Resumo A mancha bacteriana das folhas (BLB) é uma das principais doenças do arroz na Malásia. Essa doença causa perdas substanciais de rendimento de até 70%. O desenvolvimento de variedades de arroz que herdaram características de resistência ao BLB é uma abordagem crucial para promover e sustentar a indústria do arroz na Malásia. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi aumentar os caracteres BLB resistentes a doenças da variedade comercial MR219 de alto rendimento por meio de uma abordagem de cruzamento retrocruzamento com ferramenta de apoio de seleção assistida por marcador (MAS). O gene de resistência a BLB de amplo espectro, Xa7 do pai doador IRBB7, foi introgressado no MR219 suscetível (pai recorrente) usando dois marcadores flanqueadores ID7 e ID15. No BC3F4, conseguimos gerar 19 linhagens introgressadas com o gene Xa7 homozigoto e apresentamos características de resistência como genitor doador quando desafiado com Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae por inoculação artificial. O pai recorrente MR219 e a variedade controle, MR263, estavam gravemente infectados pela doença. As linhas melhoradas exibiram características morfológicas e de desempenho de rendimento semelhantes às da variedade elite, MR219. Duas linhas, PB-2-107 e PB-2-34, foram escolhidas como linhas potenciais por causa de seus desempenhos excelentes em comparação com a mãe, MR219. Este estudo demonstra uma história de sucesso de aplicação de MAS no desenvolvimento de linhas de arroz melhoradas com resistência a doenças contra a doença BLB.

Abstract Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) is one of the major rice diseases in Malaysia. This disease causes substantial yield loss as high as 70%. Development of rice varieties which inherited BLB resistant traits is a crucial approach to promote and sustain rice industry in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims were to enhance BLB disease resistant characters of high yielding commercial variety MR219 through backcross breeding approach with supporting tool of marker-assisted selection (MAS). Broad spectrum BLB resistance gene, Xa7 from donor parent IRBB7 were introgressed into the susceptible MR219 (recurrent parent) using two flanking markers ID7 and ID15. At BC3F4, we managed to generate 19 introgressed lines with homozygous Xa7 gene and showed resistant characteristics as donor parent when it was challenged with Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae through artificial inoculation. Recurrent parent MR219 and control variety, MR263 were found to be severely infected by the disease. The improved lines exhibited similar morphological and yield performance characters as to the elite variety, MR219. Two lines, PB-2-107 and PB-2-34 were chosen to be potential lines because of their outstanding performances compared to parent, MR219. This study demonstrates a success story of MAS application in development of improved disease resistance lines of rice against BLB disease.

In this study, we investigate the effects of nitrogen and boron dopants on the properties of phenalene/phenalenyl systems based on the Hückel theory by using the Hueckel Molecular Orbital software. The dopants configurations are graphitic, pyridinic, and pyrrolic. The electronic configuration of bare phenalene confirms the delocalization of π electrons and the radical properties of the molecule, which is in good agreement with the results of previous studies. Dopant types and positions strongly affect the number of π electrons in the system, molecular orbital energy, total energy, average π-electron energy, and gap energy. The molecular energy level degeneracy strongly depends on the rotational symmetry of the system, in the order of graphitic, pyridinic, and pyrrolic. A preserved radical behavior and the number of π electrons are found for the pyridinic dopant type, while closed electronic configuration is observed for graphitic and pyrrolic types. A lower gap energy is typically found for B-doped phenalene compared to that for N-doped phenalene; this opens the possibility for the enhancement of photoluminescence intensity. This study, although qualitative, confirms the effects of dopants on the chemical and physical properties of phenalene/phenalenyl systems.

Abstract Cold-formed steel (CFS) construction is widely recognised as an important contributor to sustainability and green construction. Thus, the use of CFS construction is encouraged and had been advanced by innovations in its structural applications. One such innovation that has recently gained popularity is the use of CFS sections in composite construction. The researchers assembled two CFS C-lipped channels back to back to construct I-beam sections for testing. Innovative bracket shear connectors were also developed and inserted between concrete slabs and steel beams in order to provide composite action. The composite beams were drastically stronger and stiffer than non-composite beams. The experimental results were validated theoretically with a high level of correspondence. The proposed composite beams with CFS sections were found to be strong and stiff enough to be used in the construction industry.