the poor fluidity and wettability of liquid Fe3Al to steel, the cladding prepared by traditional linear welding is not available to industrial sector. Hence, to optimize preparation, an arc deposition procedure based on a weaving path is proposed. Fe3Al cladding was prepared on the steel with weaving and linear paths by arc deposition technology, respectively, and the characteristics of the cladding were compared in terms of formability, surface feature and microstructure. The results demonstrated that the cladding prepared by weave arc deposition had better formability, lower dilution rates and fewer defects than that by the line one. Compared with the image captured by high-speed camera, the substantial difference was attributed to the higher molten pool velocities, which led to a smaller volume of molten pool in weave process. Under this circumstance, the arc force was conducive to the spread of liquid metal, forming a relatively small contact angle (< 45°). The finite element analysis revealed that the temperature distribution and thermal cycles resulted in finer grains in the weave process; furthermore, the weave process produced less residual stress, causing an increment of 153% in bonding strength between the cladding and the steel, compared to linear sample. Overall, the weave arc deposition technology is capable of molding Fe3Al layers efficiently and offers a good prospect for applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the expression of miRNA in pathological processes, miRNAs can be divided into oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Prediction of the regulation relations between miRNAs and small molecules (SMs) becomes a vital goal for miRNA-target therapy. But traditional biological approaches are laborious and expensive. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop a computational model. In this study, we proposed a computational model to predict whether the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and SMs is up-regulated or down-regulated. Specifically, we first use the Large-scale Information Network Embedding (LINE) algorithm to construct the node features from the self-similarity networks, then use the General Attributed Multiplex Heterogeneous Network Embedding (GATNE) algorithm to extract the topological information from the attribute network, and finally utilize the Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) algorithm to predict the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and SMs. In the fivefold cross-validation experiment, the average accuracies of the proposed model on the SM2miR dataset reached 79.59% and 80.37% for up-regulation pairs and down-regulation pairs, respectively. In addition, we compared our model with another published model. Moreover, in the case study for 5-FU, 7 of 10 candidate miRNAs are confirmed by related literature. Therefore, we believe that our model can promote the research of miRNA-targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of specialized sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant sunflower hybrids ensured reliable protection of this crop fields against dicotyledonous weeds during the post-emergence period. The issue of sulfonylurea resistance levels in three-line hybrid combinations, where at least two parental components are resistant, remains insufficiently studied. Our purpose was to evaluate valuable economic feature expression levels in sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant three-line sunflower hybrids. To accomplish this purpose, we determined 1) the phytotoxic effect of herbicide Gold Star WDG on five three-line sunflower hybrids originated from two resistant and one susceptible parents; 2) the variability of valuable economic features of the hybrids affected by the herbicide in different agro-climatic zones of Ukraine. The study was carried out at the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS (Kharkiv) and the Institute of Oilseed Crops of NAAS (Zaporizhzhia) in 2021-2022. The herbicide was supplemented with surface-active agent (SAA) Tandem 0.3 L/ha and applied at doses of 50 g/ha (2021) and 35 g/ha (2022) in the phase of 4-6 (2-3 pairs) true leaves. The operating fluid consumption was 200 L/ha. There was no 100% resistance to the herbicide in any experiment. The percentage of resistant plants in 2021 varied from 21.9 to 60.2%, in 2022 - from 33.3 to 78.1%. On average across the hybrids, the proportion of resistant plants increased from 42.3% in 2021 to 51.0% in 2022. Herbicide treatments significantly reduced seed yields and oil content in seeds of most hybrids compared to the control. The smallest yield loss (-0.26 t/ha) was recorded for hyb. 'Skh 81 А' / 'Kh 82 B'//'Kh 201 V' treated with 50 g/ha of Gold Star WDG. The smallest decrease in the oil content in seeds (-0.69%) was observed in hyb. 'Skh 1006 А' / 'Kh 81 B'//'Kh 201 V' treated at 50 g/ha. In the experiments of the IOC NAAS in the northern steppe, the tested hybrids yielded less than or similarly to the reference, classical hyb. 