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Strut‐and‐tie modeling (STM) is commonly employed in the design of multiple pile caps in bridge structures. However, the construction of the model can be complicated by manual and experience‐related challenges. Based on load‐path modeling (LPM), this study presents analytical solutions for solving the elastic stress distribution in multiple‐pile caps with various structural configurations. This is accomplished by employing the transparent LPM approach that combines graphical and analytical features. It is found that the LPM is able to capture the distribution of transverse tensile stresses in the bottom region of multiple‐pile caps. At the same time, direct equations are developed to calculate the resultant transverse tension forces in multiple‐pile caps. The LPM results can be used as a quantitative basis for constructing strut‐and‐tie models. Finally, a worked example is provided to show the efficiency of the proposed LPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Connectivity Augmentation Problem (CAP) together with a well-known special case thereof known as the Tree Augmentation Problem (TAP) are among the most basic Network Design problems. There has been a surge of interest recently to find approximation algorithms with guarantees below 2 for both TAP and CAP, culminating in the currently best approximation factor for both problems of 1.393 through quite sophisticated techniques. We present a new and arguably simple matching-based method for the well-known special case of leaf-to-leaf instances. Combining our work with prior techniques, we readily obtain a (4 / 3 + ε) -approximation for Leaf-to-Leaf CAP by returning the better of our solution and one of an existing method. Prior to our work, a 4 / 3 -guarantee was only known for Leaf-to-Leaf TAP instances on trees of height 2. Moreover, when combining our technique with a recently introduced stack analysis approach, which is part of the above-mentioned 1.393-approximation, we can further improve the approximation factor to 1.29, obtaining for the first time a factor below 4 3 for a nontrivial class of TAP/CAP instances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny 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.)

Among the different hydrogen premixed combustion concepts, direct injection (DI) is one of the most promising for internal combustion engine (ICE) applications. However, to fully exploit the benefits of this solution, the optimization of the mixture preparation process is a crucial factor. In the present work, a study of the hydrogen-air mixture formation process in a DI H 2 -ICE for off-road applications was performed through 3D-CFD simulations. First, a sensitivity analysis on the injection timing was carried out to select the optimal injection operating window, capable of maximizing mixture homogeneity, without a significant volumetric efficiency reduction. Then, different spray injector guiding caps were tested to assess their effect on in-cylinder dynamics and mixture characteristics consequently. Finally, the impact of swirl intensity on hydrogen distribution has been assessed. The optimization of the combustion chamber geometry has allowed the achievement of significant improvements in terms of mixture homogeneity. • Diesel engines have high retrofit potential in H2 conversion. • Early injection timings increase uniformity, H2 backflow has to be avoided. • Injector cap properly guide hydrogen jet; not sufficient as a stand-alone solution. • Intense swirl severely reduces mixture homogeneity into the cylinder. • Combination of spray cap and swirl chamfers design improves homogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the ease of propagating fruit tree species through cloning, the economic viability of their breeding programs hinges on protecting breeders' rights. This necessitates the development of highly accurate DNA markers for cultivar identification. Here, we present a methodology for the rapid design of cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers to discriminate newly bred Japanese citrus cultivars from genetically related cultivars. We first compared the performance of ddRAD-seq and MIG-seq in citrus germplasm. The ddRAD-seq libraries generated using EcoRI and HindIII restriction enzymes yielded the highest number of polymorphisms. Subsequently, ddRAD-seq with EcoRI and HindIII was employed to analyze 29 citrus cultivars and thus identify 331,801 genome-wide polymorphisms. A semi-automated bioinformatics pipeline was then utilized to identify candidate CAPS markers, resulting in the discovery of 14,072 potential markers. Of these candidates, 52 were chosen for validation based on their recognition by the PstI restriction enzyme. This evaluation resulted in the development of 11 highly discriminative CAPS markers. Remarkably, a combination of only six such markers was sufficient to differentiate newly bred cultivars from their genetically related parents. The single restriction enzyme employed for these markers facilitates straightforward multiplexing. Finally, a combination of one multiplex marker testing two loci and four singleplex markers was successfully selected that completely discriminated the cultivars other than the bud sports used in this study. The pipeline established here extends beyond citrus and has the potential to simplify marker development and cultivar protection in various plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coffee berry borers are the major pest on coffee plants that can reduce the rate of production quality and quantity. An attractant is used to control and suppress the growth of the insects. This research aims to study and identify the combination of methanol and ethanol "cap tikus" as an attractant to protect the plants. This research used a randomized block design using the combinations of methanol-ethanol "cap tikus" with the ratios of 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. The traps were placed on the coffee trees five times every five days. The combination of methanol-ethanol could be synergistic in attracting female beetles. The highest number of trapped coffee berry borers were on the ratios of 3:1 (28.19%) and 2:1 (27.98%), while the lowest one was found on ethanol "cap tikus" (3.74%). There was an unstable number of trapped borers. The highest trapped insects were on the 15th day, but then it declined on the 20th and 25th days. The trap could also be applied to other types of insects. The combination of methanol-ethanol could be used for monitoring and controlling the beetles, the causal of plant borer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion 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.)

