Mississippi State University

About: Mississippi State University is a education organization based out in Starkville, Mississippi, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Catfish. The organization has 14115 authors who have published 28594 publications receiving 700030 citations. The organization is also known as: The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science & Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science.

From Example Study to Problem Solving: Smooth Transitions Help Learning

Abstract: Research has shown that it is effective to combine example study and problem solving in the initial acquisition of cognitive skills. Present methods for com bining these learning modes are static, however, and do not support a transition from example study in early stages of skill acquisition to later problem solving. Against this background, the authors proposed a successive integration of problem-solving elements into example study until the learners solved problems on their own (i.e., complete example -? increasingly more incomplete examples ?> problem to-be solved). The authors tested the effectiveness of such a fading procedure against the traditional method of using example-problem pairs. In a field experiment and in 2 more controlled laboratory experiments, the authors found that (a) the fading pro cedure fosters learning, at least when near transfer performance is considered; (b) the number of problem-solving errors during learning plays a role in mediating this effect; and (c) it is more favorable to fade out worked-out solution steps in a back ward manner (omitting the last solution steps first) as compared with a forward manner (omitting the first solution steps first).

A Multi-Agent Solution to Distribution Systems Restoration

Abstract: The goal to provide faster and faster restoration after a fault is pushing the technical envelope related to new algorithms. While many approaches use centralized strategies, the concept of multi-agent systems (MAS) is creating a new option related to distributed analyses for restoration. This paper provides details on a MAS that restores a power system after a fault. The development of agents and behaviors of the agents are described, including communication of agents. The MAS is tested on two test systems and facilitates both full and partial restoration, including load prioritization and shedding.

High-Temperature Effects on Rice Growth, Yield, and Grain Quality

Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a globally important cereal plant, and as a primary source of food it accounts for 35–75% of the calorie intake of more than 3 billion humans. With the likely growth of world's population toward 10 billion by 2050, the demand for rice will grow faster than for other crops. There are already many challenges to achieving higher productivity of rice. In the future, the new challenges will include climate change and its consequences. The expected climate change includes the rise in the global average surface air temperature. At the end of the twenty-first century, the increases in surface air temperature will probably be around 1.4–5.8°C, relative to the temperatures of 1980–1999, and with an increase in variability around this mean. Most of the rice is currently cultivated in regions where temperatures are above the optimal for growth (28/22°C). Any further increase in mean temperature or episodes of high temperatures during sensitive stages may reduce rice yields drastically. In tropical environments, high temperature is already one of the major environmental stresses limiting rice productivity, with relatively higher temperatures causing reductions in grain weight and quality. Developing high-temperature stress-tolerant rice cultivars has become a proposed alternative, but requires a thorough understanding of genetics, biochemical, and physiological processes for identifying and selecting traits, and enhancing tolerance mechanisms in rice cultivars. The effects of high-temperature stress on the continuum of soil–rice plant–atmosphere for different ecologies (with or without submerged conditions) also need detailed investigations. Most agronomic interventions for the management of high-temperature stress aim at early sowing of rice cultivars or selection of early maturing cultivars to avoid high temperatures during grain filling. But these measures may not be adequate as high-temperature stress events are becoming more frequent and severe in the future climate. In this review, the effects of high-temperature stress on rice growth, yield, and quality characters, including various morphological, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms along with the possible use of conventional and molecular breeding methods, and crop growth simulation models and techniques are discussed. The mitigation and adaptation strategies for dealing with high-temperature stress in rice are highlighted. We conclude that there are considerable risks for rice production, stemming from high-temperature stress but benefits from the mitigation or adaptation options through progress in rice research may sustain the production systems of rice in the future warmer world.