'Yason', depending on the weather conditions. The hybrids were classed as early ripening. As to oil content in seeds, they were superior to the reference hybrid. As to plant height, plants of the hybrids under investigation were mostly as tall as the reference ones. Conclusions. The three-line hybrids derived from two resistant parental components had reduced levels of expression of valuable economic features when treated with herbicide Gold Star at doses of 50 and 35 g/ha. However, expression of these features should be assessed individually for each hybrid combination. The studied hybrids are competitive in terms of expression levels of valuable economic features; however, additional studies of other regimens of sulfonylurea herbicide application are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrotransposons are coordinately reactivated during mammalian early embryo development. Early embryonic development exploits genetic tools from retrotransposons' rich functional reservoir. Emerging evidence underscores the functions of retrotransposon-derived noncoding RNAs and proteins during early embryo development. Despite being the predominant genetic elements in mammalian genomes, retrotransposons were often dismissed as genomic parasites with ambiguous biological significance. However, recent studies reveal their functional involvement in early embryogenesis, encompassing crucial processes such as zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and cell fate decision. This review underscores the paradigm shift in our understanding of retrotransposon roles during early preimplantation development, as well as their rich functional reservoir that is exploited by the host to provide cis -regulatory elements, noncoding RNAs, and functional proteins. The rapid advancement in long-read sequencing, low input multiomics profiling, advanced in vitro systems, and precise gene editing techniques encourages further dissection of retrotransposon functions that were once obscured by the intricacies of their genomic footprints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest sporting milestones in women's football and the struggles of the Spanish national team's players to receive better treatment from the Spanish Football Federation have resulted in the media spotlight being placed on them. This study seeks to understand the discursive reception that has been given to the struggle of the female football players by the users of Marca.com, the largest sports forum in Spain, in terms of diffusion. The aim is to examine whether user comments constitute discourses close to the manosphere, digital spaces characterised by hosting and disseminating hate speech towards women. To this end, topics and representations are analysed in the comments that Marca users publish in response to two news items about the refusal of the players to be selected until they receive treatment in accordance with their professional status (the 'fifteen case' and the '#Seacabó case'). The results show that the national team players, football players or women in general are represented negatively in more than two thirds of the messages. Furthermore, almost half of the comments have been identified as potential discourses of the manosphere, as they draw on themes such as female infantilism, the deification of the masculinity or the discrimination against heterosexual men. The spread of digital misogyny in the most far-reaching sports forum in Spain should be of interest and concern for the field of communication from the perspective of sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, increasing water and energy demand is expected to reach 6.9 trillion cubic meters by 2030, exceeding 40% of the available water supplies. Climate change and rising temperatures caused water deficit due to lesser and irregular rainfalls, leading to lower production of crops. The research to assess drought tolerance of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) genotypes in Uzbekistan revealed the cultivar, Ishonch as the most promising for drought environments. The research, in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications with a factorial arrangement and two irrigation regimes (non-stress and water stress at the seedling stage), was conducted at the experimental field of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, District Kibray, Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan. Ten Mungbean cultivars, i.e Durdona, Barqaror, Marjon, Andijon-1, Zilola, Ishonch, Baraka, L-59, L-88 and L-92 with diverse agronomic characteristics, were selected for their potential yield during 2022 and 2023 cropping seasons under two different environments (optimal and water deficit condition). In the Uzbekistan region, yield index, yield stability index, stress intensity, stress susceptibility percentage index, stress susceptibility index, stress tolerance index, drought intensity index, tolerance index, geometric mean productivity, relative drought index, mean relative performance, harmonic mean, mean productivity and sensitivity drought indices and their cluster analysis results were determined. The mungbean Durdona