DNA markers serve as essential tools in breeding selection and genetic analysis. However, developing DNA markers can be time-consuming and labor-intensive due to the need to identify polymorphisms between cultivars/lines and to design suitable primers. To address these challenges. we have developed DNAMarkMaker. a tool designed to automate the process of primer design for Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ANNIS) and Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPS) markers, utilizing resequencing data. One key feature of DNAMarkMaker is its user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI), ensuring its accessibility and ease of use, even for researchers not well-versed in bioinforniatics. We confirmed DNAMarkMaker's applicability by developing DNA markers for rice, potato, and tumip--each representing distinct genome structures: homozygous diploid. heterozygous autotetraploid, and heterozygous diploid, respectively. DNAMarkMaker will contribute to the rapid and efficient development of DNA markers. accelerating breeding and genetic analysis in various crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseño y Comunicación is the property of Cuadernos del Centro de Estudios de Diseno y Comunicacion 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.)

This article presents a formulation for the optimization problem that minimizes the CO2 emission of pile caps with variations of geometry and pile position. The problem is defined by the design variables: concrete pile cap dimensions, rebar ratio, concrete compressive strength, the number of piles, the diameter, and length. The environmental impact was chosen as the objective function, taking CO2 emission as the main parameter. The design procedure was based on the ABNT NBR 6118:2014 (2014), and by the formulation proposed by Blévot & Frémy (1967). Also, the soil structure interaction between the cap and the piles was considered in the optimization problem. The problem was implemented using MATLAB (2016) and solved via a Genetic Algorithm native to the program. Results obtained from numerical examples were compared with structural designs solutions located in the Grande Vitória metropolitan area, Espírito Santo, Brazil and validated with a commercial software. The analyses indicate that design optimizations of pile caps considering the compressive strength of concrete, the diameter and length of piles and the optimal geometry of the pile caps may lead to significant reductions of material consumption, and consequently, a reduction of environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling the head region during exercise can enhance running performance, but this observation is limited to intermittent cooling. This study investigated the effects of continuous head cooling on 5-km running time-trial (TT) performance in hot conditions. Six male and four female triathletes completed two experimental sessions consisting of two 10-minute runs at 50% and 70% V̇O2max followed by a 5-km TT in the heat (32.0±0.3 °C, 50.1±1.2% RH). In a randomized crossover design, either an ice-filled cooling cap or no cooling cap was provided prior to the 10-minute run at 70%V̇O2max. Performance time, rectal, forehead and mean skin temperature, RPE, thermal comfort, fluid loss, blood lactate and heart rate were recorded. Performance time was faster with a cooling cap (1175±80 s) compared to no cooling cap (1189±76 s, P = 0.034; d = 0.18). The cooling cap reduced forehead temperature (P <0.001) and improved thermal comfort (P = 0.004) but had no effect on any other variable (P > 0.05). Continuously cooling the head with an ice-filled cap enhanced 5-km TT performance in the heat. Participants reported an improved thermal comfort with no change in core temperature. Continuously cooling the head may be a practical strategy to enhance running performance in hot conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the latest reform of the EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) in 2021, the EU has introduced a modified toolkit of environmental instruments. This paper compares the final version of the legal texts of the current and preceding CAP to analyse whether there is potential scope for greater environmental ambition. A pivotal element of the new CAP is the new delivery model. This model grants Member States more flexibility to adjust CAP instruments according to their respective needs. While the new delivery model provides opportunities for more targeted interventions, clear guardrails are missing. In consequence, the EU institutions have limited influence on the CAP Strategic Plans' level of ambition. Generally, the ambition level