bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FKF1b controls reproductive transition associated with adaptation to geographical distribution in maize
Authors: Chen Suhui , Gao Shan , Wang Dongyang , Liu Jie , Ren Yingying , Wang Zhihan , Wei Xin , Wang Qin , Huang Xuehui
Published: March 2024

Maize (Zea mays subspecies mays) is an important commercial crop across the world, and its flowering time is closely related to grain yield, plant cycle and latitude adaptation. FKF1 is an essential clock‐regulated blue‐light receptor with distinct functions on flowering time in plants, and its function in maize remains unclear. In this study, we identified two FKF1 homologs in the maize genome, named ZmFKF1a and ZmFKF1b, and indicated that ZmFKF1a and ZmFKF1b independently regulate reproductive transition through interacting with ZmCONZ1 and ZmGI1 to increase the transcription levels of ZmCONZ1 and ZCN8. We demonstrated that ZmFKF1b underwent artificial selection during modern breeding in China probably due to its role in geographical adaptation. Furthermore, our data suggested that ZmFKF1bHap_C7 may be an elite allele, which increases the abundance of ZmCONZ1 mRNA more efficiently and adapt to a wider range of temperature zone than that of ZmFKF1bHap_Z58 to promote maize floral transition. It extends our understanding of the genetic diversity of maize flowering. This allele is expected to be introduced into tropical maize germplasm to enrich breeding resources and may improve the adaptability of maize at different climate zones, especially at temperate region.
ACBP4‐WRKY70‐RAP2.12 module positively regulates submergence‐induced hypoxia response in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Guo Mengyun , Yao Yingjun , Yin Kangqun , Tan Luna , Liu Meng , Hou Jing , Zhang Han , Liang Ruyun , Zhang Xinran , Yang Heng , Chen Xiaoxiao , Tan Jinrui , Song Yan , Lou Shangling , Chen Liyang , Liu Xuejing , Tang Si , Hu Yongqi , Yan Jin , Fu Wensen , Yang Kai , Zhang Ruijia , Li Xuerui , Liu Yao , Yan Zhen , Liu Wei , Han Yu , Liu Jianquan , Mao Kangshan , Liu Huanhuan
Published: March 2024

ACYL‐CoA‐BINDING PROTEINs (ACBPs) play crucial regulatory roles during plant response to hypoxia, but their molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our study reveals that ACBP4 serves as a positive regulator of the plant hypoxia response by interacting with WRKY70, influencing its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we demonstrate the direct binding of WRKY70 to the ACBP4 promoter, resulting in its upregulation and suggesting a positive feedback loop. Additionally, we pinpointed a phosphorylation site at Ser638 of ACBP4, which enhances submergence tolerance, potentially by facilitating WRKY70's nuclear shuttling. Surprisingly, a natural variation in this phosphorylation site of ACBP4 allowed A. thaliana to adapt to humid conditions during its historical demographic expansion. We further observed that both phosphorylated ACBP4 and oleoyl‐CoA can impede the interaction between ACBP4 and WRKY70, thus promoting WRKY70's nuclear translocation. Finally, we found that the overexpression of orthologous BnaC5.ACBP4 and BnaA7.WRKY70 in Brassica napus increases submergence tolerance, indicating their functional similarity across genera. In summary, our research not only sheds light on the functional significance of the ACBP4 gene in hypoxia response, but also underscores its potential utility in breeding flooding‐tolerant oilseed rape varieties.
Verifying the seating of a 3D‐printed removable die using elastomeric matrices: A dental technique
Authors: Azpiazu‐Flores Francisco X. , Donmez Mustafa Borga , Lin Wei‐Shao , Morton Dean , Yilmaz Burak
Published: March 2024

Computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacturing systems enable digital designing and 3‐dimensional (3D) printing of definitive casts with removable dies. However, the fit of the removable dies should be without interferences for their accurate positioning in the cast. Given that the accuracy of additive manufacturing depends on design‐ and manufacturing‐related factors, verifying the accuracy of the position of 3D‐printed removable dies in their cast is essential to fabricate positionally accurate definitive prostheses, which would enable minimal or no laboratory and clinical adjustments. This dental technique article presents a straightforward approach to verify the seating of a 3D‐printed removable die by using verification matrices made of a polyvinylsiloxane interocclusal registration material.
Trajectories of relationship and sexual satisfaction over 2 years in the Covid‐19 pandemic: A latent class analysis
Authors: Vigl Julia , Strauß Hannah , Talamini Francesca , Zentner Marcel
Published: March 2024

Objective

Previous research on the impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic on romantic relationships has mainly concentrated on short‐term effects and average trends of change. This study aimed to explore different trajectories of relationship and sexual satisfaction from April 2020 to March 2022.