and T-59 genotypes were found to be prone to water deficit conditions. The Ishonch, Barqaror ва L-92 genotypes were found to be a positive donor in the selection for drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this paper is to prove the following result: Let be a -disjoint finite family of disks with the property that every four of them have a common line transversal. Then there exists a line transversal to all members of . Moreover, we prove that the number is sharp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is proposed to study the qualities of sunflower seeds in three zones of location in the head. Moderate negative correlations of the sign of the number of lateral heads (branching) in sunflower lines from the mass of 1000 seeds, the number of rows, seeds in a row, the total number of seeds and the diameter of the head were established (r = −0.5 to −0.53* on the Chedokk scale). The dependence of the number of seeds in the head on its size was confirmed (r = 0.83). In particular, we obtained a high positive correlation between the signs of the number of rows in the head and the number of seeds in the row with the size of the head (0.71 and 0.72). It was established that the mass of 1000 seeds of the first tier has correlations with the number of seeds in a row and the number of rows (r = 0.32 and 0.39), which are attributed only to the group of noticeable ones. This indicates the possibility of combining in one plant a large number and size of seeds in the head. It was found that changes in the size and weight of the seeds in the head by zone occur in hybrids and lines gradually, while the variety shows only a slight decrease in the size and weight of the seeds in the third zone. The largest quantity and the best confectionary quality of seeds was provided by the Zaporizhzhya Confectionery variety. In hybrids, the output of seeds weighing 90–80 g from one head reached only 1000 pieces. The potential to increase the number of seeds in heads in hybrids is present, but the size of the seeds is critical. With the available average weight of 1000 seeds: 90 g in the best maternal line and 70 in the best paternal line, the hybrids only approached the 100 g mark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrotransposons are transposable elements that are transposed via transcription and reverse transcription. Their copies have accumulated in the genome of mammals, occupying approximately 40% of mammalian genomic mass. These copies are often involved in numerous phenomena, such as chromatin spatial organization, gene expression, development and disease, and have been recognized as a driving force in evolution. Different organisms have gained specific retrotransposon subfamilies and retrotransposed copies, such as hundreds of Mus-specific subfamilies with diverse sequences and genomic locations. Despite this complexity, basic information is still necessary for present-day genomic and epigenomic studies. Herein, we describe the characteristics of each subfamily of Mus-specific retrotransposons in terms of sequence structure, phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary age, and preference for A or B compartments of chromatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged vegetation and changes in weather and climatic conditions according to seasons and vegetation periods result in the loss of sainfoin plants and a decrease in productivity of forage and seeds. The identification of new varieties with high adaptability to the agroclimatic conditions of a particular region of their cultivation, the study of patterns of changes in various economic traits according to a year of life will allow selecting more productive and adapted lines and forms of sainfoin plants. The purpose of current paper was to present the study of plant density of sainfoin varieties and new lines during 3 years of life according to their productivity. The study was carried out in the laboratory for breeding and seed production of perennial grasses of the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center «Donskoy». The objects of study in the nursery for preliminary variety testing were 3 varieties and 6 lines of sandy sainfoin that were promising for feed and seed productivity. Conditions in the south of the Rostov region made it possible to obtain seedlings with a plant density of 309–313 pcs/m2 with a field seed germination rate of 75.2–80.2 %. In the second year of sowing, the plant stand density varied from 198 pcs/m2 to 251 pcs/m2. With such plant density there has been formed a dry mass yield of 6.41–7.17 t/ha. In the third year, the plant density compared to the previous year decreased significantly and varied from 109 pcs/m2 to 127 pcs/m2, while the dry mass yield was formed at 6.25–7.13 t/ha. The number of gen erative shoots in the studied varieties and lines varied over the years from 981 pcs/m2 to 1244 pcs/m2 in the second year, while the seed productivity of the best lines was 0.90–0.95 t/ha, and from 415 pcs/m2 to 525 pcs/m2 in the third year of life, while the best lines had a seed yield of 0.85–1.09 t/ha.

