An Investigation of the Fundamental Period of Vibration for Moment Resisting Concrete Frames

The determination of fundamental period of vibration for structures is essential to earthquake design. The current codes provide empirical formulas to estimate the approximated fundamental period and these formulas are dependent on building material, height of structure or number of stories. Such a formulation is excessively conservative and unable to account for other parameters such as: length to width ratios, vertical element size and floors area. This study investigated the fundamental periods of mid-rise reinforced concrete moment resisting frames. A total of 13 moment resisting frames were analyzed by ETABS 15.2.2, for gross and cracked eigenvalue analysis and Extreme Loading for Structures Software® or ELS, for non-linear dynamic analysis. The estimated periods of vibration were compared with empirical equations, including current code equations. As expected, the results show that building periods estimated based on simple equations provided by earthquake design codes in Europe (EC8) and America (UBC97 and ASCE 7-10) are significantly smaller than the periods computed using nonlinear dynamic analysis. Based on the results obtained from the analyzed models, equations for calculating period of vibration are proposed. These proposed equations will allow design engineers to quickly and accurately estimate the fundamental period of moment resisting frames with taking different length to width ratios, vertical element size, floors area and building height into account. The interaction between reduction factor and the reduced period of vibration is studied, and it is found that values of maximum period of vibration can be used as an alternative method to calculate the inelastic base shear value without taking reduction factors in consideration

Frequency of common HFE variants in the Saudi population: a high throughput molecular beacon-based study

BACKGROUND: Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder highlighted byiron-overload. Two popular mutations in HFE, p.C282Y and p.H63D, have been discovered and found to associate with HH in different ethnic backgrounds. p.C282Y and p.H63D diagnosis is usually made byrestriction enzyme analysis. However, the use of this technique is largelylimited to research laboratories because they are relativelyexpensive, time-consuming, and difficult to transform into a high throughput format. METHODS: Single nucleotide variations in target DNA sequences can be readily identified using molecular beacon fluorescent probes. These are quenched probes with loop and hairpin structure, and they become fluorescent upon specific target recognition. We developed high throughput homogeneous real-time PCR assays using molecular beacon technology, to genotype p.C282Y and p.H63D variants. Representative samples of different genotypes for these variants were assayed by restriction enzyme analysis and direct sequencing as bench mark methods for comparison with the newly developed molecular beacon-based real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Complete concordance was achieved by all three assay formats. Homozygotes (mutant and wildtype) and heterozygotes were readily differentiated by the allele specific molecular beacons as reported by the associated fluorophore in the real-time assay developed in this study. Additionally, these assays were used in a high throughput format to establish the allele frequency of C282Y and H63D in Saudis for the first time. CONCLUSION: These assays may be reliably applied as a diagnostic test or large scale method for population screening

Ethnic and Gender Disparities in the Uptake of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in the United States

Introduction: Little is known about ethnic and gender disparities for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures in the United States. Methods: We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database (2011–2014) to identify patients who underwent TAVR. We described the temporal trends in the uptake of TAVR procedures among various ethnicities and genders. Results: Our analysis identified 39,253 records; 20,497 (52.2%) were men and 18,756 (47.8%) were women. Among all TAVRs, 87.2% were Caucasians, 3.9% were African Americans (AA), 3.7% were Hispanics, and 5.2% were of other ethnicities. We found a significant rise in the trend of TAVRs in all groups: in Caucasian men (coefficient = 0.946, p \u3c 0.001), Caucasian women (coefficient = 0.985, p \u3c 0.001), AA men (coefficient = 0.940, p \u3c 0.001), AA women (coefficient = 0.864, p \u3c 0.001), Hispanic men (coefficient = 0.812, p = 0.001), Hispanic women (coefficient = 0.845, p \u3c 0.001). Hence, the uptrend was most significant among Caucasian women, and relatively least significant among Hispanic men. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to evaluate in-hospital mortality among different groups after adjusting for demographics and baseline characteristics. After multivariable regression for baseline characteristics overall, the in-hospital mortality per 100 TAVRs was highest among Hispanic men 5.5%, followed by Caucasian women 5.0%, Hispanic women 4.6%, AA women 3.7%, AA men 3.4%, and Caucasian men 3.38% (adjusted p value = 0.004). Conclusions: In this observational study, we demonstrated that there is evidence of ethnic and gender differences in the overall uptake and adjusted mortality of TAVRs in the United States

