Method For Evaluation Of Resistance Research Articles

Quasi-3D model to simulate flow in straight channels within vegetation patches

Understanding the interaction between flow dynamics and riparian vegetation is essential for effective river management and conservation of the river environment, including the river ecosystem. Numerical simulations have emerged as a valuable tool for this purpose, offering cost-effective and scalable approach. In this paper, we conducted a comparative analysis between the Bottom Velocity Computation (BVC) method for quasi-three-dimensional models, which is the enhanced depth-integrated model with sub-grid three-dimensional model, conventional two-dimensional model, and three-dimensional model to explore the three-dimensional (3D) flow effects induced by the presence of vegetation patches. The vegetation resistance evaluation method for non-equilibrium open channel flows was extended to two dimensions and incorporated into the equations for the BVC models to evaluate the interaction of the vegetation, three-dimensional eddy motion, and turbulence in a depth-integrated model. Our simulations focused on straight channels containing patches of vegetation. The results showed that the velocities within the vegetated areas were observed to decrease, while velocities in non-vegetated areas increased. Moreover, the BVC model showed consistency with experimental data compared to 2DC model. Specifically, the 2DC model tended to overestimate velocities in non-vegetated areas due to its inability to capture momentum transport from non-vegetated areas. This discrepancy highlights the importance of considering 3D flow effects for simulating flows in vegetated areas.

Development of Evaluation Method of Corrosion Resistance and Long-Term Durability of Stainless Steel for PEMFC

In recent years, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) have attracted attention as an important technology for achieving carbon neutral society due to high energy efficiency without carbon dioxide emission during power generation. In order to cost reduction of PEMFC, the use of cheaper structural materials, such as stainless steels, that possess excellent processability, has been studied in substitution for titanium for bipolar plate (separator). The practical environment in PEMFC is severely corrosive: high temperature, acidic, and fluoride-containing solution. Many study has been conducted on the development of materials that have sufficient corrosion resistance and low contact resistance enabling long-term durability even in such severe environment. However, present evaluation method is insufficient for diagnosis the lifetime of bipolar plate. The new evaluation technique, that accurately simulates the environment inside PEMFC and appropriately accelerates the corrosion degradation reaction, make it easier to predict the lifetime of products and precisely evaluate the performance of newly developed materials. Therefore, the purpose of this study is development of novel corrosion evaluation method with high reproducibility, high and rapid diagnosis performance via applying various electrochemical measurements simulating PEMFC environment and for elucidation the corrosion behavior in practical environment.Firstly, several common corrosion resistance tests were performed in a specific solution (80 ℃, pH3, 10ppm Cl-, 3ppm F-) that simulated the internal environment of PEMFC. As a result, potentiostatic polarization (0.724 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 24 h) showed poor reproducibility because the corrosion behavior in later stage depends largely on the occurrence of localized corrosion initial stage of the test. In the case of potentiodynamic polarization(+1 mV/s sweep from open-circuit potential), risk of localized corrosion could be investigated, however, it was not suitable to predict long-term corrosion behavior. In the case of potentiodynamic cyclic polarization (cyclic voltammetry), it was found that the cathodic sweep, which never occur at in-sever PEMFC condition, inhibited the stable growth of the passivation film on the steel surface by reduction reaction, resulting in improperly accelerated excessive corrosion.Then, new testing method of the intermittent polarization, which was a combination of potentiostatic polarization and open-circuit condition, was performed. It has the advantage in flexibility of testing conditions such as polarization potential and duty cycle in accordance with to the degree the corrosion acceleration. In fact, it was found that the localized corrosion caused by initial stage of potentiostatic polarization step was repassivated during the following open circuit step. Therefore, the reproducibility was improved and the passive film growth was properly evaluated by intermittent polarization test, therefore. It was expected to be promising technique to diagnose the long-term durability of PEMFC bipolar plate.In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the intermittent potentiostatic polarization method, a variety of type 304 stainless steel specimens with different corrosion resistance were used. The detailed results will be presented on the relevant session.

