Reduced irrigation and rootstock effects on vegetative growth,yield and its components,and leaf physiological responses of Shiraz

Background and Aims: The study investigated whether rootstocks can modify grapevine responses to reduced irrigation. Methods and Results: Drip-irrigated Shiraz vines on eight rootstocks were subjected to industry standard and 30% reduced irrigation regimes over four seasons. Reducing irrigation decreased pruning weights and yield, but did not consistently affect irrigation water use index (IWUI). It increased leaf Δ¹³C. Reduced irrigation and elevated vapour pressure deficit (VPD) were associated with decreases in leaf water potential (ψ_l), leaf stomatal conductance and assimilation rate. Reducing irrigation raised leaf transpiration efficiency, whereas elevated VPD lowered it. These effects of reduced irrigation were independent of rootstock. Vines grafted to 101-14 had a higher ψ_l and achieved the highest yield and IWUI. The yields of vines grafted to Ramsey, Schwarzmann and 140 Ruggeri were also high. Vines grafted to 101-14, Ramsey and 1103 Paulsen had the higher rates of leaf assimilation. Rootstock did not affect Δ¹³C. Conclusion: The gain in leaf transpiration efficiency caused by reducing irrigation was not associated with a gain in IWUI. Rootstocks 101-14, Ramsey, Schwarzmann and 140 Ruggeri achieved higher yields and IWUI under both standard and reduced irrigation regimes. Significance of the Study: Among grafted vines growing on saline soil but receiving non-saline irrigation water and subject to a 30% reduction in irrigation, the yield responses of vines grafted on rootstocks rated as having good drought tolerance were the same as those of vines grafted on rootstocks rated as having poor drought tolerance.     

The Sterols and Triterpenes of Banana Pulp

SUMMARY: Using thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography the following substances were identified in banana pulp (Musa saplentum L.): Cycloartenol, cycloeucalenol, 24-methylene cycloartanol, campesterol, β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. The major triterpene was 24-methylene cycloartanol while β-sitosterol accounted for greater than 72% of the sterol fraction.     

DEVISING A TRUST MODEL FOR MULTI-AGENT INTERACTIONS USING CONFIDENCE AND REPUTATION

In open environments in which autonomous agents can break contracts, computational models of trust have an important role to play in determining who to interact with and how interactions unfold. To this end, we develop such a trust model, based on confidence and reputation, and show how it can be concretely applied, using fuzzy sets, to guide agents in evaluating past interactions and in establishing new contracts with one another.     

Special colour enhancement for three channels having similar radiances

A special enhancement algorithm is derived to colour separate ground-cover classes whose recorded wavelength distributions are similar but have significantly differing intensities. The special enhancement function is derived from considering the spectrum locus of a CIE 1931 (x,y) chromaticity diagram. By analogy with the relationship between the chromaticity co-ordinates and the channel radiance levels a function is derived that stretches the radiances to maximize the colour differences between such ground-cover classes. This Sinsusoidal Squeeze algorithm was applied to enhance the colour differentiation of Antarctic ice types as recorded by LANDSAT. A comparison between this special enhancement and the conventional colour composite results for Antarctic ice pack is presented. Field checks conducted during the 1980-81 Antarctic summer field season confirm our ability to delineate up to seven different types of ice by this technique. Additional applications of this special algorithm are believed to be forest class differentiation and bathymetric feature delineation.     

The Non-Saponifiable Constituents of Lettuce

SUMMARY— By means of thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography and chemical analyses the following substances were identified in dried Iceberg lettuce ( Lactztca sativ L.): ceryl alcohol, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol and the glycosides of the latter three sterols. An unidentified substance, probably a sterol, was detected by gas-liquid chromatography. A mixture of triterpenes identified as containing β-amyrin, ã-amyrin and Ψtaraxasterol was also found.     

FISCAL STRESS,COMPETING VALUES AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE: WHAT FATE BEFELL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS?

The late 1970s and early 1980s represent a difficult period for affirmative action programs in American cities. Given a new, conservative political environment symbolized by the re-election of Ronald Reagan and the advent of serious fiscal constraints facing many cities, is it reasonable to expect continuing progress toward representative workforces in municipal governments? This article investigates this question using data gathered from repeated surveys of over 250 municipal police departments in major U.S. cities over the period 1981 to 1984. Findings observed suggest that although minorities made sufficient gains in these years to constitute a firm foothold for future progress, women are likely to have a long and difficult road ahead with respect to their full incorporation into municipal law enforcement.     

Expert System Tools for Construction Planning and Control

The potential utilization of expert systems in construction management has drawn considerable attention in recent years. Many prototype systems were developed and have been described in previous studies. None of these studies, however, has addressed the basis for the selection of an expert system building tool (ESBT), the most important component in developing such systems. This paper presents a set of criteria for such selection. The criteria is then applied to investigate nine commercially available ESBTs, including four microcomputer-based tools, for building a knowledge-based expert system for construction planning and control. The criteria, although developed for specific application, could be readily extend to cover other problem domians.