Antifungal activity of eco-safe nanoemulsions based on Nigella sativa oil against Penicillium verrucosum infecting maize seeds: Biochemical and physiological traits

The main goals of the present investigation were to develop O/W nanoemulsion fungicides based on cold-pressed Nigella sativa (black seed) oil to prevent Penicillium verrucosum infection of maize seeds and to test their antifungal activity against this fungus. Additionally, the effect of these nanoemulsions on plant physiological parameters was also investigated. Two nonionic surfactants namely Tween 20 and Tween 80 were used as emulsifying agents in these formulations. The effect of sonication time and surfactant type on the mean droplet size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential of the nanoemulsions were determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results indicated that both sonication time and emulsifier type had pronounced effects on the stability of O/W nanoemulsions with a small particle size range (168.6–345.3 nm), acceptable PDI (0.181–0.353), and high zeta potential (−27.24 to –48.82 mV). Tween 20 showed superior stability compared to Tween 80 nanoemulsions. The in vitro results showed that complete inhibition of P. verrucosum-growth was obtained by 10_T80 and 10_T20 nanoemulsions at 100% concentration. All nanoemulsions had increment effects on maize seed germination by 101% in the case of 10_T20 and 10_T80 compared to untreated seeds or the chemical fungicide treatment. Nanoemulsions (10_T20 and 10_T80) were able to stimulate root and shoot length as compared to the fungicide treatment. Seed treatment with 10_T80 nanoemulsion showed the highest AI and protease activity by 75 and 70%, respectively, as compared to the infected control. The produced nanoemulsions might provide an effective protectant coating layer for the stored maize seeds

Regiospecific Photochemical Synthesis of Methylchrysenes

Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are suspected to be some of the toxic compounds in crude oil towards marine life and are needed as single compounds for environmental studies. 1-, 3- and 6-methylchrysene (3a,b,c) were prepared as single isomers by photochemical cyclization of the corresponding stilbenoids in the Mallory reaction using stoichiometric amounts of iodine in 82-88% yield. 2-methylchrysene (3d) was prepared by photochemical cyclization where the regioselectivity was controlled by elimination of an ortho-methoxy group under acidic oxygen free conditions in 72% yield. These conditions failed to form 4-methylchrysene from the corresponding stilbenoid. All stilbenoids were made from a common naphthyl Wittig salt and suitably substituted benzaldehydes. We have also demonstrated that methylchrysenes can be oxidized to the corresponding chrysenecarboxylic acids by KMnO4 in modest yields.publishedVersio

Induction of antibacterial metabolites by co-cultivation of two Red-Sea-sponge-associated actinomycetes <i>Micromonospora</i> sp. UR56 and <i>Actinokinespora</i> sp. EG49

Liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRESMS)-assisted metabolomic profiling of two sponge-associated actinomycetes, Micromonospora sp. UR56 and Actinokineospora sp. EG49, revealed that the co-culture of these two actinomycetes induced the accumulation of metabolites that were not traced in their axenic cultures. Dereplication suggested that phenazine-derived compounds were the main induced metabolites. Hence, following large-scale co-fermentation, the major induced metabolites were isolated and structurally characterized as the already known dimethyl phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylate (1), phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid mono methyl ester (phencomycin; 2), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (tubermycin; 3), N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (9), and p-anisamide (10). Subsequently, the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties of these metabolites (1&ndash;3, 9, and 10) were determined in vitro. All the tested compounds except 9 showed high to moderate antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, whereas their cytotoxic effects were modest. Testing against Staphylococcus DNA gyrase-B and pyruvate kinase as possible molecular targets together with binding mode studies showed that compounds 1&ndash;3 could exert their bacterial inhibitory activities through the inhibition of both enzymes. Moreover, their structural differences, particularly the substitution at C-1 and C-6, played a crucial role in the determination of their inhibitory spectra and potency. In conclusion, the present study highlighted that microbial co-cultivation is an efficient tool for the discovery of new antimicrobial candidates and indicated phenazines as potential lead compounds for further development as antibiotic scaffold