Method

Including a cross‐national sample of 2859 individuals, a latent class approach was applied to identify subgroups of sexual and relationship satisfaction trajectories. Participants' satisfaction levels, attachment style, psychological symptoms, life satisfaction, and living arrangements were taken into account.

Results

Three latent classes were identified for both relationship and sexual satisfaction: (1) a group with high satisfaction levels but a slightly declining trajectory, (2) a group with low satisfaction levels but an ascending trajectory, and (3) a fluctuating group. Living apart, having children, psychological symptoms, low life satisfaction, and avoidant attachment characterized the two groups with low or fluctuating trajectories.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that there were different trajectories of relationship and sexual satisfaction during the pandemic, which can be predicted by individual dispositions. Even 2 years after the pandemic, its effects had not disappeared.
Examining the causal effects of exposure to violence on crime among youth involved in the justice system: Experienced, witnessed, and experienced–witnessed violence
Authors: Guo Siying , Liu Jianxuan , Pak Anna
Published: March 2024

Previous studies on exposure to violence lack a nuanced understanding of the causal effects of different exposure types on offending behaviors. This study, drawing on Pathways to Desistance Study (PDS) data tracking 1354 adjudicated youths aged 14–18 over 7 years, explores the contemporaneous (cross‐sectional), acute (after 1 year), enduring (after 3 years), and long‐term (after 6 years) causal effects of violence exposure on property and violent offending. The sample, predominantly male (86%), consisted of White (20%), Black (42%), and other (38%) individuals. The generalized propensity score is used to match unbalanced covariates across multiple exposure types, namely noninvolved (n = 392), witnessed (n = 577), experienced (n = 31), and experienced‐witnessed violence (n = 305). Results demonstrate the contemporaneous, acute, enduring, and long‐term effects of violence exposure on both violent and property offending, with varying durations and strengths across exposure types. The most pronounced risk effects are immediate, diminishing over time and potentially reversing in the long term as youth transition into adulthood. Among exposure types, experienced‐witnessed violence exhibits the most potent effects on offending, followed by witnessed violence and then experienced violence—a pattern consistent across the observed time points. Noteworthy is the finding that the impact of violence exposure is more pronounced for violent offending, diminishing more rapidly compared to the effects on property offending.
Differences in olfactory functioning: The role of personality and gender
Authors: Tyagi Pankaj , Bansal Sonal , Sharma Anju , Tiwary Uma Shanker , Varadwaj Pritish Kumar
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the gender and personality traits of individuals and their ability to detect, identify, and discriminate odors. The dataset on olfactory performance was compiled from a panel of 207 healthy human volunteers. The dataset for the odor identification test was collected using a set of 10 distinct odorants, and the odor discrimination test dataset was collected using a well‐established “Sniffin sticks” (Burghardt®, Wedel, Germany) odor discrimination test kit. To assess the Big Five personality traits of study participants, a self‐report survey questionnaire based on the International Personality Item Pool‐Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Openness (IPIP‐NEO) was used. Here, we conducted a statistical analysis to investigate the role of personality measures and gender on olfactory performance, as well as the relationship between olfactory performance and perceived odor intensity, pleasantness, and familiarity. The findings of the study suggest the existence of some relationships between gender and personality traits and odor discrimination and identification, but not odor detection. Conscientiousness and openness to experience personality traits were positively correlated with odor identification, while agreeableness and conscientiousness personality traits were positively correlated with odor discrimination. The extroversion personality scale was negatively correlated with odor discrimination. Additionally, male participants performed better than females in odor identification tasks, while females performed better in odor discrimination. The neuroticism personality domain was associated with odor identification tasks in males but not in females when analyzed separately. Correct identification of odors was also associated with their perceived familiarity.