of the conditionality and also the budget attributed to environmental instruments within Pillar 2 was increased. The design of and participation in Eco-schemes, a new instrument in Pillar 1, will be the key factors determining whether the new CAP will lead to a significantly higher environmental performance. However, the Strategic Plan Regulation only contains vague recommendations to the Member States to take the Green Deal into account, which in no way meets the requirements formulated in the Green Deal. Furthermore, recent revisions to the new CAP legislation have rolled back some of the potential improvements that we identify in this paper. • More money is earmarked for environmental concerns, but it is likely too little given the large-scale challenges. • Green Architecture is a step forward concerning policy design, but contains many inconsistencies, challenges and exceptions. • Member States can use the additional freedom to address environmental challenges or just meet the formal requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnically diverse Black men (BM) with prostate cancer (CaP) in the United States.A convergent parallel mixed-methods design, employing both qualitative and quantitative research, involved recruiting Black CaP survivors through multiple channels. The target population was native-born BM (NBBM), African-born BM (ABBM), and Caribbean-born BM (CBBM). QoL for all men was assessed using The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) measure, which includes five domains: physical- (PWB), emotional- (EWB), social-(SWB), and functional-wellbeing (FWB), and a CaP subscale (PCS). A subset of men completed qualitative interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.Black CaP survivors aged 49–85 participated in the study (n = 108), with a subset (n = 31) completing a qualitative interview. Participants were mainly NBBM (72.2%) and treated with radiotherapy (51.9%). The FACT-P scale total mean score (± SD) was 114 ± 24.1 (theoretical range 0–156), with lower scores reported on the SWB, FWB, and EWB domains. The mixed-methods findings approach included meta-inferences derived from integrating the corresponding quantitative and qualitative data, covering all the domains within the FACT-P.Black CaP survivors experienced significant burdens that impacted their overall HRQoL. The analysis revealed impacts on physical, social, and emotional well-being, with variations among ethnic groups suggesting the need for culturally tailored interventions. EWB was also profoundly impacted by CaP treatment, with universal emotional burdens emphasized across all groups. Healthcare providers must recognize and address these multifaceted needs to promote better outcomes and HRQoL for Black CaP survivors.Methods: This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnically diverse Black men (BM) with prostate cancer (CaP) in the United States.A convergent parallel mixed-methods design, employing both qualitative and quantitative research, involved recruiting Black CaP survivors through multiple channels. The target population was native-born BM (NBBM), African-born BM (ABBM), and Caribbean-born BM (CBBM). QoL for all men was assessed using The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) measure, which includes five domains: physical- (PWB), emotional- (EWB), social-(SWB), and functional-wellbeing (FWB), and a CaP subscale (PCS). A subset of men completed qualitative interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.Black CaP survivors aged 49–85 participated in the study (n = 108), with a subset (n = 31) completing a qualitative interview. Participants were mainly NBBM (72.2%) and treated with radiotherapy (51.9%). The FACT-P scale total mean score (± SD) was 114 ± 24.1 (theoretical range 0–156), with lower scores reported on the SWB, FWB, and EWB domains. The mixed-methods findings approach included meta-inferences derived from integrating the corresponding quantitative and qualitative data, covering all the domains within the FACT-P.Black CaP survivors experienced significant burdens that impacted their overall HRQoL. The analysis revealed impacts on physical, social, and emotional well-being, with variations among ethnic groups suggesting the need for culturally tailored interventions. EWB was also profoundly impacted by CaP treatment, with universal emotional burdens emphasized across all groups. Healthcare providers must recognize and address these multifaceted needs to promote better outcomes and HRQoL for Black CaP survivors.Results: This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnically diverse Black men (BM) with prostate cancer (CaP) in the United States.A