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Association between lifetime noise exposure and audiometric thresholds using the noise exposure structured interview
Fracture characteristics and failure mechanisms of coal-rock composites under complex true triaxial stress paths
Mechanical alterations of bitumens with different crude oil origins through polymer modification
Abstract Hot mix asphalt (HMA) performance is significantly influenced by the chemical variability of bitumen, which is closely linked to crude oil origin. These source-dependent variations also affect the response of bitumen to polymer modification. This study investigates the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures produced using two bitumens with the same penetration grade but obtained from different refineries (Turkey–Batman and Iraq–Lanaz), modified with two styrene-based polymers: styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS). Polymer-modified binders (2%, 3%, and 4%) were prepared and evaluated through Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength (ITS), stiffness modulus (ITSM), fatigue, and dynamic creep tests. The results demonstrated that bitumen origin plays a decisive role in both binder behavior and mixture performance. SEBS modification produced superior stability and deformation resistance in mixtures with Iraqi bitumen, whereas SBS modification provided the highest stability and stiffness improvement in mixtures with Batman bitumen. Fatigue and creep analyses indicated that SEBS-modified mixtures, particularly with 3% SEBS, achieved the longest fatigue life and highest resistance to permanent deformation. Overall, the study highlights that the interaction between binder origin and polymer type critically governs the performance of polymer-modified asphalts, and that optimal polymer dosage varies depending on the source characteristics of the bitumen.
Effect of chemical treatment on the mechanical and thermal performance of flax fiber reinforced aluminium 6082 laminate: a machine learning-enhanced investigation
METTL7A is a key regulator of hepatic lipid metabolism and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease progression
Active-reactive power coordination for DC-interconnected microgrid clusters: a small-signal stability perspective
Expanding the human proteome with microproteins and peptideins
Fruit thinning techniques incorporated with calcium boron or potassium phosphite for improving Medjool date palm fruit quality under semi-arid regions
Abstract Low fruit quality presents a significant challenge for numerous date-producing countries, including certain cultivars resulting from tissue culture. Fruit thinning alone enhances fruit quality but slightly decreases productivity. So, the aim of this experiment was to improve the quality characteristics of Medjool fruits through four different fruit thinning methods: control (12 bunches per palm), removing 1/3 bunches number, removing 1/3 strands length of the bunch, removing 1/3 strands number of the bunches, these methods were integrated with spraying 0.25% calcium boron (CaB) or 0.2% potassium phosphite (KP), as well as control (tap water), which applied once (fruit set or Kimri stage or Khalal stage) for thinning methods. At Kimri stage, removing 1/3 strands number successfully enhanced fruit weight, length, and size by 10.44%, 8.28%, and 15.68%, while incorporating CaB to removing 1/3 strands number led to increases of 43%, 26.78%, and 52.78%, while incorporating KP with removing 1/3 strands number resulted in increases of 42.67%, 26.31%, and 44.22%, compared to control, as mean of both seasons, respectively. At Khalal stage, combining removing 1/3 strands number and CaB increased fruit TSS and total sugars by 18.85% and 33.65%, while combined removing 1/3 strands number and KP increased them by 19.29% and 23.81%, respectively. In conclusion, nutrient spraying improved fruit chemical properties and the early spraying stage was more effective in improving fruit physical properties, whereas later spraying improved fruit chemical properties. Also, thinning enhances fruit physical properties and provides more nutrients for the remaining fruits. The integrated application of thinning and spraying nutrients improved fruit’s physical and chemical properties.
A study on the mixed dielectric model of red clay
Bioactivity of extracts from Gentiana dinarica (Beck.) plants collected in natural habitat and cultured in vitro
Abstract Differences in the chemical composition of extracts obtained from plants grown in natural habitats and those of the same species grown in plant tissue culture may lead to variations in extract activities. Antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities were compared for extracts from the aerial parts and roots of G. dinarica (derived from natural habitats or cultured in vitro). An increase in secoiridoid and xanthone contents in extracts from shoots cultured in vitro, compared to aerial parts of plants from natural habitats, resulted in improved antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (but reduced activity against Staphylococcus aureus ), and better selectivity and activity against tumor cell lines. An anti-inflammatory response (decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ production) was observed in spleen cells following stimulation with extract from aerial parts, whereas stimulation with shoot culture extract induced a pro-inflammatory response (increased IL-6, IL-17, and IFN-γ production). Roots cultured in vitro lack secoiridoids, which are present in roots of plants from natural habitats, and accumulate higher amounts of xanthones, resulting in differences in certain activities. Production of immune mediators was altered only in response to extract from roots of plants from a natural habitat (increased IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO)), while extracts from roots cultured in vitro exhibited the strongest free radical scavenging capacity and showed better activity against P. aeruginosa . Depending on the activity tested, potentiation, suppression, or absence of effect may be observed, indicating the need for a detailed comparison of the biological activities of extracts obtained from plants grown in natural habitats and tissue cultures that differ in chemical composition.