Practical Applications

The results of this study may have important practical implications for a range of industries, including the fragrance and food industries. These findings may help tailor products to specific consumer preferences based on personality and gender, enhancing product appeal. Further, the fragrance and food industries can develop targeted marketing campaigns using fragrances and flavors associated with particular personality types or genders. Similarly, product testing can also be improved by representing a diverse range of personality types and genders to obtain more accurate feedback. The study insights can further guide the development of flavor and taste pairings that resonate with specific personality and gender groups. Overall, by considering olfactory differences related to personality and gender, the fragrance and food industries can segment their target markets more effectively and design products that appeal to different consumer groups.
Xylooligosaccharide supplementation in rice protein concentrate based diets: A comprehensive analysis of performance and health of Labeo rohita
Authors: Khizar Ayesha , Fatima Mahroze , Khan Noor , Rashid Muhammad Afzal
Published: March 2024

The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of xylooligosaccharide (XOS) in rice protein concentrate (RPC) based diets on the growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes, intestinal morphology and blood biochemistry of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Four different XOS levels (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2%) were used at each RPC (75% and 100%) level. Twenty‐five fish per tank with an average initial weight of 25 ± 0.05 g were randomly assigned (Randomised complete block design) to each of the 8 groups in triplicate aquaria (36 × 16 × 12″) and then fed with respective diets @ 3% body weight for 90 days. The results showed significant improvements in growth performance, such as increased weight gain %, specific growth rate, and protein efficiency ratio and improved feed conversion ratio in 1% XOS supplemented diet at 75% RPC. A significant decrease in serum alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and plasma melanodialdehyde (MDA) were observed at 1% XOS level in 75% RPC based diets, respectively. Meanwhile, the lowest total cholesterol and highest lysozyme activity were observed in 1% XOS supplemented diet at 75% RPC levels. Moreover, the serum (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase) and plasma (superoxide dismutase, triglyceride, high density and low density lipoprotein) activities showed nonsignificant effects among the treatments. Furthermore, the digestive enzymes (protease & lipase) and intestinal morphology were significantly influenced at 1% XOS in the 75% RPC‐based diet. Polynomial regression analysis showed that 1.25% XOS is the optimum requirement for the growth of rohu fingerlings when fed at 75% RPC based diets. Overall, it was concluded that the 75% RPC diet was efficiently replaced by fishmeal along with 1% XOS addition in L. rohita fingerlings without any negative effect on growth performance and intestinal health.
Nocturnal vestibular stimulation using a rocking bed improves a severe sleep disorder in a patient with mitochondrial disease
Authors: Breuss Alexander , Strasser Marco , Nuoffer Jean‐Marc , Klein Andrea , Perret‐Hoigné Eveline , Felder Christine , Stauffer Ruth , Wolf Peter , Riener Robert , Gautschi Matthias
Published: March 2024

Mitochondrial diseases are rare genetic disorders often accompanied by severe sleep disorders. We present the case of a 12‐year‐old boy diagnosed with a severe primary mitochondrial disease, exhibiting ataxia, spasticity, progressive external ophthalmoplegia, cardiomyopathy and severely disrupted sleep, but no cognitive impairment. Interestingly, his parents reported improved sleep during night train rides. Based on this observation, we installed a rocking bed in the patient's bedroom and performed different interventions, including immersive multimodal vestibular, kinesthetic and auditory stimuli, reminiscent of the sensory experiences encountered during train rides. Over a 5‐month period, we conducted four 2‐week nocturnal interventions, separated by 1‐week washout phases, to determine the subjectively best‐perceived stimulation parameters, followed by a final 4‐week intervention using the optimal parameters. We assessed sleep duration and quality using the Mini Sleep Questionnaire, monitored pulse rate changes and used videography to document nocturnal interactions between the patient and caregivers. Patient‐reported outcome measures, clinical examinations and personal outcomes of specific interests were used to document daytime sleepiness, restlessness, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive performance and physical posture. In the final 4‐week intervention, sleep duration increased by 25%, required caregiver interactions reduced by 75%, and caregiving time decreased by 40%. Subjective fatigue, assessed by the Checklist Individual Strength, decreased by 40%, falling below the threshold of severe fatigue. Our study suggests that rocking beds could provide a promising treatment regime for selected patients with persistent severe sleep disorders. Further research is required to validate these findings in larger patient populations with sleep disorders and other conditions.
Positive clinical outcome using a modified dosing regimen of benznidazole in dogs at high risk for infection or acutely infected with Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Lim Sukjung , Collins Stephanie , Hamer Sarah A. , Tarleton Rick L. , Saunders Ashley B.
Published: March 2024

