Deformation Characteristics of Base and Subbase Layers under Monotonic & Cyclic Loading

Base and Subbase layers are considered as the platform for distributing the different applied stresses in flexible pavements. The two layers must provide sufficient strength to resist any excessive generated deformation to achieve this goal, proper compaction machinery is essential to reach the required degree of compaction. The present paper investigates the influence of degree of compaction of the base and Subbase layers on the generated deformation under the action of both monotonic and cyclic loadings. Model tests were performed by compacting beds of base and Subbase layers to relative densities of 65%,77% and 88%, inside steel container of dimensions 1000mm*750mm*750mm. The final thicknesses of the base and Subbase layers were 150mm and 350mm respectively. A circular model footing of diameter 175mm: equivalent to 24194 mm tire contact area is placed on the base layer and subjected to a series of monotonic and cyclic loadings. The results of monotonic tests revealed an increase of 71% and 107% in the carrying capacity when the relative density increased from 65% to 77% and from 65% to 88% respectively. The cyclic tests revealed a substantial increase in the number of cycles at any stress level as the relative density increases from 65% to 77% and from 65% to 88%

Transcriptome analysis reveals genes commonly induced by Botrytis cinerea infection, cold, drought and oxidative stresses in Arabidopsis.

Signaling pathways controlling biotic and abiotic stress responses may interact synergistically or antagonistically. To identify the similarities and differences among responses to diverse stresses, we analyzed previously published microarray data on the transcriptomic responses of Arabidopsis to infection with Botrytis cinerea (a biotic stress), and to cold, drought, and oxidative stresses (abiotic stresses). Our analyses showed that at early stages after B. cinerea inoculation, 1498 genes were up-regulated (B. cinerea up-regulated genes; BUGs) and 1138 genes were down-regulated (B. cinerea down-regulated genes; BDGs). We showed a unique program of gene expression was activated in response each biotic and abiotic stress, but that some genes were similarly induced or repressed by all of the tested stresses. Of the identified BUGs, 25%, 6% and 12% were also induced by cold, drought and oxidative stress, respectively; whereas 33%, 7% and 5.5% of the BDGs were also down-regulated by the same abiotic stresses. Coexpression and protein-protein interaction network analyses revealed a dynamic range in the expression levels of genes encoding regulatory proteins. Analysis of gene expression in response to electrophilic oxylipins suggested that these compounds are involved in mediating responses to B. cinerea infection and abiotic stress through TGA transcription factors. Our results suggest an overlap among genes involved in the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis. Changes in the transcript levels of genes encoding components of the cyclopentenone signaling pathway in response to biotic and abiotic stresses suggest that the oxylipin signal transduction pathway plays a role in plant defense. Identifying genes that are commonly expressed in response to environmental stresses, and further analyzing the functions of their encoded products, will increase our understanding of the plant stress response. This information could identify targets for genetic modification to improve plant resistance to multiple stresses

Expression of <i>B. cinerea</i>- and abiotic stress-regulated genes in response to <i>B. cinerea</i>.

<p>Relative expression levels obtained by qRT-PCR for selected common <i>B. cinerea</i>- and abiotic stress-up-regulated or -down-regulated genes obtained from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone-0113718-t001" target="_blank">Table (1</a>) in response to <i>B. cinerea</i> infection at 18 hpi (see Methods). Expression of <i>B. cinerea</i>-inducible or -repressed genes was quantified relative to control conditions (no infection), and corrected for expression of control gene (<i>AtActin2</i>). Error bars for qRT-PCR values are standard deviations (<i>n</i>≥3).</p

Changes in expression of up- or down-regulated genes during <i>B. cinerea</i> infection and abiotic stress treatments in Arabidopsis plants.

<p>-Fold change in expression for each gene was calculated by dividing its expression level in <i>B. cinerea</i>- inoculated/abiotic-stressed sample by that in a non-inoculated/non-stressed sample (see Methods). A 2-fold change in expression represented up-regulated genes, and 0.5-fold change in expression represented down-regulated genes.</p><p>Changes in expression of up- or down-regulated genes during <i>B. cinerea</i> infection and abiotic stress treatments in Arabidopsis plants.</p

Expression of <i>OBUG</i>s/<i>PBUG</i>s and abiotic stress-regulated genes to <i>B. cinerea</i> infection.

<p>Relative expression levels obtained by qRT-PCR for common (A) <i>OBUG</i>s or <i>PBUG</i>s and abiotic stress-up-regulated genes; and (B) <i>OBUG</i>s/<i>PBUG</i>s and abiotic stress-up-regulated genes after infection with <i>B. cinerea</i> at 18 hpi (see Methods). Gene expression of <i>OBUG</i>s or <i>PBUG</i>s was normalized relative to control conditions (no infection), and corrected for expression of control gene (<i>AtActin2</i>). Error bars for qRT-PCR values are standard deviations (<i>n</i>≥3). Data shown in (A) and (B) were obtained from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone-0113718-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>.</p

Scatter-plot comparisons of gene expression and number of <i>BUG</i>s and <i>BDG</i>s affected by abiotic stress.