Evaluating the Cold Tolerance of Stenotaphrum Trin Plants by Integrating Their Performance at Both Fall Dormancy and Spring Green-Up

Owing to the poor cold tolerance of Stenotaphrum Trin and the urgent need for shade-tolerant grass species in temperate regions of East China, this study evaluated the cold tolerance of 55 Stenotaphrum accessions, aiming to provide shade-tolerant materials for temperate regions. A fine cold-tolerant turfgrass should have both the advantages of delayed fall dormancy and early spring green-up. However, previous research on the cold resistance of turfgrass has mainly focused on the performance of the spring green-up, with less attention paid to the fall dormancy, which has affected the ornamental and application value of turfgrass. This study first dynamically investigated the leaf colour of each accession during the fall dormancy and the coverage during the spring green-up and evaluated the cold resistance of the accession through membership functions and cluster analysis. Significant differences in the cold resistance were found with the assignment of breeding lines to four categories. The weak correlation (R2 = 0.1682) between leaf colour during the fall dormancy and coverage during the spring green-up indicates that using the performance of a single period to represent the cold resistance of accessions is not appropriate. To test whether using the laboratory-based LT50 and stolon regrowth rating analysis can replace the above-improved method, we conducted a related analysis and found that the fit between these two methods is very poor. This phenomenon is attributed to the poor correlation between the laboratory-based parameters and the pot-investigated data. Therefore, this study presents a cold resistance evaluation method for Stenotaphrum that integrates performance in both the fall dormancy and spring green-up periods. This improved evaluation method cannot be simplified by the growth performance of a single period or replaced by using laboratory-based LT50 and stolon regrowth tests. With the help of this improved method, several excellent cold tolerance accessions (ST003, S13, and S12) were identified for temperate regions of East China.

Evaluation Methods, Resistant Germplasm, and Breeding for Resistance to Bacterial Blight in Cotton: A Review

Bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum (Xcm) is an important cotton (Gossypium spp.) production problem. In the U.S., BB has been controlled effectively using resistant cultivars and acid-delinted seed since the 1970s; however, resurgence of BB occurred in the early 2010s because of negligence in breeding. This review provides an up-to-date account on the pathogen, resistance evaluation methods, resistant germplasm lines, and breeding methods. Twenty-two Xcm races have been reported worldwide, and race 18 is currently the only one found in production fields in the U.S. To evaluate cotton for BB resistance, a pressure-sprayer-based method with surfactant in the field and a cotyledon-scratching-based method in the greenhouse are most often used. Breeding for BB resistance was highly successful in Sudan between the late 1930s and 1960s, when many resistance genes were transferred to G. barbadense from G. arboreum, G. herbaceum, G. anomalum, and G. hirsutum. Breeding for BB resistance commenced in the U.S. in the 1940s, leading to development of numerous resistant Upland cultivars. Although backcrossing was often used to transfer resistance genes in early years, forward breeding has been the breeding method of choice. Currently, some and possibly all resistant cultivars in the U.S. possess the resistance gene B12, which confers immunity with no water-soaked symptoms. Although B12-based resistance has held for a long time, identification of new resistant sources is needed to prevent an epidemic of BB due to evolution or introduction of possible new virulent Xcm races.

Molecular insights intoexpression and silencing of resistance determinants in Staphylococcus aureus.