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in dogs can cause heart failure and sudden death with few treatment options available. A litter of 4 dogs living in a T cruzi endemic area were randomized to prophylaxis and nonprophylaxis groups as part of a study evaluating a modified benznidazole dosing regimen administered twice weekly to prevent T cruzi infection during a vector transmission season. The 2 dogs that received prophylaxis remained healthy without T cruzi infection or cardiac disease for >2 years. One dog that did not receive prophylaxis died unexpectedly with acute T cruzi–induced pancarditis, and the second dog tested positive for T cruzi and developed complex arrhythmias with markedly increased cardiac troponin I and improved with a higher benznidazole treatment dose. Although the small sample size precludes definitive conclusions, we describe the potential clinical benefit of prophylactic and early treatment with modified benznidazole dosing regimens for dogs with T cruzi infection.
Advanced microstructural and compositional analysis of a lunar agglutinate from the Apollo 11 mission
Authors: Huang Tai‐Jan , Ganju Eshan , Torbatisarraf Hamid , Thompson Michelle S. , Chawla Nikhilesh
Published: March 2024

The microstructural characterization of lunar agglutinate samples serves many essential purposes in lunar science and cosmochemistry, from understanding the formation process of lunar regolith to preparing for human activity on the Moon. In this study, an advanced correlative characterization methodology was employed to examine the microstructure of a lunar agglutinate particle retrieved from the Apollo 11 mission. The multimodal characterization efforts were centered around 3‐D x‐ray computed tomography (XCT) and were complemented by 2‐D techniques, including scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy. The nondestructive nature of the XCT allowed us to preserve the lunar dust particles, while its 3‐D nature allowed us to extract meaningful microstructural information inaccessible via traditional 2‐D characterization techniques. The multimodal correlative analysis further allowed us to identify the compositional and microstructural features of the agglutinate. These observations were linked to the formation process of the agglutinate to inform a hypothesis on the dynamic formation sequence of lunar regolith.
When I say … active learning
Authors: Gavarkovs Adam G. , Finan Emer , Jensen Rune Dall , Brydges Ryan
Published: March 2024

If 'active learning' means 'anything other than passive', does it really have much meaning at all? The authors offer suggestions regarding how we might better conceptualize the term 'active learning' moving forward.
Absolute iron deficiency, coronary artery calcification and cardiovascular mortality in maintenance haemodialysis patients
Authors: Mizuiri Sonoo , Nishizawa Yoshiko , Yamashita Kazuomi , Doi Toshiki , Okubo Aiko , Morii Kenichi , Usui Koji , Arita Michiko , Naito Takayuki , Shigemoto Kenichiro , Masaki Takao
Published: March 2024

Aim

The effects of iron on vascular calcification in rats and vascular smooth muscle cells were recently reported, but clinical studies on iron and vascular calcification are scant. We studied the associations of absolute iron deficiency, coronary artery calcification and mortality in patients with maintenance haemodialysis (MHD).

Methods

Transferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and Agatston coronary artery calcium score (CACS) were studied at baseline in MHD patients and followed up for 3 years. Cox proportional hazard analyses for mortality and linear regression analyses for CACS were performed.

Results

In 306 patients, the median age was 67 (56–81) years, dialysis duration was 76 (38–142) months, and diabetes prevalence was 42.5%. Fifty‐two patients had died by 3 years. Patients with absolute iron deficiency (TSAT <20% and ferritin <100 ng/mL) (n = 102) showed significantly higher CACS (p = .0266) and C‐reactive protein (p = .0011), but a lower frequency of iron formulation administration compared with patients without absolute iron deficiency at baseline (n = 204). Absolute iron deficiency was a significant predictor for 3‐year cardiovascular (CV) mortality (hazard ratio: 2.08; p = .0466), but not for 3‐year all‐cause mortality. CACS was significant predictor for both 3‐year CV and all‐cause mortality (p <.05). Absolute iron deficiency and MCH were significant determinants of CACS (p < .05).

Conclusion

MHD patients with absolute iron deficiency showed significantly higher CACS than others, and absolute iron deficiency was a significant risk factor for coronary artery calcification and 3‐year CV mortality in MHD patients, but was not a significant predictor for 3‐year all‐cause mortality.

