Full-Locked Coil Ropes with HDPE Sheath: Studies of Mechanical Behavior of HDPE Under Accelerated Aging.

In accordance with German guideline ZTV-ING Part 4, full-locked coil ropes are provided with a three-layer corrosion protection coating based on epoxy resin and polyurethane, which must be renewed regularly. An alternative method is to use a coating of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is extruded onto the rope. In this article, the mechanical behavior of the thermoplastic material is studied, taking into account various accelerated aging processes, which are derived from the climatic boundary conditions of a real bridge structure and implemented in tests.

Why usefulness is rarely useful.

Mate selection plays an important role in breeding programs. The Usefulness Criterion was proposed to improve mate selection, combining information on both the mean and standard deviation of the potential offspring of a cross, particularly in clonally propagated species where large family sizes are possible. Predicting the mean value of a cross is generally easier than predicting the standard deviation, especially in outbred species when the linkage of alleles is unknown and phasing is required.

Lightning-Fast Convective Outlooks: Predicting Severe Convective Environments With Global AI-Based Weather Models.

Severe convective storms are among the most dangerous weather phenomena and accurate forecasts mitigate their impacts. The recently released suite of AI-based weather models produces medium-range forecasts within seconds, with a skill similar to state-of-the-art operational forecasts for variables on single levels. However, predicting severe thunderstorm environments requires accurate combinations of dynamic and thermodynamic variables and the vertical structure of the atmosphere.

A Dominance Hypothesis Argument for Historical Genetic Gains and the Fixation of Heterosis in Octoploid Strawberry.

Heterosis was the catalyst for the domestication of cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa), an interspecific hybrid species that originated in the 1700s. The hybrid origin was discovered because the phenotypes of spontaneous hybrids transgressed those of their parent species. The transgressions included fruit yield increases and other genetic gains in the twentieth century that sparked the global expansion of strawberry production.