The article presents the results of a three-year study (2020-2022) of 16 varieties and 17 breeding lines of spring soft wheat bred by the Federal Scientific Center for Bast Fiber Crops in the soil and climatic conditions of the Penza region. The crop productivity in the experiment varied between 1.77-4.15 t/ha. Seven samples demonstrated the highest productivity: Nastavnik, Eritrospermum 70/04-3, Irvita, Sensei, Eritrospermum 20/08-7, Lutestsens 1/12-19, Eritrospermum 15/08-4, which exceeded the standard variety Arkhat by 0.27-0.71 t/ha. During the studies the yield was related to the average variable trait (CV =11.9-19.5 %). The variation of the duration of the growing season of the studied spring wheat samples averaged 81-93 days. It was shorter in 2021 (from 67 to 80 days), the longest in 2022 (from 91 to 100 days). The height of spring soft wheat plants in the studies was a low-variable feature (CV = 3.4-8.5 %) and averaged 82.1-100.2 cm over the years. The ear grain content varied from 18 pieces in the Erythrospermum 25/08-11-18 in 2022 up to 40 pieces in the Nastavnik variety in 2021. The trait was medium-variable (CV = 11.3-18.5 %). The highest average productivity of an ear was noted in 2022 – 1.08 g, and the lowest in 2020 – 0.92 g. The high mass of grain per ear was noted in Nastavnik variety – 1.40 g, Eritrospermum 70/04-3 – 1,38 g, Irvita – 1.35 g, which were characterized by high yield. Eritrospermum 70/04-3, Eritrospermum 20/08-7 and Irvita selected by the genotype productivity were characterized by bulky grains of 40.6-43.2 g. A significant correlation was observed between the yield and the grain weight per plant (r = 0.908...0.924, P≤0.001). The studied patterns can be used in ecological breeding of soft spring wheat.

Introduction Tomato is a self-pollinated crop and has a high potential for heterosis production. Tomato has a wide range of diversity in terms of vegetative and fruit traits. Therefore, learning information about the genetics of the tomato plant and the inheritance of its various traits to the next generation will help plant breeders to use appropriate breeding methods to improve them. One of the methods that is used to know the genetic structure of plants, identify parental lines and determine their combining ability is line × tester analysis. Line × tester analysis provides information about general and specific combining of parents and can be useful in estimating different types of gene effects such as additive and non-additive effects. In most of the developed countries, many researches have been done in relation to hybrid production and combining ability among tomato lines, and sometimes the inferred results are different from each other. In Iran, few studies have been done about crossing cultivars and their hybrids, and most of the seeds used by farmers are imported from other countries. Therefore, this study intends to evaluate genetic variance components, general and specific combining ability of some quantitative traits in a number of tomato lines and testers and their hybrids by using line × tester analysis. Materials and Methods This research was conducted in Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Mazandaran Province, Iran in 2022. Two modified cultivars SC and V as lines and three modified cultivars L, R and MZ as testers were crossed with each other to create F1 hybrids. Six F1 genotypes and their parents (11 treatments in total) were cultivated in the farm in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The evaluated traits included the number of days to the first flowering, earliness, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant (g), fruit yield (g), fruit length and width (cm). In order to analyze the variance of the experimental design to search for diversity between treatments, to separate the effects of treatments into their components based on line × tester analysis, to mean comparison with Duncan's test, and also to calculate the general and specific combining ability, R statistical software was used. Also, in order to calculate additive and non-additive variances, Singh and Chaudhary's method was used. Results and Discussion The results of line × tester variance analysis showed that the mean squares of parents and testers were significant for all traits except fruit length and width, and the mean squares of crosses and lines were significant for all traits except fruit length. The effect of line × tester was significant for all traits except the number of fruits per plant and fruit length. The line of SC to improve the number of days to first flowering, earliness, plant height, fruit weight per plant, and fruit width, and the line of V to improve the number of fruit per plant were the best general combiners with testers. The tester of L for improve all traits except yield, and the tester of MZ for improve plant height were the best general combiners with the maternal lines. Among the crosses, the SC×L cross for improve earliness and fruit width, and the SC×R and V×MZ crosses for improve plant height and fruit weight per plant, respectively, were favorable specific combiners. The mean comparison of the genotypes for some important