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The aim of this study is to increase the load–displacement capacities of beams with web openings exposed to cyclic loading, to reduce the distortion in rigidity and to design high-strength beams with web holes designed according to BS 5950 specifications. The tests were carried out on five 2400 mm long, non-composite IPE240 cross-section beams. The ratio of the beam height to the diameter of the web opening is determined according to the BS 5950 specifications: for the beam with the ratio of 1.25 (lower limit) the diameter of the opening is 192 mm, for the beam with the ratio of 1.75 (upper limit) the diameter of the opening is 137 mm, for the beam with the ratio of 1.5 the diameter of the opening is 160 mm, and for the beam with the ratio of 1.618 the diameter of the opening is 148 mm. The beam with a ratio of body height to opening diameter of 1.618 (Golden Ratio) was compared with the perfect model and other beams with different opening diameters. According to the BS 5950 specification, when the ratio of beam height to circle diameter reaches 1.618, the opening diameter in the beam web exceeds the upper limit. However, in the beams examined in this study that exceed the upper limit of the specification, it was found that the beams carried 11.62% more moment and 11.63% more load, and their energy absorption capacity increased by 22.19%. In addition, the decrease in the moment bearing capacity, load bearing capacity and energy absorption capacity of the beam optimized with the golden ratio was determined as the optimization that shows the closest mechanical behavior to the perfect sample with a decrease of 20.65–24.1% and 4.12%, respectively. In this study, finite element analyses and experimental data were used to validate the experimental results of the designs and to examine the deformation modes and nonlinear behavior of the beams with web openings. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the mechanical properties of the beam subjected to cyclic loads and designed according to the golden ratio are closer to the perfect model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global optimization and biomedical image segmentation are crucial in diverse scientific and medical fields. The Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA) is a newly developed metaheuristic that draws inspiration from the foraging behavior of honey badgers. Similar to other metaheuristic algorithms, HBA encounters difficulties associated with exploitation, being trapped in local optima, and the pace at which it converges. This study aims to improve the performance of the original HBA by implementing the Enhanced Solution Quality (ESQ) method. This strategy helps to prevent becoming stuck in local optima and speeds up the convergence process. We conducted an assessment of the enhanced algorithm, mHBA, by utilizing a comprehensive collection of benchmark functions from IEEE CEC'2020. In this evaluation, we compared mHBA with well-established metaheuristic algorithms. mHBA demonstrates exceptional performance, as shown by both qualitative and quantitative assessments. Our study not only focuses on global optimization but also investigates the field of biomedical image segmentation, which is a crucial process in numerous applications involving digital image analysis and comprehension. We specifically focus on the problem of multi-level thresholding (MT) for medical image segmentation, which is a difficult process that becomes more challenging as the number of thresholds needed increases. In order to tackle this issue, we suggest a revised edition of the standard HBA, known as mHBA, which utilizes the ESQ approach. We utilized this methodology for the segmentation of Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI). The evaluation of mHBA utilizes existing metrics to gauge the quality and performance of its segmentation. This evaluation showcases the resilience of mHBA in comparison to many established optimization algorithms, emphasizing the effectiveness of the suggested technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, a better understanding of the molecular pathways guiding its development is imperative. A key factor in prostate cancer is autophagy, a cellular mechanism that affects both cell survival and death. Autophagy is essential in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is a physiological mechanism wherein redundant or malfunctioning cellular constituents are broken down and recycled. It is essential for preserving cellular homeostasis and is implicated in several physiological and pathological conditions, including cancer. Autophagy has been linked to metastasis, tumor development, and treatment resistance in prostate cancer. The deregulation of miRNAs related to autophagy appears to be a crucial element in the etiology of prostate cancer. These miRNAs influence the destiny of cancer cells by finely regulating autophagic mechanisms. Numerous investigations have emphasized the dual function of specific miRNAs in prostate cancer, which alter autophagy-related pathways to function as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Notably, miRNAs have been linked to the control of autophagy and the proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of prostate cancer cells. To create customized therapy approaches, it is imperative to comprehend the dynamic interplay between autophagy and miRNAs in prostate cancer. The identification of key miRNAs provides potential diagnostic and prognostic markers. Unraveling the complex network of lncRNAs, like PCA3, also expands the repertoire of molecular targets for therapeutic interventions. This review explores the intricate interplay between autophagy and miRNAs in prostate cancer, focusing on their regulatory roles in cellular processes ranging from survival to programmed cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve vital physiological functions, but aberrant ROS production contributes to numerous diseases. Unfortunately, therapeutic progress targeting pathogenic ROS has been hindered by the limited understanding of whether the mechanisms driving pathogenic ROS differ from those governing physiological ROS generation. To address this knowledge gap, we utilised a cellular model of Parkinson's disease (PD), as an exemplar of ROS-associated diseases. We exposed SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells to the PD-toxin, MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) and studied ROS upregulation leading to cell death, the primary cause of PD. We demonstrate: (1) MPP+ stimulates ROS production by raising cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels, rather than acting directly on mitochondria. (2) To raise the Ca2+, MPP+ co-stimulates NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) and the Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin2 (TRPM2) channel that form a positive feedback loop to support each other's function. (3) Ca2+ exacerbates mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) production not directly, but via Zn2+. (4) Zn2+ promotes electron escape from respiratory complexes, predominantly from complex III, to generate mtROS. These conclusions are drawn from data, wherein inhibition of TRPM2 and NOX2, chelation of Ca2+ and Zn2+, and prevention of electron escape from complexes -all abolished the ability of MPP+ to induce mtROS production and the associated cell death. Furthermore, calcium ionophore mimicked the effects of MPP+, while Zn2+ ionophore replicated the effects of both MPP+ and