This study aimed to investigate the status of antimicrobial-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in Pakistan, their association in terms of co-occurrence with the biofilm-forming genes, resistance profiling and associated discrepancies in diagnostic methods. A total of 384 milk samples from bovine was collected by using convenient sampling technique and were initially screened for subclinical mastitis, further preceded by isolation and confirmation of S. aureus. The S. aureus isolates were subjected to evaluation of antimicrobial resistance by phenotypic identification using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, while the genotypic estimation was done by polymerase chain reaction to declare isolates as methicillin, beta-lactam, vancomycin, tetracycline, and aminoglycoside resistant S. aureus (MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA), respectively. The current study revealed an overall prevalence of subclinical mastitis and S. aureus to be 59.11% and 46.69%, respectively. On a phenotypic basis, the prevalence of MRSA, BRSA, VRSA, TRSA, and ARSA was found to be 44.33%, 58.49%, 20.75%, 35.84%, and 30.18%, respectively. The results of PCR analysis showed that 46.80% of the tested isolates were declared as MRSA, 37.09% as BRSA, and 36.36% as VRSA, while the occurrence of TRSA and ARSA was observed in 26.31% and 18.75%, respectively. The current study also reported the existence of biofilm-producing genes (icaA and icaD) in 49.06% and 40.57% isolates, respectively. Lastly, this study also reported a high incidence of discrepancies for both genotypic and phenotypic identification methods of resistance evaluation, with the highest discrepancy ratio for the accA-aphD gene, followed by tetK, vanB, blaZ, and mecA genes. The study concluded that different antibiotic resistance strains of S. aureus are prevalent in study districts with high potential to transmit between human populations. The study also determined that there are multiple resistance determinants and mechanisms that are responsible for the silencing and expression of antibiotic resistance genes.

Occurrence and field evaluation of promising sugarcane genotypes for resistance to midrib red rot disease in China

AbstractSugarcane midrib red rot caused by Colletotrichum falcatum is widespread in China. Standardizing the resistance evaluation methods and screening resistant varieties against this disease is crucial. C. falcatum was determined as the causal agent of midrib red rot by isolating and identifying pathogenic fungi from diseased leaves in Guangxi, China. A field trial of 237 sugarcane genotypes was conducted for three consecutive years to investigate disease incidence and indices for three experimental sites in Guangxi. The combined analysis of variance showed that disease incidence was significantly affected by genotype, year, location and their interactions. Cluster and discriminant analysis showed that 237 sugarcane genotypes were classified into five categories, including 20 as highly resistant, 82 as resistant, 71 as moderately susceptible, 46 as susceptible and 18 as highly susceptible. This study has enhanced our understanding of sugarcane resistance to midrib red rot, selected disease‐resistant parents and laid the foundation for developing elite disease‐resistant varieties.

Application of a water-energy-carbon coupling index to evaluate the long-term operational stability of the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic-membrane bioreactor (A2/O-MBR) process under the influence of rainstorms

In the context of global climate change, sudden rainstorms and typhoons induce fluctuations in hydraulic shocks to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in coastal areas, causing two challenges of stable effluent quality and low-carbon operation. We established a quantitative evaluation method for resistance of wastewater treatment processes to hydraulic shocks based on the water-energy-carbon nexus using operational data from a WWTP in southeast coastal China from July 2018 to December 2022. The effects of hydraulic shocks on the operational stability of the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic-membrane bioreactor (A2/O-MBR) process were analyzed following five steps. The results showed that the gray water footprint (GWF) of the process was 9.3% lower than that of the A2/O process. The energy footprint (ENF) and carbon footprint (CF) were approximately 2.1 times and 1.7 times higher than those of the A2/O process, respectively. The resistance to hydraulic shocks of the A2/O-MBR process is approximately 5.5 times higher than that of the A2/O process. In conclusion, the A2/O-MBR process exhibits higher process operational stability when subjected to hydraulic shocks, which is more conducive to the efficient and stable operation of WWTPs in rainstorm and typhoon-prone areas. The evaluation methodology provides qualitative technical support for selecting upgrading processes for WWTPs in different regions.