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Redesigning a S‐nitrosylated pyruvate‐dependent GABA transaminase 1 to generate high‐malate and saline–alkali‐tolerant tomato
Authors: Liu Minghui , Cao Bili , Wei Jin‐Wei , Gong Biao
Published: March 2024

Although saline–alkali stress can improve tomato quality, the detailed molecular processes that balance stress tolerance and quality are not well‐understood.

Our research links nitric oxide (NO) and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) with the control of root malate exudation and fruit malate storage, mediated by aluminium‐activated malate transporter 9/14 (SlALMT9/14). By modifying a specific S‐nitrosylated site on pyruvate‐dependent GABA transaminase 1 (SlGABA‐TP1), we have found a way to enhance both plant's saline–alkali tolerance and fruit quality.

Under saline–alkali stress, NO levels vary in tomato roots and fruits. High NO in roots leads to S‐nitrosylation of SlGABA‐TP1/2/3 at Cys316/258/316, reducing their activity and increasing GABA. This GABA then reduces malate exudation from roots and affects saline–alkali tolerance by interacting with SlALMT14. In fruits, a moderate NO level boosts SlGABA‐TP1 expression and GABA breakdown, easing GABA's block on SlALMT9 and increasing malate storage. Mutants of SlGABA‐TP1C316S that do not undergo S‐nitrosylation maintain high activity, supporting malate movement in both roots and fruits under stress.

This study suggests targeting SlGABA‐TP1Cys316 in tomato breeding could significantly improve plant's saline–alkali tolerance and fruit quality, offering a promising strategy for agricultural development.
Tooth agenesis related to a novel KDF1 variant: A case report and literature review
Authors: Intarak Narin , Manaspon Chawan , Theerapanon Thanakorn , Prommanee Sasiprapa , Samaranayake Lakshman , Shotelersuk Vorasuk , Porntaveetus Thantrira
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To investigate the role of Keratinocyte Differentiation Factor 1 (KDF1) in ectodermal dysplasia (ED) and nonsyndromic tooth agenesis (NSTA) and perform a literature review.

Methods

Genome sequencing was used to identify genetic variants in a Thai, NSTA proband and validated through Sanger sequencing. Pathogenicity was assessed using ACMG guidelines, MetaRNN and AlphaMissense. A comprehensive review of KDF1/NSTA cases informed genotype–phenotype analysis of the proband.

Results

The proband revealed multiple missing teeth, caries and extensive periodontal disease. Deep phenotyping showed no signs of ED beyond tooth agenesis. The identified novel KDF1 variant, p.Ile243Leu, was classified as ‘likely pathogenic’ by ACMG and predicted as ‘detrimental’ by MetaRNN and AlphaMissense analyses. A total of 14 reviewed KDF1 cases revealed ED‐associated variants (3 variants in 8 patients) clustering in the region of amino acids 251–275, within the DUF4656 domain, while NSTA‐causing variants (4 variants in 6 patients) were typically found in amino‐ or carboxy‐termini to this region. KDF1/NSTA cases exhibited an average of 15 missing teeth, with a higher prevalence in the mandible.

Conclusion

This study identifies a novel KDF1 variant‐related NSTA in Thai people. The genotype–phenotype correlates suggest a distinctive pattern and tooth agenesis of KDF1‐related NSTA.
Effects of trastuzumab emtansine on canine urothelial carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Sakai Kosei , Kato Daiki , Yoshinaka Junka , Takahashi Yosuke , Ikeda Namiko , Aoki Susumu , Iguchi Takaaki , Ishikawa Shingo , Yamagishi Norio , Shimamura Shunsuke , Nakagawa Takayuki
Published: March 2024