Ca2+. Thus, we unveil a previously unrecognized signalling circuit involving NOX2, TRPM2, Ca2+, Zn2+, and complex III that drives cytotoxic ROS production. This circuit lies dormant in healthy cells but is triggered by pathogenic insults and could therefore represent a safe therapeutic target for PD and other ROS-linked diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, one-pot method was designed for preparing nanocomposite material and its potential applications for water remediation. X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform infrared, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetry, and N2 adsorption and desorption isotherm techniques were used to examine the chemical and physical characteristics of the prepared nanomaterials. The developed nano-sized sorbent has a good surface area of about 106.788 m2 g−1. The synthesized nanocomposite was employed as a sorbent to remove several heavy metals, such as Cd(II), Cu(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Mn(II), and Cr(VI), and different pesticides (e.g., Diazinon, Parathion Methyl, Malathion, Parathion ethyl, Epoxide, DDE, Dieldrin, and Aldrin). The removal efficiencies were found to be in the range of 9.52–94.8%, 23.14–99.40%, and 8.91–85.50% for pesticides, heavy metals, and physical contaminants, respectively. In addition, the sorption capacities of the different metals ranged from 2.31 to 9.94 mg g−1, and from 2.67 to 28.00 mg g−1 for different pesticides. While it was 31.49–306.63 mg g−1 for physical contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold response in plants is mediated by metabolic adjustments of hormones and defense systems which support survival, growth, and crop productivity. Hence, a comparative analysis of metaboliteschangewas conducted in conjunction with oxidative damages in two chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes differing in cold-tolerance (Sel96th11439 and ILC533) during coldstress (4°C). In sensitive genotype, cold stress increased H2O2 and MDA contents by 47 and 57%, respectively, without any significant changes in tolerant genotype. During stress, unlike the tolerant genotype, the growth of sensitive genotype was markedly inhibited (by 11%) compared to control conditions. During the initial stages of cold responses, ABA content in tolerant genotype reached its peak, showing 77% increase 3 days post stress (dps), whereas the sensitive genotype showed 20% raise 6 dps. Gibberellin (GA) content in the tolerant genotype was 16% higher than the sensitive genotype 1 dps. Compared to control conditions, indole acetic acid (IAA) content attained its maximum level in tolerant and sensitive genotypes at 1 and 6 dps, respectively. 15% increase in phenol compoundsin tolerant genotype was concomitant with heightened antioxidant capacity, as well as increased in flavonoid and anthocyanin contents by 46, 75 and 200% respectively. At 6 dps, a significant increase in transcript levels of chalcone synthase (15.3-fold), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (3.5-fold), and DELLA (4.2-fold) genes were observed in tolerant genotype at 6 dps. It can be concluded that ability to develop defense responses towards cold stress was related to integrating time-dependent co-regulation patterns of hormone-metabolites with effective stability of plant pigments and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longevity, viability, vigor, and priming-memory are a complex network of agronomic traits that influences the capacity of seed germination and seedling development. Seed priming is a physiological method to improve germination performance under adverse environmental conditions, but the decrease in the longevity of primed seed during storage may limit its application. Therefore this study aimed to determine optimal storage condition for Ca2+-primed seeds. Here, the species-specific constants of viability and underlying seed protective mechanisms were determined for Ca2+-primed seeds under different storage conditions. Based on probit analysis of the survival data, the predicted physiological parameters of σ, P50, σ−1, Ki, CW, CH, KE, and seed vigor index for Ca2+-primed seeds were more similar to those determined for control seeds, suggesting the regulatory role of Ca2+ in controlling sustainable storability of the primed seeds. The loss of seed viability was accompanied by high accumulation of H2O2, causing oxidative damage, which results in lipid peroxidation (MDA), corresponding to higher leakage of seed leachate. The accumulation of antioxidant metabolites, activities of antioxidant enzymes, α-amylase activity, and soluble sugars content were more pronounced in seeds exposed to low storage T with less MC, leading to a better tolerance responses against deteriorative effects of aging. Hence, the findings of this study could be practical implications for managing the longevity of quinoa seeds and for adoption of the Ca2+-priming method on an agri-seed industry level to ensure ecological stability and global food security under current climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thinner and lower-cost building elements have begun to be developed as technology advances around the world and in our country. Cold-formed steel construction elements are one of the structural elements produced. Although its use is growing, cold-formed steel frames have limited resistance to fires, which is a significant concern in buildings. Great damage will be incurred if precautions against fires in these structures are not adopted. There are various insulation materials in cold-formed steel structures to ensure the safety of life and property against fire. In this experimental study, screw column-beam joints' post-fire behavior was investigated by using fire-protective intumescent paint on frames made of cold-formed steel structures. The beams formed by placing a gusset plate between the cold-rolled C200 profiles back-to-back are connected with self-tapping screws. A total of ten experimental setups depending on stiffening plate were created using C200 beam profiles with two different wall thicknesses, three different gusset plate wall thicknesses, and two different paint thicknesses. All of the ten full-scale specimens were heated in the furnace according to the ISO834 standard fire. The behavior of the specimens after the fire exposure, including the moment-rotation curves and failure modes, was determined by arranging the data into four groups for comparison. In addition, the current studies existing in the literature on the behavior of unprotected members in fire were compared to the outcome reported in this paper. As a conclusion of the test results, the intumescent paint applied as a fire protection to the structural connections of the cold-formed steel members improved their fire resistance considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of anti-fire paint with different thicknesses of 100, 200, and 400 microns on the post-fire behavior of cylindrical tanks under external pressure. For this purpose, we investigate the buckling modes of the cylindrical tank specimens after they are exposed to fire. Different fire temperatures of 300, 450, and 600 ℃ were investigated. A total of 22 specimens were fabricated in the laboratory. The specimens have been divided into three groups, the first group without any anti-fire, the second group include the anti-fire paint on their inner skin and the last group have the anti-fire paint both on inner and outer faces of the tank. In the second part of the study, to determine the effects of anti-fire paint