Methods for inoculation and evaluation of resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina in soybean genotypes

AbstractCharcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is a disease of economic significance in soybean production. The evaluation of this disease is difficult due to the lack of reliable and efficient methods for testing soybean genotypes. This work aimed at investigating different inoculation methods for Macrophomina phaseolina in soybean genotypes to determine the degree of resistance and their use in genetic improvement programs. Infected sorghum seeds, pregerminated seed in culture medium, and infected toothpick test were the methods tested. Colonization by the fungus, determined as a colony‐forming unit (CFU), and disease development based on root and stem severity (RSS) were evaluated. There was a good correlation between CFU and RSS (0.87), with the infected sorghum seed method being the most efficient means of inoculating. The results show that PI594302 was the most resistant line regarding the two studied parameters and would be a source of resistance to charcoal rot in breeding programs.

A method for phenotypic evaluation of grapevine resistance in relation to phenological development

Fungus-resistant grapevine cultivars, so called PIWIs, are characterized by increased resistance to powdery mildew and downy mildew. However, in order to maintain the durability of resistance in these new grape cultivars, targeted fungicide treatments are recommended. For ideal schedule of these treatments, it is necessary to recognize the most sensitive organs of the grape. This study introduces a method for phenotypic evaluation of Plasmopara viticola resistance in grape clusters under controlled and standardized conditions during phenological development over the entire season. The approach was validated with the traditional cultivar Pinot Noir and the PIWIs Cabernet Cortis (Rpv3.3, Rpv10), Solaris (Rpv3.3, Rpv10) and Souvignier Gris (Rpv3.2). All cultivars were susceptible during the early stages of development up to flowering, and resistance levels increased as phenological development progressed. Cabernet Cortis and Solaris clusters were susceptible until fruit development (BBCH 71–73) when they became almost completely resistant. No differences between Souvignier Gris and Pinot Noir were detected until berries were pea-sized (BBCH 75) when P. viticola resistance of Souvignier Gris clusters increased significantly. Ontogenetic resistance in Pinot Noir was detected at berry touch (BBCH 77–79) and clusters of this cultivar were almost completely resistant at the beginning of ripening (BBCH 81–83). These results indicate that the approach presented is suitable for determining the resistance of grape cultivars at different stages of development. Consequently, in the future, fungicide applications can be adjusted more precisely to the resistance level of a grape cultivar during the growing season.

Evaluation of corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel by laser ultrasonic nondestructive testing technology

At present, the corrosion resistance of materials such as 316L stainless steel is mainly tested by electrochemical testing, which is time-consuming, laborious and environmentally unfriendly. In this paper, the laser ultrasonic detection technology, which is a rapid, non-destructive, pollution-free microstructure and corrosion resistance evaluation method is used for the detection of 316L stainless steel, and the ultrasonic signals are filtered by the wavelet threshold denoising method. The results show that the laser ultrasonic attenuation coefficient obtained by the wavelet threshold denoising signal processing method has a good correlation with the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel. A laser ultrasonic potential evaluation model was established based on the passivation film rupture potential and ultrasonic attenuation coefficient. The average relative error of the evaluation model for corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel is less than 5.00%. The relative error of corrosion resistance evaluated by the laser-receiving method is lower than that by the probe-receiving method. It is feasible to nondestructive evaluation of the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel by laser ultrasonic technology.

Evaluation Method of Internal Resistance for Repurposing Using Middle and Large-Sized Batteries