traits showed that among the parental cultivars, the line of SC and among the crosses, the SC×L genotype had the lowest means for the number of days to first flowering and earliness. Also, the line of SC for the number of fruits per plant and the SC×L genotype for fruit weight per plant, yield and fruit width had the highest means. Also, the estimation of additive and non-additive variances indicated that in plant height and fruit weight per plant traits, additive variance plays the main role. While for the traits of the number of days to first flowering, earliness and yield, the contribution of non-additive variance was more than the additive variance. Conclusion According to the results obtained from this study, in future projects it is recommended to use parents that have significant general combining ability (GCA) for traits. Because such parents easily transfer the trait to their next generation. In this way, the line of SC was a good general combiner for the number of days to first flowering, earliness, plant height, fruit weight per plant and fruit width, and the line of V was a good general combiner for the number of fruits per plant. Among the testers, the tester of L was a good general combiner for improve the number of days to first flowering, earliness, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, and fruit width, and the tester of MZ recorded a high GCA for the plant height. Also, for the improvement of earliness and fruit width, the SC×L cross and for plant height and fruit weight per plant, SC×R and V×MZ crosses were favorable specific combiner. Mean comparison of genotypes showed that the SC×L cross is superior to its parents for the number of days to first flowering, earliness, fruit weight per plant, fruit yield, and fruit length and width. The traits of plant height and fruit weight per plant are more affected by additive variance, so the best breeding method to improve plant height and fruit weight per plant is selection from among the segregating population. The traits of number of days to first flowering, earliness and yield were affected by non-additive variance, so hybrid production is recommended to improve the mentioned traits.

Maize is a cereal crop essential to fulfill the need for food and support global food security programs. Maize hybrid varieties play a very significant role in increasing maize production. Objectives of the research were to obtain a tester, which is consistent in identifying inbred lines with a high specific combining ability, and to obtain prospective crossed-hybrids that have the potential assembling to be maize hybrid varieties. The grain yield showed that the specific combining ability values ranged from -3682.2 to 5251.7. Crosses that have high and positive specific combining ability included lines of JG-11, JG-18, JG-34, JG-01, JG-40, JG-B0, JG-19, and JG-02 with a tester of JG-T00; lines of JG-20, JG-01, JG-03, JG-42, JG-02, JG-46, and tester of JG-T14; lines of JG-24, JG-08, JG-23, JG-26, JG-21, JG-07, and JG-06 with a tester of JG-T15; lines of JG-38, JG-40, JG-35, JG-36, JG-01, JG-51, JG-17, JG-B0, and JG-08 with tester of JG-T22; and lines of JG-07, JG-01, JG-26, JG-24, and JG-18 with tester of JG-T37. There were combinations of 9 crosses between inbred lines and the best testers, including JG-06XJG-T15, JG-51XJG-T22, JG-49XJG-T22, JG-B0XJG-T22, JG-35XJG-T22, JG-38XJG-T22, JG-17XJG-T22, JG-36XJG-T22, and JG-49XJG-37, which are potential as prospective maize hybrids that have high productivity.

Basil is a culinary herb in high demand all year round, either fresh, dried, or frozen. Field basil crops are commercially predominant, while greenhouse crops can cover the demand for fresh basil during the off-season. The leaf aspect of basil has great importance for the food industry, and a great diversity of genotypes has been created. The aim of this research was to conduct a comparative characterization of 12 basil genotypes (green and purple leaf) that present interest for breeding programs from a national germplasm collection. The study examines the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments in basil cultivated in field versus greenhouse conditions as indicators of plant performance and herb quality from the perspective of ensuring fresh plant material all year round. The experimental median indicated that photosynthetic leaf pigments accumulated in higher concentrations in the field relative to the greenhouse conditions, in descending order: β-carotene, lutein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b. The trend was not as consistent for chlorophyll b, since four out of twelve genotypes presented higher levels in the greenhouse than in the field, while the overall values were not much lower in the greenhouse than the field (16.82%). All genotypes accumulated much higher carotenoid contents in field conditions relative to greenhouse conditions (>200%) and could also provide better nutritional advantages given their demonstrated health benefits. The differences in photosynthetic leaf pigments have both nutritional (the carotenoids), shelf-life, and processing relevance (chlorophylls) and serve as quality markers.