<p>Normalized expression value for each probe set in wild-type plants infected with <i>B. cinerea</i> at 18 hpi (<i>B. cinerea</i>-18) is plotted on X-axis; value in stressed plants with cold (A); drought (B); or oxidative stress (C) at 24 hpt is plotted on Y-axis. Venn diagram showing the number of (D) <i>BUG</i>s and (E) <i>BDG</i>s at 18 hpi that are also affected by cold, drought, and oxidative stress at 24 hpt.</p

Scatter-plot comparisons of gene expression and functional classes of <i>BUG</i>s and <i>BDG</i>s.

<p>(A) Normalized expression value for each probe set in wild-type plants infected with <i>B. cinerea</i> at 18 hpi (Wt-18) is plotted on Y-axis; value in wild-type plants sampled before <i>B. cinerea</i> treatment (0 hpi; WT-0) is plotted on X-axis. (B) <i>BUG</i>s; and (C) <i>BDG</i>s at 18 hpi compared with 0 hpi in wild-type. Gene identifications for 1498 <i>BUG</i>s and 1138 <i>BDG</i>s were entered for this analysis. Error bars are SD. GO categories significantly over- or under-represented at <i>p</i><0.05 are shown in black. Normalized frequency of genes to the number of genes on the microarray chip was determined as described elsewhere <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Provart1" target="_blank">[72]</a>.</p

Genes up-regulated by PPA₁, OPDA, <i>B. cinerea</i> inoculation and abiotic stresses and dependent on <i>TGA2/5/6</i>.

a<p>Normalized fold induction = normalized OPDA/PPA₁ treatment, <i>B. cinerea</i> inoculation or abiotic stress/normalized no OPDA/PPA₁ treatment, no <i>B. cinerea</i> inoculation or no abiotic stress.</p>b<p>Normalized-fold induction of genes by PPA₁ and/or OPDA (75 µM).</p><p>Threshold value for TGA2/5/6-dependent up-regulation was two-fold in <i>Arabidopsis</i> wild-type plants relative to controls but no induction in <i>tga2/5/6</i>. OPDA-up-regulated genes data were obtained from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Taki1" target="_blank">[47]</a> at 3 hpt. PPA₁-up-regulated genes data were obtained from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Mueller1" target="_blank">[32]</a> at 4 hpt. PPA₁- and OPDA-induced genes data were obtained from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Mueller1" target="_blank">[32]</a> at 4 hpt.</p>c<p>Normalized fold induction of genes by <i>B. cinerea</i>.</p><p>Threshold value for up-regulation was at least twofold in <i>Arabidopsis</i> wild-type plants relative to controls. <i>B. cinerea</i>-induced genes data were obtained at 18 hpi <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Craigon1" target="_blank">[40]</a> (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718.s003" target="_blank">Table S1</a>).</p>d<p>Normalized fold induction of genes by cold, drought, or oxidative stresses.</p><p>Threshold value for up-regulation was at least twofold in <i>Arabidopsis</i> wild-type plants relative to controls. Abiotic stress-induced genes data were obtained at 24 hpi <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718-Craigon1" target="_blank">[40]</a> (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0113718#pone.0113718.s004" target="_blank">Table S2</a>).</p><p>N, not expressed; +, P, Present; −, downregulation.</p><p>Genes up-regulated by PPA₁, OPDA, <i>B. cinerea</i> inoculation and abiotic stresses and dependent on <i>TGA2/5/6</i>.</p

Hypertensive disorders in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy: insights from the ESC EORP PPCM Registry

Aims: Hypertensive disorders occur in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). How often hypertensive disorders co-exist, and to what extent they impact outcomes, is less clear. We describe differences in phenotype and outcomes in women with PPCM with and without hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: The European Society of Cardiology PPCM Registry enrolled women with PPCM from 2012-2018. Three groups were examined: 1) women without hypertension (‘PPCM-noHTN’); 2) women with hypertension but without pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-HTN’); 3) women with pre-eclampsia (‘PPCM-PE’). Maternal (6-month) and neonatal outcomes were compared. Results: Of 735 women included, 452 (61.5%) had PPCM-noHTN, 99 (13.5%) had PPCM-HTN and 184 (25.0%) had PPCM-PE. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had more severe symptoms (NYHA IV in 44.4% and 29.9%, p&lt;0.001), more frequent signs of heart failure (pulmonary rales in 70.7% and 55.4%, p=0.002), higher baseline LVEF (32.7% and 30.7%, p=0.005) and smaller left ventricular end diastolic diameter (57.4mm [±6.7] and 59.8mm [±8.1], p&lt;0.001). There were no differences in the frequencies of death from any cause, re-hospitalization for any cause, stroke, or thromboembolic events. Compared to women with PPCM-noHTN, women with PPCM-PE had a greater likelihood of left ventricular recovery (LVEF≥50%) (adjusted OR 2.08 95% CI 1.21-3.57) and an adverse neonatal outcome (composite of termination, miscarriage, low birth weight or neonatal death) (adjusted OR 2.84 95% CI 1.66-4.87). Conclusion: Differences exist in phenotype, recovery of cardiac function and neonatal outcomes according to hypertensive status in women with PPCM