The number of used batteries is expected to dramatically increase in the near future due to the expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) market globally. Accordingly, the Korean government has improved the supporting structures for the recycling system for used batteries, and in particular, in the field of repurposing, various studies are being conducted with a focus on effective evaluation methods that can secure the performance and safety of batteries after use. The repurposing of used batteries is mostly adapted in the field of energy storage systems for normally used EV batteries and a total inspection before repurposing is required due to battery characteristics that can vary depending on the operational environments of and accidents involving medium- and large-sized batteries for EVs and energy storage systems (ESSs) that have been occurring continuously for the past few years. Therefore, this paper investigates the operating mechanisms of the internal resistance test method and implements a test device for middle- and large-sized cells and packs. Based on the proposed test method, the internal resistance of nickel manganese cobalt (NMC)-type commercial large batteries is analyzed according to the SOC (state of charge), SOH (state of health), ambient temperature, and connection degradation of batteries. The distribution degrees of the alternative current (AC) internal resistance (IR) and direct current (DC) internal resistance (IR) measurement methods under state of health (SOH) test conditions are about 7% and 50%. It was found that the DC IR measurement method is more effective in diagnosing battery cell degradation. The distribution degree of DC IR measurements for the degraded connection condition shows an increase of less than 1% regardless of the state of charge (SOC), while the distribution degree of the AC IR measurements shows an increase of up to 319%, indicating that the AC IR method is more effective than the DC IR method in identifying connection degradation. It is confirmed that the proposed method is effective in internal resistance measurement and safety evaluations for the repurposing of batteries.

Interpretation of stripping at the bitumen–aggregate interface based on fluorescence tracing method

Asphalt pavement field performance largely depends on the stripping resistance at the bitumen–aggregate interface. However, the conventional stripping resistance evaluation method is unsuitable for direct and precise quantification of the retained bitumen film area on the aggregate surface that designates the stripping resistance between bitumen and aggregate phases under the action of vehicle wheels or moisture damage. This study proposed a novel fluorescence tracing method to quantify the exact area of aggregate coating loss in accordance with the bituminous-coated aggregate image processing technique. The fluorescence tracing image acquisition and analysis system for precisely calculating the bitumen stripping ratio of the bituminous-coated aggregate were established after the bitumen stripping test. The thresholding manner of the two-mode threshold algorithm was devised to segment the fluorescence-traced bituminous-coated aggregate image with high quality. The results demonstrated that the appropriate threshold value for segmenting the fluorescence-traced image mainly falls in the range of 60–70 for limestone, 90–110 for basalt, and 100–110 for both granites; the ability of aggregates based on their chemisorption capacity with bitumen is in the order of limestone, basalt, and granite; the fluorescence tracing method eliminated nearly 92.3% of the undesirable reflection on bitumen phase; the detected bitumen stripping ratio, raised by 65.87% on average and by 37.82% in the median value in contrast to the conventional visual detection manner. This research introduces a practical framework from an engineering perspective for visually quantifying the interpretation of the adhesive bond at the bitumen-aggregate interface with reasonable accuracy and confidence.

Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation of Crack Resistance for an Asphalt Rubber Stress-Absorbing Membrane Interlayer (AR-SAMI)

Reflective cracking is a common distress of semi-rigid base asphalt pavements and overlay pavement projects. An asphalt rubber stress-absorbing membrane interlayer (AR-SAMI) prepared by waste tires is an effective engineering solution for treating reflective cracking. This method can also reduce black pollution. However, there is no unified test method and index for crack resistance evaluation. In this work, AR-SAMIs with different air voids and gradations were investigated. A small beam bending test (BBT) at −10 °C and 15 °C, crack expansion SCB (CE-SCB) test, low-temperature SCB (LT-SCB) test, and Overlay Test (OT) were performed to evaluate the crack resistance of AR-SAMI comprehensively. Statistical analysis was also performed. Results showed that the crack resistance of AR-SAMI improved as the air voids decreased. The crack resistance of 10-A gradation with more fine aggregate was excellent. However, the AR-SAMI with more coarse aggregate had better crack extension resistance under the condition of pre-existing cracks. There are differences in the evaluation results of different test methods due to the various evaluation focus. The −10 °C BBT, CE-SCB, and OT were recommended to evaluate the crack resistance comprehensively. Research results can guide the evaluation method or index selection of crack resistance and the optimization of AR-SAMI mixture design under different working conditions.