numerically, the finite element models were created in Abaqus software. Numerical models were verified by Experimental data, with an error rate at initial buckling 5.4%, overall buckling 6.17% and collapse 7.88%. The results showed that the samples with 100-micron-thick anti-fire paint on both outer and inner surfaces did not show any significant difference compared to unpainted specimens under buckling load. However, the cylindrical specimen with 200-micron-thick anti-fire paint on both outer and inner surfaces was found to be fire resistant up to 450 ℃ and displayed similar behaviors with the perfect one (unpainted and not exposed to fire). Moreover, the specimens with 400-micron-thick anti-fire paint were also found to be resistant to fire up to 450°; however, the collapse loads of these specimens were greater than the overall buckling load of the specimens with 200-micron thick anti-fire paint. Numerical and experimental results show a good agreement, the stress distribution and plastic equivalent strain values were parallel with the buckling load capacity of the specimen. As a result, the thickness of the anti-fire paint directly affects the fire resistance of cylinder steel, and with a validated finite element model, it is possible to predict the paint thickness that can withstand specific fire temperatures in large shell structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steel elements may experience a decrease in strength and load-carrying capacity over time due to environmental effects, with corrosion damage, a significant risk for steel, leading to section and mass losses in the element. This study examined the changes in the bending and compressive strengths of square hollow steel sections (SHSS) made of S235JR steel. These SHSS are commonly used to form various load-bearing components in steel structures found in industrial buildings, warehouses, workshops, factories, piers, coastal areas, offshore installations, transportation, tourism, and more. The study involved subjecting these SHSS to an accelerated corrosion process at different rates (10–20%) to simulate the effects of environmental degradation. To assess the impact of corrosion and potential reinforcements, these elements' bending and compressive behaviors were investigated in this research, performed repair and reinforcement using three different materials: glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) on SHSS specimens that had experienced 10% and 20% mass loss due to corrosion. In the instances of 10% and 20% corrosion, the reference specimen, when reinforced with BFRP, CFRP, and GFRP, exhibited the highest compressive strength in the CFRP-reinforced profile, with increases of 17.8% and 7.5%, respectively. When the reference specimen was reinforced with BFRP, CFRP, and GFRP, the highest flexural strength was observed in the CFRP-reinforced profile in the cases of 10% and 20% corrosion, with increases in 34.5% and 45.6%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The behavior of Abscisic acid (ABA) as a stress phytohormone may be involved in mechanisms leading to tolerance and survival in adverse environmental conditions such as drought stress. Methods: Here, we evaluated ABA-mediated responses at physio-biochemical and molecular levels in drought-stressed seedlings of two different Desi-type chickpea genotypes (10 as a tolerant genotype and 247 as a sensitive one). Results: Under drought stress, two chickpea genotypes showed a decrease in their relative water content (RWC), and the intense decrease was related to the sensitive genotype (73.9%) in severe stress. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concomitant with the severity of stress increased in genotypes and the higher increase was in the sensitive genotype (5.8-fold and 3.43-fold, respectively). In the tolerant genotype, the enhanced accumulation of total phenolic content (1.75-fold) and radical scavenging action, based on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl test (DPPH), (1.69-fold) were simultaneous with ABA accumulation (1.53-fold). In the tolerant genotype, transcriptional analysis presented upregulation of Zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) (1.35-fold), 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) (5.16-fold), and Abscisic aldehyde oxidase (AAO) (1.52-fold compared to control conditions) genes in severe stress in comparison with mild stress. The sensitive genotype had a declining trend in total chlorophyll (up to 70%) and carotenoid contents (36%). The main conclusion to be drawn from this investigation is that ABA with its regulatory effects can affect drought tolerance mechanisms to alleviate adverse effects of unsatisfactory environmental conditions. Conclusions: In this paper, we tried to indicate that drought stress induces overexpression of genes triggering ABA-mediated drought responses simultaneously in two genotypes while more increment expression was related to the tolerant genotype. At first thought, it seems that the tolerant genotype compared to the sensitive genotype has a genetically inherent ability to cope with and drop adverse effects of drought stress through over-accumulation of ABA as drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Ecology is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Natural killer (NK) cells are a critical component of innate immunity, particularly in initial cancer recognition and inhibition of additional tumor growth or metastasis propagation. NK cells recognize transformed cells without prior sensitization via stimulatory receptors and rapidly eradicate them. However, the protective tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor escaping via induction of an exhaustion state in immune cells, including NK cells. Hence, genetic manipulation of NK cells for specific identification of tumor-associated antigens or a more robust response against tumor cells is a promising strategy for NK cells' tumoricidal augmentation. Regarding the remarkable achievement of engineered CAR-T cells in treating hematologic malignancies, there is evolving interest in CAR-NK cell recruitment in cancer immunotherapy. Innate functionality of NK cells, higher safety, superior in vivo maintenance, and the off-the-shelf potential move CAR-NK-based therapy superior to CAR-T cells treatment. In this review, we have comprehensively discussed the recent genetic manipulations of CAR-NK cell manufacturing regarding different domains of CAR constructs and their following delivery systems into diverse sources of NK cells. Then highlight the preclinical and clinical investigations of CAR-NK cells and examine the current challenges and prospects as an optimistic remedy in cancer immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the moment–rotation characteristic on cold-formed steel (CFS) screwed back-to-back sections with varied beam and gusset plate thicknesses is investigated in this work. Twelve full-scale studies were used to determine their behavior. The results reveal that the moment resistance values increase in direct proportion to the thickness of the beam. In addition, the ratio of beam thickness (“ t ”) to gusset plate thickness (“ t p ”) is critical in calculating rotation capacity, energy dissipation values, and cost-effective design. The ductility of the joint values is also affected by the thickness of the gusset plates. Furthermore, the failure modes of the all-specimens tests show that the gusset plate thickness can be reduced to make the system more cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa as halophytic plant species often cultivates in arid environments, where seed germination and seedling growth are markedly influenced. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of CaCl2 priming in alleviating the adverse effects of osmotic stress on seed germination, seedling growth, and underlying biochemical mechanisms. Seed priming was performed with different concentrations of CaCl2 (5, 10, and 15 mM) at priming temperatures of 5, 10, and 15°C for different durations. Thus, treated seeds with the optimized priming protocol and non-primed (control) seed germinated in different osmotic potentials of PEG (0, –4, –8, –12, and –16 bar). The findings showed that primed seeds with 15 mM CaCl2 for 30 h at 5°C recorded the highest osmotic tolerance in seeds. The osmotic stress caused an increment in the accumulation of H2O2 and thereby increased the process of lipid peroxidation (MDA), leading to a reduction in germination performance and seedling development. However, the improvement of Ca2+-primed seed vigor against osmotic stress was accompanied by an increase in the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, PPO, and GPX) and higher accumulation of antioxidant metabolites (total antioxidant activity, phenolic, and flavonoids) in seeds during priming as well as in early seedling growth. Furthermore, the tolerance of primed seeds to osmotic stress also was developed by increasing the content of proline, glycine betaine, and soluble sugar in seeds, resulting in an improvement in germination and seedling growth. Therefore, induction of stress memory in quinoa seeds by CaCl2 priming could be an effective method to improve the tolerance mechanism against osmotic stress in germinating seeds of quinoa, especially in arid ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin-walled cylindrical tanks are used in many civil engineering applications. In the past ten years, various methods have been used to confinement the cylindrical tanks; one of these methods is using CFRP. In this study, the tanks were confinement by using CFRP (The CFRP confinements were decided for 50 mm in width) in two different ways (Spiral (S) and horizontal (H)) at different distances (100,200 and 300 mm), and the effect of CFRP on the buckling capacity was examined. The models present how the spiral and horizontal CFRP confinement can improve buckling capacity. Results show that the gradual decreases in the initial, overall, and collapse buckling loads resulted from increasing CFRP strip distance of 100 mm to 300 mm in the two groups. Also, the results observed are generally by some of the international standards and the theories related to buckling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we aim to develop a new subspace-based method for Direction Of Arrival estimation (direction-finding) using coherent wide band (WB) or ultra-wide band (UWB) signals. Subspace-based methods are well-established in the incoherent narrow band signals context; nevertheless, only a few of them are adapted to the case of WB or UWB coherent signals. Specifically, the proposed method is applied in the spectral domain using a zoomed digital Fourier transform achieved by chirped Z transform instead of the classical fast Fourier transform and does not need a decorrelation process. Then, it is implemented in a real-life application using single-input multiple-output UWB radar. The obtained results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed method compared with the existing methods in both simulated and real-life data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally applied to a painting for protection purposes, a varnish layer becomes yellow over time, making the painting undergo an appearance change. Upon this change, the conservators start a process that entails removing the old layer of varnish and applying a new one. As widely discussed in the literature, helping the conservators through supplying them with the probable outcome of the varnish removal can be of great value to them, aiding in the decision making process regarding varnish removal. This help can be realized through virtual cleaning, which in simple terms, refers to simulation of the cleaning process outcome. There have been different approaches devised to tackle the problem of virtual cleaning, each of which tries to develop a method that virtually cleans the artwork in a more accurate manner. Although successful in some senses, the majority of them do not possess a high level of accuracy. Prior approaches suffer from a range of shortcomings such as a reliance on identifying locations of specific colors on the painting, the need to access a large set of training data, or their lack of applicability to a wide range of paintings. In this work, we develop a Deep Generative Network to virtually clean the artwork. Using this method, only a small area of the painting needs to be physically cleaned prior to virtual cleaning. Using the cleaned and uncleaned versions of this small area, the entire unvarnished painting can be estimated. It should be noted that this estimation is performed in the spectral reflectance domain and herein it is applied to hyperspectral imagery of the work. The model is first applied to a Macbeth ColorChecker target (as a proof of concept) and then to real data of a small impressionist panel by Georges Seurat (known as 'Haymakers at Montfermeil' or just 'Haymakers'). The Macbeth ColorChecker is simulated in both varnished and unvarnished forms, but in the case of the 'Haymakers', we have real hyperspectral imagery belonging to both states. The results of applying the Deep Generative Network show that the proposed method has done a better job virtually cleaning the artwork compared to a physics-based method in the literature. The results are presented through visualization in the sRGB color space and also by computing Euclidean distance and spectral angle (calculated in the spectral reflectance domain) between the virtually cleaned artwork and the physically cleaned one. The ultimate goal of our virtual cleaning algorithm is to enable pigment mapping and identification after virtual cleaning of the artwork in a more accurate manner, even before the process of physical cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00242-y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a type of glaucoma with a normal appearance of anterior chamber angle. The molecular etiology of POAG is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the possible role of non-coding RNAs in POAG. The down-regulation patterns were observed for 2495 probs, and 5548 probs were up-regulated. These 8043 up/down-regulated probs bind to 4984 different genes. In POAG patients, 2992 mRNAs and 675 lncRNAs were up-regulated, while 1001 mRNAs and 316 lncRNAs showed a down-regulation pattern. Notably, 45 lncRNAs, 15 miRNAs, and 31 mRNAs were identified as involved in the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in the down-regulated lncRNA-mRNA network, while 32 lncRNAs, 18 miRNAs, and 205 mRNAs were involved in the lncRNA-mRNA up-regulated network. In that, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-19b-3p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-497-5p, and hsa-miR-103a-3p were miRNA hubs, while SDHAP1, SLC6A10P, CCT6P3, MCM3AP-AS1, LINC00461, and DDX12P were lncRNA hubs in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. This in-silico POAG-related ceRNA network modeling establishes the critical role of lncRNAs and miRNAs in the molecular etiology of POAG. Further studies are required to characterize POAG-specific ceRNA hubs as biomarkers and target molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrothermal modeling and simulation of power electronics semiconductors are crucial for the efficient optimization of power electronics circuits and systems. For this purpose, accurate, but not too complex, electrothermal models of power semiconductors are needed for use in commercially available power electronic circuit simulators such as PSpice. In this paper, the electrothermal modeling of the power CoolMOS transistor using Pspice is carried out. The CoolMOS electrothermal model is implemented in PSpice circuit simulation platform using the standard components and Analog Behavior Modeling blocks. The Model consists of electrical and thermal part where their parameters are extracted from the manufacturer's datasheet curves. The proposed electro-thermal model is able to represent the electrical and thermal behaviors accurately. The correctness of the proposed model was verified by comparing the simulation results with the manufacturer's data-sheet curves. The achieved simulation results of the proposed model coincide well with the results of the datasheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity restricts seed germination and seedling growth through induction of osmotic and oxidative stresses. Therefore, this study aimed to enhance salinity tolerance in quinoa seed by pre-optimized osmo-priming treatments of CaCl2 (10 mM, 10 °C, 10 h) and KNO3 (150 mM, 5 °C, 24 h). The results showed that these treatments developed the cellular defense mechanisms in seeds as 'priming memory' that could improve the physiological and biochemical responses to salinity in post-priming stages. The germination capacity and seedling growth decreased with increasing salinity that was accompanied with a higher content of MDA and H2O2. However, the improvement of primed seed vigor against high salinity was explained by increasing the biological defense mechanisms including antioxidant enzymes (CAT, APX, SOD, GPX and PPO) and antioxidant metabolites (DPPH antioxidant activity, phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid), particularly in presence of salt stress. In addition, Ca2+ and K+ priming acquired salinity tolerance in post-priming stages through a significant increase in the accumulation of proline, glycine-betaine, soluble carbohydrate. Improvement in homeostasis of K+/Na+ ratio by promoting K+ maintenance and Na+ exclusion was also found in post-priming stages. These observations may be utilized as effective methods in improving salinity tolerance of quinoa seed germination in saline agriculture by improving the antioxidant system, osmolyte accumulation and mineral nutrient homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gesunde Pflanzen is the property of Springer Nature 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 varnish layer that is applied to a painting, generally to protect it, yellows over time, deteriorating the original look of the painting. This prompts conservators to undertake a cleaning process to remove the old varnish and apply a new one. Providing the conservators with the likely appearance of the painting before the cleaning process starts can be helpful to them, which can be done through virtual cleaning. Virtual cleaning is simply the simulation of the cleaning process. Previous works in this area required the method to have access to black and white paint regions, or physically removing the varnish first at a few spots. Through looking at the problem of virtual cleaning differently, we try to address those shortcomings. To do so, we propose using a convolutional neural network (CNN) to tackle the problem of virtual cleaning. The CNN is trained on artificially yellowed images of people, urban and rural areas, and color charts, as well as their original versions. The network is then applied to various paintings with similar scene content. The results of the method are first compared to the only physical model in the virtual cleaning field. We compare the outputs from the proposed method and the physical model by visualization as well as a quantitative measure that calculates the spectral similarity between the outputs and the reference images. These results show that the proposed method outperforms the physical model. The CNN is also applied to images of the Mona Lisa and The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, both painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Results show both a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the color quality of the resulting image compared to their reference images. The CNN developed here is also compared to a CNN that has been developed for the purpose of image colorization in the literature to demonstrate the effectiveness of the CNN devised here, showing that the CNN architecture herein leads to a better result. The novelty of the work proposed herein lies in two premises. First, the accuracy of the method, which is demonstrated through comparison with the only physical approach derived until now. Second is the generalizability of the method which is shown through blindly applying the method to two famous works of art for which no information but an RGB image of the uncleaned artwork is known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides may manipulate plant physiology as non-target organisms. In this study, we examined biochemical responses of pistachio plants (Pistacia vera L.) to imidacloprid and phosalone as common pesticides used to control pistachio psyllids. Enzymatic characterization in treated plants with pesticides showed greater specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase compared with untreated plants during 14 days after treatment. Further experiments displayed elevated levels of total phenols and total proteins coupled with significant increases in proline and total soluble carbohydrate contents in treated plants in comparison to untreated plants. Moreover, pesticide treatment leads to a significant decrease in polyphenol oxidase activity. Nevertheless, no significant changes in contents of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, total chlorophyll, and electrolyte leakage index were obtained in treated plants. Pesticides' impacts on host plant physiology resulted in similar responses between two pesticides with differences in peak days. Overall, the findings of this study provide an insight into the side effects of phosalone and imidacloprid, chemicals with no specific target site in plants, on the physiology and biochemistry of pistachio plants at recommended rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper fruits are subjected to various postharvest diseases such as black mold caused by Alternaria alternata. The efficacy of exogenous applications of salicylic acid (SA) in bulk and nanoscale forms to control the black mold was studied. In vitro studies revealed that both SA bulk materials and SA nanoparticles (SANPs) at 1.4 mM significantly suppressed the growth of A. alternata, yet SANPs showed a higher suppressive effect compared to SA bulk equivalent. Examinations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed hyphal and conidial deformations in addition to changes in cellular structure of A. alternata when treated with both forms of SA at 1.4 mM concentration. The preharvest spraying of SANPs at 1.4 mM displayed the highest significant suppression of disease severity under artificial inoculation and natural infection of pepper fruits. The efficiency of SA bulk materials and SANPs as elicitors to stimulate the innate immune responses in pepper plants