Evaluation of internal void related defects in reinforced concrete slab using electromagnetic wave properties

This study aims to develop a damage-detection algorithm based on the electromagnetic wave properties inside a reinforced concrete structure.The proposed method involves employing two algorithms based on data measured using ground-penetrating radar—a common electromagnetic wave method in civil engineering.The possible defect area was identified based on the energy dissipated by the damage in the frequency-wavenumber domain,with the damage localized using the calculated relative permittivity of the measurements.The proposed method was verified through a finite difference time-domain-based numerical analysis and a testing slab with artificial damage.As a result of verification,the proposed method quickly identified the presence of damage inside the concrete,especially for honeycomb-like defects located at the top of the rebar.This study has practical significance in scanning structures over a large area more quickly than other non-destructive testing methods,such as ultrasonic methods.

Fragmentation stability and retention time-shift obtained by LC-MS/MS to distinguish sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers in therapeutic glycoproteins

Sialylated N-glycan isomers withα2-3 orα2-6 linkage(s)have distinctive roles in glycoproteins,but are difficult to distinguish.Wild-type(WT)and glycoengineered(mutant)therapeutic glycoproteins,cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4-immunoglobulin(CTLA4-Ig),were produced in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines;however,their linkage isomers have not been reported.In this study,N-glycans of CTLA4-Igs were released,labeled with procainamide,and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(MS/MS)to identify and quantify sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers.The linkage isomers were distinguished by comparison of 1)intensity of the N-acetylglucosamine ion to the sialic acid ion(Ln/Nn)using different fragmentation stability in MS/MS spectra and 2)retention time-shift for a selective m/z value in the extracted ion chromatogram.Each isomer was distinctively identified,and each quantity(>0.1%)was obtained relative to the total N-glycans(100%)for all observed ionization states.Twenty sialylated N-glycan isomers with onlyα2-3 linkage(s)in WT were identified,and each isomer's sum of quantities was 50.4%.Furthermore,39 sialylated N-glycan isomers(58.8%)in mono-(3 N-glycans;0.9%),bi-(18;48.3%),tri-(14;8.9%),and tetra-(4;0.7%)antennary structures of mutant were obtained,which comprised mono-(15 N-glycans;25.4%),di-(15;28.4%),tri-(8;4.8%),and tetra-(1;0.2%)sialylation,respectively,with onlyα2-3(10 N-glycans;4.8%),bothα2-3 andα2-6(14;18.4%),and onlyα2-6(15;35.6%)linkage(s).These results are consistent with those forα2-3 neuraminidase-treated N-glycans.This study generated a novel plot of Ln/Nn versus retention time to distinguish sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers in glycoprotein.

SERKs serve as co-receptors for SYR1 to trigger systemin-mediated defense responses in tomato

Systemin, the first peptide hormone identified in plants, was initially isolated from tomato(Solanum lycopersicum) leaves. Systemin mediates local and systemic wound-induced defense responses in plants, conferring resistance to necrotrophic fungi and herbivorous insects. Systemin is recognized by the leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like kinase(LRRRLK) receptor SYSTEMIN RECEPTOR1(SYR1), but how the systemin recognition signal is transduced to intracellular signaling pathways to trigger defense responses is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that SERK family LRR-RLKs function as coreceptors for SYR1 to mediate systemin signal transduction in tomato. By using chemical genetic approaches coupled with engineered receptors, we revealed that the association of the cytoplasmic kinase domains of SYR1 with SERKs leads to their mutual trans-phosphorylation and the activation of SYR1, which in turn induces a wide range of defense responses. Systemin stimulates the association between SYR1 and all tomato SERKs(SlSERK1,SlSERK3A, and SlSERK3B). The resulting SYR1-SlSERK heteromeric complexes trigger the phosphorylation of TOMATO PROTEIN KINASE 1B(TPK1b), a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase that positively regulates systemin responses. Additionally,upon association with SYR1, SlSERKs are cleaved by the Pseudomonas syringae effector HopB1, further supporting the finding that SlSERKs are activated by systemin-bound SYR1. Finally, genetic analysis using Slserk mutants showed that SlSERKs are essential for systemin-mediated defense responses. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the systeminmediated association of SYR1 and SlSERKs activates defense responses against herbivorous insects.