Design of a transparent and flexible broadband omnidirectional antenna using characteristic mode analysis

An optically-transparent, mechanically flexible, monopole-radiation-characteristic, broadband omnidirectional antenna is proposed in this work. The radiator layer of the sandwich-structured antenna consists of a circular central patch with 16 circular satellite patches, and the characteristic mode analysis (CMA) was used to guide the detailed design process. We first analyzed the different modes of the 3×3 circular patch array, further reduced the size of the surrounding patch to increase the required omnidirectional mode bandwidth, further reduced the cross-polarization by adjusting the distance between the four corner patch and the central patch, and finally increased the number of surrounding patches to increase the bandwidth and gain. The entire analysis and optimization process uses the CMA. The antenna was excited by a single probe, with good omnidirectionality, low cross-polarization, and broad operating bandwidth in (5-12.7) GHz, achieving 87% relative bandwidth and peak gain of 4.1 dBi. The antenna has a radius of 27 mm and a thickness of 4.5 mm. A transparent and flexible antenna sample was fabricated on a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing technology. The optical transmittance of the horseshoe-structured metal grids fabricated by EHD was investigated, as well as the equivalent surface resistance evaluation method. The theoretical optical transmittance of the horseshoe-structured single-layer silver grid on the PDMS substrate was 81.2%, versus 80.8% measured value, with an equivalent surface resistance of roughly 5 Ω/◻. The proposed antenna was bent on a 50 mm-radius cylinder surface and retained excellent omnidirectionality.

Angiographic quantitative flow ratio in acute coronary syndrome: beyond a tool to define ischemia-causing stenosis-a literature review.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of physiology-guided coronary revascularization in chronic coronary syndrome, resulting in a high level of guideline recommendation for these patients. However, the application of coronary physiology in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), especially in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, remains challenging. Over the last decade, the number of novel physiological indices derived from the computation of angiography have been developed as alternatives to pressure wire-based fractional flow reserve. Among these angiography-based indices, the quantitative flow ratio (QFR) is undoubtedly the one with the largest amount of data cumulated so far. In this article, we aim to review the related studies that describe efforts to investigate the diagnostic role of QFR and discuss perspectives for its current and future applications in the setting of the ACS. A literature search was performed on the electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar and Web of Science covering publications in English up to May 2022. An emerging body of evidence has validated the diagnostic accuracy of angiography-derived QFR for the assessment of functional severity of coronary stenosis in both acute and chronic coronary syndromes. In parallel, multiple technologies, i.e., QFR-based pullback pressure gradient index, angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance and intravascular imaging-based morphofunctional evaluation methods, have been proposed, allowing operators to easily obtained physiological data of micro and macro-circulation, together with atherosclerotic lesion characteristics in catheterization laboratories. More recently, promising results supporting the clinical value of QFR in guiding revascularization and predicting outcomes for ACS patients have been published. Angiography-based QFR bears the potential of a wider adoption of coronary physiology assessment in the ACS setting due to its quicker and less-invasive nature. However, the current evidence mainly derived from retrospective studies or post-hoc analyses of prospective trials. Future studies are needed to further explore the benefits of QFR-guided revascularization on outcomes in ACS.

Impact resistance and simplified evaluation method for square CFST members subjected to transverse impact

Recently, the impact behavior and anti-impact design of concrete-filled steel tubes (CFSTs) have attracted increasing attention; the existing analytical theories have mainly focused on equivalent static methods. Thus, this study presents numerical and analytical analyses of simplified evaluation methods for square CFST members subjected to transverse impacts, by adopting dynamic impact action (i.e., impact mass and impact velocity) to evaluate the impact resistance. A finite element model was first established and benchmarked based on 38 test results collected from existing studies with a wide range of test parameters. The impact process, distribution and development of the internal force, and development of the stress, strain, and strain rate were comprehensively analyzed. The dynamic overall buckling of the CFST members under coupling actions of the axial load and transverse impact was investigated and compared with the control groups for CFST members without an axial load. Based on the parametric analyses, the yield strength of steel, section width, steel ratio, and axial load level (n) are important factors affecting the impact resistance. A simplified formula was therefore proposed to evaluate the impact resistance of CFST members with n ≤ 0.5. A machine learning method was also employed to predict the impact resistance of CFST members covering a wider range of axial load levels (n ≤ 0.9).