Terretonin N: A New Meroterpenoid from Nocardiopsis sp.

Hamed A, Abdel-Razek AS, Frese M, et al. Terretonin N: A New Meroterpenoid from Nocardiopsis sp. Molecules. 2018;23(2): 299.Terretonin N (1), a new highly oxygenated and unique tetracyclic 6-hydroxymeroterpenoid, was isolated together with seven known compounds from the ethyl acetate extract of a solid-state fermented culture of Nocardiopsis sp. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were unambiguously determined by X-ray crystallography. The isolation and taxonomic characterization of Nocardiopsis sp. is reported. The antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the strain extract and compound 1 were studied using different microorganisms and a cervix carcinoma cell line, respectively

Yield and yield components of common bean as influenced by wheat residue and nitrogen rates under water deficit conditions

Incorporation of crop residues into agricultural system has become a worldwide efficient practice for enhancing crop production. The main objectives of this experiment was to investigate the major role of incorporating wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues and nitrogen (N) fertilizers rates under different water requirements (WR) on growth, seed yield and yield components of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The results showed that seed yield under 80% WR in retained crop residue plots was & SIM;11% higher than WR treatment with no residue incorporation. Seed yield was not significantly different between residue retention and removal treatments in 2016, whereas it was higher (12% and 17%) under residue retained plots compared to removed ones in subsequent years. Seed yields responded to N up to 170 and 225 kg ha(-1) in removed and retained residue treatments, respectively in 2017 and 2018. Annual increment of seed yield in residue retained plots (36%) was 2.11 times higher than the residue removed ones (17%). There was higher soil N content in 50% residue retention with 225 kg N ha(-1) under both water deficit treatments in all years. The highest soil organic carbon (SOC) was achieved with normal irrigation in retained residue plots with 225 kg N ha(-1) in all years. Overall, wheat residue incorporation into the soil and N-supply substantially contributed to counteracting yield declines of common bean under water deficit conditions.& nbsp;(c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Research Output on Strategy Formulation and Implementation: Global Picture, Development and Key Bibliometric Indicators

Effective strategic management serves as the bedrock for an organization's vision, goal attainment, and stakeholder expectations. Consequently, the research focus on strategy formulation and implementation has garnered substantial attention in recent decades. This study aims to evaluate bibliometric indicators of research productivity related to strategy formulation and implementation through meticulous bibliometric analysis. The analysis leverages the R Bibliometrix library on scientific publications indexed in the Web of Science database. The dataset comprises 672 publications on strategy formulation and implementation, spanning the years 1971 to 2022. Authored by 1,280 contributors from 69 countries, these publications are dispersed across 374 diverse sources, including journals and books. Impressively, this body of work has garnered a cumulative total of 24,635 citations, averaging 36.66 citations per document. The top-ranking article, "The Resource-Based Theory of Competitive Advantage: Implications for Strategy Formulation" by Robert M. Grant, stands out with 3,649 citations. Examining global scientific production, the United States emerges as the primary contributor with 154 publications (22.91%), followed by China with 56 (8.33%) and the United Kingdom with 54 (8.03%). The study's findings offer valuable insights for researchers and organizations alike, shedding light on significant research contributions. This comprehensive assessment enables a nuanced understanding of the historical progression and growth within this domain. Additionally, it identifies current focal points of research and highlights areas that warrant attention in future studies