Catalase (CAT) Gene Family in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.): Genome-Wide Analysis,Identification, and Expression Pattern in Response to Multiple Hormones and Abiotic Stress Conditions

Catalase (CAT) is an antioxidant enzyme expressed by the CAT gene family and exists in almost all aerobic organisms. Environmental stresses induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that eventually hinder plant growth and development. The CAT enzyme translates the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to water (H₂O) and reduce the ROS levels to shelter the cells’ death. So far, the CAT gene family has not been reported in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Therefore, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis was conducted to classify the CAT genes in the rapeseed genome. The current study identified 14 BnCAT genes in the rapeseed genome. Based on phylogenetic and synteny analysis, the BnCATs belong to four groups (Groups I–IV). A gene structure and conserved motif analysis showed that Group I, Group II, and Group IV possess almost the same intron/exon pattern, and an equal number of motifs, while Group III contains diverse structures and contain 15 motifs. By analyzing the cis-elements in the promoters, we identified five hormone-correlated responsive elements and four stress-related responsive elements. Further, six putative bna-miRNAs were also identified, targeting three genes (BnCAT4, BnCAT6, and BnCAT8). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the BnCAT genes were largely related to cellular organelles, ROS response, stimulus response, stress response, and antioxidant enzymes. Almost 10 BnCAT genes showed higher expression levels in different tissues, i.e., root, leaf, stem, and silique. The expression analysis showed that BnCAT1–BnCAT3 and BnCAT11–BnCAT13 were significantly upregulated by cold, salinity, abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA) treatment, but not by drought and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Notably, most of the genes were upregulated by waterlogging stress, except BnCAT6, BnCAT9, and BnCAT10. Our results opened new windows for future investigations and provided insights into the CAT family genes in rapeseed.     

Formulation and characterisation of nanosuspension of herbal extracts for enhanced antiradical potential

Nanotechnology is a promising technique to increase the bioavailability of herbal medicines. This paper presents the nanosuspension approach for increasing the aqueous solubility and thereby bioactivity of important herbal extracts. Nanosuspensions of the seeds of three plants extract (Silybum marianum, Elettaria cardamomum and Coriandrum sativum) were prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol (1.5% w/v) as a stabiliser. Prepared nanoparticles were characterised by scanning electron microscope. Activity of nanosuspension formulation was assessed by using four in vitro antioxidant assays. S. marianum, E. cardamomum and C. sativum particle size was observed to fall in range of 446.1 ± 112.6, 456.63 ± 339.2 and 432.1 ± 172.8 nm, respectively, most of the particles were having spherical shape and smooth topology. These synthesised nanoparticles were found to be more effective against quenching free radical than their crude extracts and standards [butylated hydroxyl toluene and ascorbic acid]. C. sativum nanosuspension showed most free radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide free radical scavenging assays (IC₅₀ 0.59 ± 0.01 and 0.81 ± 0.11 mg/ml). S. marianum nanosuspension was found to be most effective against DPPH radicals scavenging (IC₅₀ 0.34 ± 0.02 mg/ml). It was concluded that nanosuspension of herbal medicines potentiates the antioxidant potential.     

Confinement effect of stiffened and unstiffened concrete-filled stainless steel tubular stub columns

This paper presents a comparative study between stiffened and unstiffened concrete-filled stainless steel hollow tubular stub columns using the austenitic stainless steel grade EN 1.4301 (304). Finite element analysis of concrete-filled stainless steel unstiffened tubular stub columns is constructed herein based on the confined concrete model recently available in the literature. It is then compared with the experimental results of concrete-filled stainless steel stiffened tubular stub columns. The stiffened stainless steel tubular sections were fabricated by welding four lipped angles or two lipped channels at the lips. The longitudinal stiffener of the column plate was formed to avoid shrinkage of the concrete and to act as a continuous connector between the concrete core and the stainless steel tube. The behavior of the columns was investigated using two different nominal concrete cubic strengths of 30 and 60 MPa. The overall depth-to-width ratios (aspect ratio) varied from 1.0 to 1.8. The depth-to-plate thickness ratio of the tube sections varied from 60 to 90. The stiffened and unstiffened concrete-filled stainless steel tube specimens were subjected to uniform axial compression over the concrete and stainless steel tube to force the entire section to undergo the same deformations by blocking action. The ABAQUS 6.6 program, as a finite element package, is used in the current work. The results of the comparative study showed that the stainless steel tubes in stiffened concrete-filled columns offered a high average of increase in the confinement of the concrete core than that of the unstiffened concrete-filled columns.     