were also investigated. The basic PR-1 gene (CaBPR1), beta-1, 3-glucanase (CaBGLU) and peroxidase (CaPO1) defense-related genes showed upregulation expression in leaves of pepper plants treated by both forms of SA. The expression of the three studied genes was affected by SA concentrations. Levels of expression of PR-1, β-1, 3-glucanase and peroxidase genes were the highest (8.8, 8.1 and 7.2 fold change, respectively) in pepper tissues treated with SANPs at 1.4 mM. This study contributes to our understanding of the potential use of SA nanoparticles as a safe strategy to inhibit the fungal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosensors are the devices that find application in almost every field nowadays. In this paper, GaN MOSHEMT based biosensor is proposed for detection of biomolecules such as ChOx, protein, streptavidin and Uricase. The effect of biomolecule species on the performance parameters of the device has been studied. It has been observed that there is a significant increase in the drain current and gd is observed with the addition of biomolecule in the nanocavity. The electron concentration contour is studied which shows the rise of carrier concentration with biomolecule. Maximum positive shift is observed in threshold voltage for Uricase due to lowest dielectric constant. Similarly, the change in transconductance is also obtained with biomolecules. The effect of cavity dimensions on sensitivity is also studied. The maximum increase of 10% in channel potential is noted due biomolecule presence in the cavity. This device has shown good sensing and can be used for biosensing applications efficiently in addition to the high power performance of MOS-HEMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature (LT) and Ascochyta blight are two major stresses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivation. After exposure to LT treatments (acclimation, LT, acclimation + LT and control conditions), we evaluated induced responses by pathogen infection in LT-sensitive (ILC533) and -tolerant (Sel96Th11439) chickpea genotypes. In relation to genotype-specific defense reactions, tolerant plants responded more effective to the infection compared to sensitive plants, particularly after an acclimation treatment. LT treatments, and in particular an acclimation treatment, induced a significant decrease in disease symptoms 7 and 14 days after inoculation. Histopathological studies showed more infection throughout the cells of the sensitive genotype under control conditions. The minimal spread of the pathogen was observed in the tolerant genotype after acclimation treatment, and the infected plants did not contain pycnidia or hyphae of the pathogen. The electrolyte leakage index (ELI) and amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) after LT treatments were less than the values compared to post pathogen infection, indicating a difference in the degree of oxidative stress. Lower levels of pathogen-induced oxidative stress (ELI and MDA) and better photosynthetic efficiency (measured as Fv/Fm values) show that the tolerant genotype exposed to LT treatments acclimate better to the stress conditions compared to the sensitive genotype. Higher transcript levels for the superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase were detected during pathogen infection, particularly during the acclimation treatment, which might confirm lower oxidative stress in tolerant plants compared to sensitive plants. It is concluded that LT increased the capacity for tolerance to Ascochyta blight in chickpea plants and this was correlated with the stimulation of mechanisms involved in defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a collection of mobile, decentralized and self-organizing nodes that are used in special cases such as medical and military purposes. Securing mobile ad hoc network MANET is a crucial research issue. The properties of MANET impede the protection of the network's environment against attacks. MANET as an open area of wireless mobile nodes allow external attackers to join the network easily and masquerade legitimate nodes. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to develop a distributed, self-organizing and hybrid intelligent model, called dendritic cell fuzzy algorithm (DCFA), for security routing in MANET. The DCFA model inspiring the detection functionality of dendritic cells (DCs) in human immune system (HIS) and the accurate decision-making functionality of fuzzy logic theory to detect network attacks in MANET. The DCFA model is developed and validated by detecting a flooding-based attack, namely, a resource consumption attack (RCA). QualNet v5.0.2 is used as a simulation environment to test the capability of DCFA in detecting RCA over MANET. The results show the capability of DCFA to perform the detection operation with high efficiency and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that the use of thin-walled shells is expanding every day, it is important to examine the problem of instability in this form of structure. Many steel structures such as high-water tanks, water and oil reservoirs, marine structures, and pressure vessels, including shell elements, are under stress tension. In addition, shell elements are subject to instability owing to the loads applied. Ten thin-walled cylindrical shell specimens in two groups with different dent depths of tc and 2tc, and the different dent number subject to uniform external pressure were tested in the present research (tc is the thickness of cylindrical shell). The samples were modified to include either one or two dent line with amplitudes of h/3 in height (h the height of cylinder shell). Moreover, CFRP Strips on the dent depth was used in one of the groups. The results of testing under different theories and codes are compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the experimental and numerical results of six full-scale beam-to-column connections with bolted end plates in two groups. The effects of vertical and horizontal stiffeners on the static behaviour of the semi-rigid beam-to-column bolted connections were investigated. In addition, the aim of this research was to analyse the influence of end-plate connections that utilize the IPE profile with stiffeners welded on the behaviour of steel connections, to provide the necessary data for improving Eurocode 3, efficient use of residue IPE profiles and back to the consumption cycle. Furthermore, finite-element and experimental models of semi-rigid vertical and horizontal stiffened bolted connections were tested and compared. The main parameters observed are the evolution of the resistance, the stiffness, the rotation capacity, the ductility of a joint, failure mode and the energy dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erythropoietin (EPO) is an important hormone responsible for the stimulation of hematopoiesis which is impaired in a variety of diseases, such as chronic kidney disease, cancer chemotherapy, and the use of some anti-HIV drugs. Difficulties in the purification of endogenous EPO due to problems such as technical limitations, heterogeneity of target cells, inadequate amount and immunogenicity of the resultant product, had limited the entry of endogenous EPO in the clinical applications. The integration of medical biotechnology and hematology has introduced novel procedures for the production of human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO), and other erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). To investigate and produce rHuEPO, the first step is to recognize the molecular biology and functional pathways, structure, metabolism, and basic physiology of EPO. In this review, all clinical indications, side effects, challenges and notable points regarding EPO, rHuEPO, and other ESAs have also been addressed along with its molecular characterization, such as the modifications needed to optimize their rHuEPO biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusion complexes of cucurbit[n]uril, CBn, with atrazine (ATZ) and ametryne (AME) herbicides were investigated in aqueous media and solid state. Mass spectrometry using matrix assisted laser desorption time-of-flight, MALDI-TOF, and 1HNMR techniques were used to characterize the inclusion complexes prepared in aqueous media. The solid complexes between the triazine herbicides and CBn hosts were prepared by lyophilization and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) technique. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to study the mechanism of inclusion and to monitor the stability of these complexes in aqueous media. Analysis of the MD trajectories has shown that both triazines form stable complexes with CBn in aqueous media throughout the simulation time. The stability of these complexes was found to originate from the hydrophobic effects where both hosts prefer to accommodate the nonpolar cavity of the hosts. It was observed that CB6 is capable of encapsulating only the isopropyl side chain of the guests, whereas the other two hosts were able to accommodate the major parts of the guests. A number of strong hydrogen bonds between the hosts and the guests further increased the stability of the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports an investigation into new connection types and their behaviors determined using full-scale experiments. T-shaped connections were created using the IPE standard profile. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of T connections based on the IPE standard profile, height of beam to height of T-stub joint (H) of T-stub joints, and lengths (X) of T-stub joints on the behavior of steel connections, in order to provide the necessary data for improving Eurocode 3 and enable efficient use of residue IPE standard profiles and back to the consumption cycle. While the moment resistance values increased with an increase in H from Hmin to Hmax in model groups with X of 126 mm, and the energy dissipation increased with an increase in H from Hmin to Hmax and also with an increase in the lengths (X) of T-stub joints from 54 to 126 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three nanoparticles’ materials are prepared, characterized and their performance was evaluated for efficient removal of five organochlorine, one organofluorine and six different kinds of bacteria. Gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy have been used to monitor the pesticides concentration before and after treatment by these prepared materials. Graphene gives the most efficient removal of these pesticides than graphene-silver composite but the later is more efficient for remediation of water contaminated with different kinds of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus uticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), is globally one of the most devastating pests that feed on numerous crops, including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of genotype and morphological attributes of common bean on T. uticae. Forty common bean accessions were used to investigate antixenosis and antibiosis through assessing mite feeding preference and reproduction under laboratory conditions. Three resistant (i.e., 56, 63, 238) and two susceptible (i.e., 182, 236) accessions, along with cultivars Naz (resistant) and Akhtar (susceptible), were used in a life-table study. Both antixenosis and antibiosis mechanism were observed in all of the accessions, albeit a negative correlation occurred. Significant differences were observed for all traits of T. urticae: developmental time of immature stages, reproduction, adult longevity and life-table parameters. Based on the intrinsic rate of increase, the accessions 56, 63, 182, 238, and cv. Naz impose high antibiotic effects on T. urticae. Although significant variation existed among accessions for morphological factors, only glandular trichomes correlated with mite fecundity and feeding preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) usually accounts for < 1% of all strokes. Global disparity and diversity in their demographics, etiology, clinical features, radiological presentation, and mortality have not been previously explored. A systematic search was performed for publications in PubMed using key words "cerebral venous thrombosis," "Cerebral vein thrombosis," and "Cortical vein Thrombosis." A total of 600 relevant studies were abstracted with strict selection criteria, and a total of 7048 patient's data were used for the final analysis. The frequency and relative frequency statistics were used to describe the data. Cases reported were Europe-3152, Asia-2722, North America-852, Africa-122, Australia-121, and South America-79. Overall male to female ratio was 1:2.2; among clinical characteristics, headache was the most common symptom and hematological factors were the most common etiology. Location of the thrombosis was described mostly in the transverse sinus. Intercontinental differences in relation to demographics, etiology, clinical features, radiological presentation, and mortality were identified. CVT can have significant disparity in their demographics, etiology, clinical features, radiological presentation, and mortality when compared from one continent to other. It is important for the worldwide physicians to recognize these differences and to follow the most recent guidelines, diagnostic methods, and treatment to insure the best outcome and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrogeneration of pure 4,4′-di- tert-butylbiphenyl peroxide as an electrodeposit could be achieved on a platinum electrode through the anodic oxidation of p-tert butylphenol in the presence of Lutidine, in addition to several soluble oligomers. The electrochemical and theoretical studies have shown that the favored coupling reaction corresponds to the O-O bond, albeit it is generally being considered unstable. Without the strong base, a mixture of trimer, tetramer and pentamer was deposited. The peroxide product presents a different electroactivity to that of the phenolic compound, with the appearance of a redox process involving cathodic and anodic symmetrical peaks at −0.10/0.15 V versus SCE, which indicates the preference of the polymer to adhere onto the electrode surface. The thermal degradation has also been analyzed. Quantum-chemical calculations reveal the reason for the oxygen-oxygen coupling. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the experimental results of twenty full scale specimens of steel bolted connections beam-to-column with top-and-seat angles in six groups, labelled L91-tp8, L82-tp8, L73-tp8, L91-tp10, L82-tp10 and L73-tp10 groups (L=length of top-and-seat angle, tp=stiffener thickness of top-and-seat angle), under static loading. This study was undertaken to analyse the influence of angles and beams with stiffeners on the behaviour of the beam-to-column joints. The main parameters observed are the evolution of the resistance, the stiffness, the rotation capacity, the ductility of a joint, and the energy dissipation capacity. The aim was to provide necessary data to improve the Eurocode 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress (CS) signals are translated into physiological changes as products of direct and/or indirect of gene expression regulated by different factors like DNA methylation. In this study, some of these factors were comparatively studied in two chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes (Sel96Th11439, cold-tolerant genotype, and ILC533, cold susceptible one) under control (23 °C) and days 1, 3, and 6 after exposing the seedlings to CS (4 °C). Under CS, tolerant genotype prevented HO accumulation which led to a decrease in damage indices (malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage index) compared to susceptible one. The significant activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase) along with a significant proportion of change in DNA methylation/demethylation patterns were often effective factors in preserving cell against cold-induced oxidative stress. Chickpea cells in response to CS changed access to their genome as the number of bands without change from day 1 to day 6 of exposure to CS particularly in tolerant genotype was decreased. During CS, the methylation level was higher compared to demethylation (29.05 vs 19.79 %) in tolerant genotype and (27.92 vs 22.09 %) in susceptible one. However, for prolonged periods of CS, changes in demethylated bands in tolerant genotype were higher than that of in susceptible one (9.24 vs 4.13 %), indicating higher potential for activation of CS responsive genes. Such a status along with higher activity of antioxidants and less damage indices could be related to cold tolerance (CT) mechanisms in chickpea. Sequencing analysis confirmed the important role of some specific DNA sequences in creating CT with possible responsive components involved in CS. Thus, dynamic assessment using multi-dimensional approaches allows us to progressively fill in the gaps between physio-biochemical and molecular events in creating CT, to comprehend better the nature of the plant stress response and molecular mechanisms behind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effect of TiO nanoparticles (NPs) on metabolic and molecular traits involved in photosynthesis of two chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes (Sel96Th11439, cold tolerant genotype, and ILC533, cold susceptible one) during cold stress (4°C). The data analysis showed that hydrogen peroxide (HO) content increased more extremely under cold in susceptible plants than in tolerant ones. TiO NPs caused a significant decrease in HO content so that tolerant plants showed lower HO content than susceptible ones. This decrease often was accompanied with higher metabolic potential for photosynthesis particularly in tolerant plants. Under thermal treatments, TiO NPs significantly increased the activity of Rubisco compared to control plants although its activity decreased significantly under cold comparison with optimum temperature. Along with a decreasing in HO content, more photosynthetic activity at the transcription levels of CaLRubisco, CaSRubisco and Cachlorophyll a/ b-binding protein genes in a simultaneous manner particularly in plants treated with TiO NPs ensure the acclimation of plants to survival or recovery. Under such status, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) activity increased particularly in tolerant plants compared to susceptible ones as well as in plants treated with TiO NPs compared to control plants, indicating probably an increase in energy efficiency through different mechanisms like malate. Thus, chickpea tolerance responses to cold stress may occur after TiO NPs application on plants through managing the pressure of temperature decline damage and altered metabolism for plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In creating cold tolerance, plant cells induce cascades of alterations in metabolic pathways including, phenylpropanoid pathway, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the regulation of gene expression. In this study, some such responses were comparatively studied in two chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes, Kabuli (Sel96Th11439) and Desi (4322) under control (23°C) and days 2 and 4 after exposing the seedlings to cold stress (4°C) in acclimated and non-acclimated plants. Under cold, the contents of hydrogen peroxide (HO) in Kabuli plants were lower than that of Desi plants particularly in acclimated plants. In acclimated plants, antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) and total phenolic compounds had an important role in creating greater cold tolerance. Under these conditions, a high transcription level of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase ( CaPAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase ( CaCAD) and CaLaccase genes was detected in acclimated plants which was accompanied with an increase in lignin contents. The above results indicate the crucial role of phenylpropanoid pathway in creating cold tolerance particularly in Kabuli chickpea plants, which leads to decreased levels of injuries and increased capacity in defense systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of a runway beam for overhead cranes is of great importance when constructing steel structures, as is the lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) value obtained for I-beam sections. Therefore, engineers must always consider the optimal design of these beams under overhead cranes loads. In this study, runway beams of three overhead crane groups were analyzed for LTB, and a sinusoidal runway beam body was developed. These runway beams with different sinusoidal angles were analyzed by using the finite element method (ABAQUS) and compared to each other and other runway IPE-IPN beam sections; furthermore, all models were compared with the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction standard. As a result, a new method was proposed for developing sinusoidal runway beams for overhead cranes. The sinusoidal runway beam has lower weight than runway IPE-IPN beam sections. Ultimately, a sinusoidal beam body was developed practically with a scale of 1:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cells often increase cold tolerance by reprogramming their genes expression which results in adjusted metabolic alternations, a process enhanced under cold acclimation. In present study, we assessed the changes of membrane fatty acid compositions along with physio-biochemical indices like HO and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity during cold stress (CS) phases in acclimated and non-acclimated durum (SRN and Gerdish) and bread (Norstar) wheat genotypes. During thermal treatments, MDA was an end product of lipid peroxidation via oxidative stress (HO content) rather than LOX activity. LOX activity plays a double role in mechanism of cold tolerance in wheat, particularly at severe stress. With increase in severity of CS especially in non-acclimated plants, LOX activity decreased along with an increase in MDA and other responses helped increase or maintaine unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) whereas in acclimated plants (moderate CS), increasing of LOX activity along with a decrease in MDA indicates probably its role in secondary metabolites like jasmonic acid signaling pathway. Significant increase of total FAs and particularly unsaturated FAs showed distinct cell endeavor to protect against CS in Norstar and Gerdish compared to SRN genotype. Results showed that an increase in double bond index and LOX activity and low MDA under CS could be reasons for plant cold tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]