convergent parallel mixed-methods design, employing both qualitative and quantitative research, involved recruiting Black CaP survivors through multiple channels. The target population was native-born BM (NBBM), African-born BM (ABBM), and Caribbean-born BM (CBBM). QoL for all men was assessed using The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) measure, which includes five domains: physical- (PWB), emotional- (EWB), social-(SWB), and functional-wellbeing (FWB), and a CaP subscale (PCS). A subset of men completed qualitative interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.Black CaP survivors aged 49–85 participated in the study (n = 108), with a subset (n = 31) completing a qualitative interview. Participants were mainly NBBM (72.2%) and treated with radiotherapy (51.9%). The FACT-P scale total mean score (± SD) was 114 ± 24.1 (theoretical range 0–156), with lower scores reported on the SWB, FWB, and EWB domains. The mixed-methods findings approach included meta-inferences derived from integrating the corresponding quantitative and qualitative data, covering all the domains within the FACT-P.Black CaP survivors experienced significant burdens that impacted their overall HRQoL. The analysis revealed impacts on physical, social, and emotional well-being, with variations among ethnic groups suggesting the need for culturally tailored interventions. EWB was also profoundly impacted by CaP treatment, with universal emotional burdens emphasized across all groups. Healthcare providers must recognize and address these multifaceted needs to promote better outcomes and HRQoL for Black CaP survivors.Conclusion: This study examined the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among ethnically diverse Black men (BM) with prostate cancer (CaP) in the United States.A convergent parallel mixed-methods design, employing both qualitative and quantitative research, involved recruiting Black CaP survivors through multiple channels. The target population was native-born BM (NBBM), African-born BM (ABBM), and Caribbean-born BM (CBBM). QoL for all men was assessed using The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) measure, which includes five domains: physical- (PWB), emotional- (EWB), social-(SWB), and functional-wellbeing (FWB), and a CaP subscale (PCS). A subset of men completed qualitative interviews. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected.Black CaP survivors aged 49–85 participated in the study (n = 108), with a subset (n = 31) completing a qualitative interview. Participants were mainly NBBM (72.2%) and treated with radiotherapy (51.9%). The FACT-P scale total mean score (± SD) was 114 ± 24.1 (theoretical range 0–156), with lower scores reported on the SWB, FWB, and EWB domains. The mixed-methods findings approach included meta-inferences derived from integrating the corresponding quantitative and qualitative data, covering all the domains within the FACT-P.Black CaP survivors experienced significant burdens that impacted their overall HRQoL. The analysis revealed impacts on physical, social, and emotional well-being, with variations among ethnic groups suggesting the need for culturally tailored interventions. EWB was also profoundly impacted by CaP treatment, with universal emotional burdens emphasized across all groups. Healthcare providers must recognize and address these multifaceted needs to promote better outcomes and HRQoL for Black CaP survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Evaluate the effect of the inclusion of calcium propionate (CaP) on productive variables and carcass characteristics in finishing lambs. Materials and methods. 24 male lambs of the Dorper x Pelibuey cross of 5 months of age were used, with an average body weight (μ ± SD) of 27±2.7 kg. Were assigned to one of three treatments (control [CON] and two CaP levels: 10 and 20 g/kg DM) in a completely randomized design (3 treatments, 8 repetitions per treatment, considering each lamb as an experimental unit). Response variables were reduced to 1 mean value for each lamb, and data were analyzed in SAS version 9.4 using Proc Mixed. Results. Daily weight gain (DWG), conversion (FCE) and feed efficiency (FEU) were higher by 13, 20 and 24%, respectively, due to the inclusion of 20 g CaP/kg DM (p≤0.05). Chilled carcass weight (CCW), hot carcass dressing (HCD) and cold carcass dressing (CCD) were higher when increasing the inclusion level of CaP (p≤0.05). Conclusions. Supplementation with CaP in doses of up to 20g / kg in finishing diets can improve production parameters and carcass performance without affecting dry matter intake (DMI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]