Anytime learning of anycost classifiers

The classification of new cases using a predictive model incurs two types of costs—testing costs and misclassification costs. Recent research efforts have resulted in several novel algorithms that attempt to produce learners that simultaneously minimize both types. In many real life scenarios, however, we cannot afford to conduct all the tests required by the predictive model. For example, a medical center might have a fixed predetermined budget for diagnosing each patient. For cost bounded classification, decision trees are considered attractive as they measure only the tests along a single path. In this work we present an anytime framework for producing decision-tree based classifiers that can make accurate decisions within a strict bound on testing costs. These bounds can be known to the learner, known to the classifier but not to the learner, or not predetermined. Extensive experiments with a variety of datasets show that our proposed framework produces trees with lower misclassification costs along a wide range of testing cost bounds.     

Black Nickel Coatings for Solar Collectors

Black nickel alloy coatings suitable for solar collectors were produced by electrodeposition from baths containing Ni and Zn sulfates and thiocynate. Variables having the greatest influence on optical properties of the black deposits are: pH-value, temperature, zinc and thiocyanate concentration. Of particular importance is the plating current which is related to the cathode potential that controls the composition, and alternatively, the optical properties of the deposited coatings.

The mechanism of blackening of the Ni coatings was attributed to the deposition of sulfide particles with Ni-Zn alloy. It was shown that, in absence of thiocyanate, co-deposited Zn causes a degree of blackening to Ni coatings due to the deposition of Ni₃Zn₂₂ as identified by x-ray phase analysis. Considerable blackening can be achieved by sulfur, which is deposited as Ni₃S₂. In a modified composition it was possible to replace sulfur by phosphorous supplied to the coating by the addition of sodium hypophosphite to the plating solution.

The coatings were of optimum optical properties as far as maximum absorptance and minimum emittance. Absorptance values as high as 0.93 could be obtained for selective coatings (2-3 microns thick) deposited under optimized conditions. Performance tests for coated solar water heater panels showed that the coatings are well qualified. The endurance of the coatings was evaluated in actual service conditions with regard to thermal degradation and corrosion resistance.     

Computational thermodynamic model for the Mg−Al−Y system

The ternary Mg−Al−Y system was thermodynamically modeled based on the optimization of the binary subsystems Mg−Al, Mg−Y, and Al−Y using the CALPHAD approach. Mg−Al data was taken from the COST507 database, whereas the other two binary systems were reoptimized in this work. The liquid phase was described by a Redlich-Kister polynomial model, and the intermediate solid solutions were described by a sublattice model. Ternary interaction parameters were introduced to enable the best representation of the experimental data while considering the occurrence of the ternary compound Al₄MgY. The constructed database is used to calculate and predict thermodynamic properties, binary phase diagrams of Al−Y and Mg−Y, and liquidus projections of the ternary Mg−Al−Y. The calculated phase diagrams and the thermodynamic properties are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental data from the literature. Sixteen ternary four-phase-equilibria invariant points were predicted in the Mg−Al−Y system: seven ternary eutectic points, eight ternary quasi peritectic points, and one ternary peritectic point. Further, fifteen three-phase-equilibria in variant points were determined: eight saddle points and seven binary eutectic points.     

Improvements in mode-locked semiconductor diode lasers using monolithically integrated passive waveguides made by quantum-well intermixing

By using the technique of quantum-well intermixing (QWI), monolithically integrated passive, and active waveguides can be fabricated. It is shown that mode-locked extended cavity semiconductor lasers with integrated low-loss passive waveguides display superior performance to devices in which the entire waveguide is active: the threshold current is a factor of 3-5 lower, the pulsewidth is reduced from 10.2 ps in the all active laser to 3.5 ps in the extended cavity device and there is a decrease in the free-running jitter level from 15 to 6 ps (10 kHz-10 MHz).     

Structural and magnetic studies of Ce-Zn doped M-type SrFe12O19 hexagonal ferrite synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion method

In the present work, the M-type Sr-hexagonal ferrites having chemical composition Sr_1-xCe_xFe_12-yZn_yO₁₉ (x?=?0.000, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.10, y?=?0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) are prepared via sol-gel autocombustion technique. The Structural and magnetic properties of M-type Sr-hexagonal ferrites are studied and discussed thoroughly. The structural, micro graphical and magnetic particularities of the samples are calculated through X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) respectively. X-ray diffraction assured that all the synthesized composites possess a pure M-type hexaferrite structure and basic crystalline configuration of Sr-hexaferrite which does not alter by Ce-Zn substitution. It is observed that the Ce-Zn substitution has significant effect on its magnetic properties. VSM results reveal that pure sample has coercivity of 4.49?kOe, which shows the hard nature of the samples. It is perceived that values of remanence (M_r) and saturation magnetization (M_s) decline with increasing the Ce-Zn ions substitution. The reason behind the reduction in magnetic saturation (M_s) and remanence (M_r) might be spin canting and dilution phenomena with increasing the rare earth substituted ions. The large coercivity magnets may be valuable for permanent (stable) magnet applications. The prepared composites could be useful for applications in microwave absorbing materials.