The current paper has presented the results of winter common wheat, studied in the nursery of the Competitive Variety Testing in the forest-steppe zone of the Penza region for 2016–2020. The purpose of the study was to estimate breeding lines of winter common wheat of the Competitive Variety Testing according to the main economic and biological traits and to identify samples with a complex of economically valuable traits and properties, in which the productivity level is stably maintained. The objects of the study were 35 winter common wheat lines developed by the FSBSI “Federal Research Center of Fiber Crops”. The zoned variety of winter common wheat ‘Fotinya’ was used as a standard one. The productivity of winter common wheat lines in the competitive variety testing ranged from 4.31 t/ha (the line ‘Erythrospermum 17/01-1-08’) to 4.85 t/ha (the line ‘Erythrospermum 12/00-16-04’). According to productivity, the standard variety ‘Fotinya’ significantly exceeded 13 lines, the increase of which ranged from 0.37 to 0.92 t/ha, НСР05 = 0.24 t/ha. During the study period, there was carried out a comprehensive estimation of winter common wheat lines to identify the best of them as carriers of economically valuable traits, which can promote developing new highly productive varieties with a high level of adaptability to the conditions of the forest-steppe of the Middle Volga region. The lines ‘Erythrospermum 12/00-16-04’, ‘Erythrospermum 29/03-2-06’, ‘Erythrospermum 21/00-3-08’, ‘Erythrospermum 18/04-3-08’, ‘Erythrospermum 17/01-7-08’ are of great interest for breeding, since they have been distinguished by a set of indicators (with a mean yield of 4.38–4.85 t/ha, more than 90 % of winter resistance, early maturity, 9 points of resistance to lodging, natural grain weight of 767–780 g/l, 86–90 % of kernel hardiness, 28.2–32.2 % of gluten in grain, 14.8–17.1 % of protein in grain). The selected lines have been recommended for inclusion in breeding programs for the development of highly productive winter common wheat genotypes.

Plant breeding is an endless conveyor belt: cultivars developed earlier are included in hybridization plans and become the sources for new ones. The main tasks in barley improvement through breeding include raising the productivity of cultivars, improving their quality, and strengthening disease resistance. Correct selection, use, and studying of the source material – that is the key to successful breeding efforts. The first and most important step in constructing a cultivar is the process of hybridization. A valuable source of aid, and often the basis for newly developed cultivars, is the global collection of VIR, whose importance can hardly be overestimated. From 1936 to 2021, 27 barley cultivars were released: they are widely cultivated in Russia and Kazakhstan. Of these, 19 cultivars were obtained by pair hybridization; 4 cultivars by the complex stepwise hybridization technique; 4 cultivars through individual selection using the population approach. Despite the high importance of germplasm collection materials, 21 cultivars were produced by hybridization using a genotype selected at Omsk as one of the parental forms: in 16 cultivars, a local genotype was used as a maternal parent; in 12, as a paternal one; and in 8 cultivars, both parent forms were bred at Omsk Agricultural Scientific Center. Our retrospective analysis of a number of Omsk spring barley cultivars, on the one hand, confirms the earlier conclusions of Siberian scientists about a limited number of base crop cultivars, and on the other, attests to very rich pedigrees of spring barley cultivars in terms of the number of parent forms from the VIR global collection. Siberian barley ecotypes, characterized by increased adaptability to local harsh climate factors, should be further preserved in the national crop germplasm repository at VIR.