Introducing a cut-stem inoculation method for fast evaluation of sunflower resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina

Introducing a cut-stem inoculation method for fast evaluation of sunflower resistance to Macrophomina phaseolina

Studies of Evaluation Methods for Resistance to Fusarium Wilt Race 4 (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum) in Cotton: Effects of Cultivar, Planting Date, and Inoculum Density on Disease Progression.

Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4) is an early season disease causing root rot, seedling wilt, and death. To develop an appropriate field evaluation method for resistance to FOV4 in cotton breeding, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of cultivar, planting date, and inoculum density on disease progression in 2020–2021. Results showed that the usual local mid-April planting had the lowest disease severity (DSR) or mortality rate (MR) in 2020 and 2021. DSR or MR increased at the late April and early May plantings in both years and reached the highest at the early May planting in 2020, while MR in 2021 was followed by a decrease in the late May planting and reached the highest in the mid-June planting. Local daily low temperatures between mid-April and mid-June were favorable for FOV4 infections, whereas daily high temperatures at 35°C or higher suppressed wilt severity. When seedlings at the 2-true leaf stage were inoculated with 104, 105, 106, and 107 conidia ml−1 per plant in 2020, DSR was low but a linear relationship between inoculum density and DSR was observed. When a FOV4-infested soil supplemented with artificial inoculation was used, disease progression in three moderately susceptible or moderately resistant cultivars followed a linear model, while it followed a quadratic model in the highly susceptible Pima S-7 cultivar only. Among the other three cultivars, FM 2334GLT had the lowest DSR or MR except for one planting date in both years, followed by PHY 725 RF and Pima PHY 881 RF in ascending order, which were consistent with the difference in regression coefficients of the linear models. This study demonstrates that disease progression curves due to FOV4 can be used to compare responses to FOV4 infections among cotton genotypes in cotton breeding and genetic studies, regardless of planting date and inoculation method.

Screening of Tobacco Genotypes for Phytophthora nicotianae Resistance.

Black shank, caused by the oomycetes Phytophthora nicotianae, is destructive to tobacco, and this pathogen is highly pathogenic to many solanaceous crops. P. nicotianae is well adapted to high temperatures; therefore, research on this pathogen is gaining importance in agriculture worldwide because of global warming. P. nicotianae-resistant varieties of tobacco plants are commonly screened by inoculation with oat grains colonized by P. nicotianae and monitoring for the disease symptoms. However, it is difficult to quantify the inoculation intensity since accurate inoculation is crucial in this case. This study aimed to develop an efficient and reliable method for evaluating the resistance of tobacco to infection with P. nicotianae. This method has been successfully used to identify resistant varieties, and the inoculation efficiency was confirmed by real-time PCR. The resistance evaluation method presented in this study is efficient and practical for precision breeding, as well as molecular mechanism research.

A unified evaluation method for fatigue resistance of riveted joints based on structural stress approach

Many riveted steel bridges were constructed worldwide between 1850 and 1950. A number of them are still in operation, and their fatigue damage is a major burden in maintenance. This paper presents a unified structural stress approach to evaluate the fatigue resistance of riveted joints for steel bridges. The presented approach was utilized to establish and calibrate S-N curves for riveted joints based on fatigue data from 114 tested specimens, and the curves were validated by fatigue test data from large-scale riveted structures. A single fatigue category was obtained to evaluate different types and sizes of riveted structures. The investigation results showed that the presented approach is capable of evaluating different types of riveted joints and structural stresses. The structural stress approach is insensitive to the mesh size and the element type in finite element analysis. The presented method is convenient for practical engineers to evaluate the fatigue resistance and fatigue life of riveted steel bridges.