Results of molecular dynamics simulations of ra-C^Heo melts, based on an explicit atom model that reproduced experimental equilibrium and dynamic properties of n-C^Has melts, were found to reproduce experimentally observed P-V-T behavior and X-ray scattering profiles of the higher molecular weight system. Moreover, the simulated local chain dynamics yielded 13C NMR spin-lattice relaxation times (Tf) and the nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) in quite good agreement with experimental values measured for different carbon positions and temperatures. The C-H vector P2 autocorrelation functions for the interior carbons from the simulations exhibited long-time tails that yielded NOE values less than 3.0. The experimental Ti values for the internal carbons of n-C^Hgo in the melt differed only by a factor of 2 from those found for a high molecular weight polyethylene chain in the melt, indicating that a reasonably good understanding of local polymer dynamics is possible from our simulations of n-C^Hgo• Correlation times of the torsional autocorrelation function and the C-H vector reorientation for interior carbons were found to correspond to the average conformational transition times. Moreover, preliminary examination of the conformational transitions shows strong correlation with the neighboring bonds, especially with the second and fourth neighbors.

A stochastic averaging method is proposed to predict approximately the response of quasi-integrable Hamiltonian systems, i.e., multi-degree-of-freedom integrable Hamiltonian systems subject to lightly linear and (or) nonlinear dampings and weakly external and (or) parametric excitations of Gaussian white noises. According to the present method an n-dimensional averaged Fokker-Planck-Kolmogrov (FPK) equation governing the transition probability density of n action variables or n independent integrals of motion can be constructed in nonresonant case. In a resonant case with α resonant relations, an (n + α)-dimensional averaged FPK equation governing the transition probability density of n action variables and α combinations of phase angles can be obtained. The procedures for obtaining the stationary solutions of the averaged FPK equations for both resonant and nonresonant cases are presented. It is pointed out that the Stratonovich stochastic averaging and the stochastic averaging of energy envelope are two special cases of the present stochastic averaging. Two examples are given to illustrate the application and validity of the proposed method.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple crop. The exploitation of the great heterosis that exists in the inter-subspecific crosses between the indica and japonica rice has long been considered as a promising way to increase the yield potential. However, the male and female sterility frequently occurred in the inter-subspecific hybrids hampered the utilization of the heterosis. Here we report that the inter-subspecific hybrid sterility in rice is mainly affected by the genes at Sb, Sc, Sd and Se loci for F1 male sterility and the gene at S5 locus for F1 female sterility. The indica-compatible japonica lines (ICJLs) developed by pyramiding the indica allele (S-i) at Sb, Sc, Sd and Se loci and the neutral allele (S-n) at S5 locus in japonica genetic background through marker-assisted selection are compatible with indica rice in pollen fertility and in spikelet fertility. These results showed a great promise of overcoming the inter-subspecific hybrid sterility and exploiting the heterosis by developing ICJLs.

Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) are powerful tools for detecting and precisely mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and evaluating gene action as a single factor. In this study, 103 CSSLs were produced using two sequenced rice cultivars: 93-11, an elite restorer indica cultivar as recipient, and Nipponbare, a japonica cultivar, as donor. Each CSSL carried a single chromosome substituted segment. The total length of the substituted segments in the CSSLs was 2,590.6 cM, which was 1.7 times of the rice genome. To evaluate the potential application of these CSSLs for QTL detection, phenotypic variations of seed shattering, grain length and grain width in 10 CSSLs were observed. Two QTLs for seed shattering and three for grain length and grain width were identified and mapped on rice chromosomes. The results demonstrate that CSSLs are excellent genetic materials for dissecting complex traits into a set of monogenic loci. These CSSLs are of great potential value for QTL mapping and plant marker-assisted breeding (MAB).

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