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract in dogs and has aggressive behaviour. Although human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a known therapeutic target with evidence in canine UC, the efficacy of anti‐HER2 antibody drugs remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of anti‐HER2 antibody drugs including trastuzumab and trastuzumab emtansine (T‐DM1) on canine UC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Four canine UC cell lines (Nene, TCCUB, Love, and Sora) were used. In western blotting, HER2 protein expression was observed in all the cell lines. Although both trastuzumab and T‐DM1 showed dose‐dependent growth inhibitory activity in the cell lines, T‐DM1 showed much stronger activity than that of trastuzumab. In flow cytometry analyses with the canine UC cell line (Sora), T‐DM1 but not trastuzumab significantly increased the percentages of early and late apoptotic cells in annexin V apoptotic assays and the sub‐G1 phase fraction in cell cycle analyses. For the in vivo experiment, the canine UC cells (Sora) were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Four days after inoculation, trastuzumab, T‐DM1, or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally once a week for three times. Tumour volumes were significantly smaller in the T‐DM1 group compared to the trastuzumab and vehicle control groups. These findings indicate that T‐DM1 exerts a stronger antitumour effect than that of trastuzumab on canine UC cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly by inducing apoptosis due to DM1.
Long‐term control of diabetes by tofacitinib‐based immunosuppressive regimen after allo islet transplantation in diabetic rhesus monkeys that rejected previously transplanted porcine islets
Authors: Kim Jong‐Min , Kang Seong‐Jun , Hong So‐Hee , Chung Hyunwoo , Shin Jun‐Seop , Min Byoung‐Hoon , Kim Hyun Je , Ha Jongwon , Park Chung‐Gyu
Published: March 2024

Porcine islet xenotransplantation has been highlighted as an alternative to allo islet transplantation. Despite the remarkable progress that has been made in porcine‐islet pre‐clinical studies in nonhuman primates, immunological tolerance to porcine islets has not been achieved to date. Therefore, allo islet transplantation could be required after the failure of porcine islet xenotransplantation. Here, we report the long‐term control of diabetes by allogeneic pancreatic islet transplantation in diabetic rhesus monkeys that rejected previously transplanted porcine islets. Four diabetic male rhesus monkeys received the porcine islets and then allo islets (5700—19 000 IEQ/kg) were re‐transplanted for a short or long period after the first xeno islet rejection. The recipient monkeys were treated with an immunosuppressive regimen consisting of ATG, humira, and anakinra for induction, and sirolimus and tofacitinib for maintenance therapy. The graft survival days of allo islets in these monkeys were >440, 395, >273, and 127, respectively, similar to that in allo islet transplanted cynomolgus monkeys that received the same immunosuppressive regimen without xeno sensitization. Taken together, it is likely that prior islet xenotransplantation does not affect the survival of subsequent allo islets under clinically applicable immunosuppressants.
Distinct adaptations of muscle endurance but not strength or hypertrophy to low‐load resistance training with and without blood flow restriction
Authors: Ida Akito , Sasaki Kazushige
Published: March 2024

Low‐load resistance training promotes muscle strength and hypertrophic adaptations when combined with blood flow restriction (BFR). However, the effect of BFR on muscle endurance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of BFR on muscle performance and adaptation, with special reference to local muscle endurance. In experiment 1, eight healthy men performed unilateral elbow flexion exercise to failure at 30% of one‐repetition maximum with BFR (at 40% of estimated arterial occlusion pressure) and free blood flow (FBF). During the exercise, muscle activity and tissue oxygenation were measured from the biceps brachii. In experiment 2, another eight healthy men completed 6 weeks of elbow flexion training with BFR and FBF. The number of repetitions to failure at submaximal load (Rmax), the estimated time for peak torque output to decay by 50% during repetitive maximum voluntary contractions (half‐time), one‐repetition maximum, isometric strength and muscle thickness of elbow flexors were measured pre‐ and post‐training. Blood flow restriction resulted in fewer repetitions and lower muscle tissue oxygenation at the end of exercise than FBF, while the muscle activity increased similarly to repetition failure. Blood flow restriction also resulted in a smaller post‐training Rmax, which was strongly correlated with the total exercise volume over the 6 week period. Despite the smaller exercise volume, BFR resulted in similar improvements in half‐time, muscle strength and thickness compared with FBF. These results suggest that the application of BFR can attenuate muscle endurance adaptations to low‐load resistance training by decreasing the number of repetitions during exercise, both acutely and chronically.
Considering Second World War Archaeological Heritage in France
Authors:   INRAP, Carpentier Vincent
Published: March 2024

The archaeology of the Second World War has existed since the 1980s in English-language research. However, the vestiges of this conflict were only officially included in French national heritage at the end of 2013. Only since 2014, the year of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, do preventive archaeology operations prescribe for World War II (WWII) sites. Public research programmes have also been set up to identify and characterise the heritage linked to the conflict, in particular the numerous remains of the Atlantic Wall on France's western seafront. During this decade, several archaeological operations have revealed the strong scientific potential attached to WWII sites throughout the country. At the same time, researchers from the National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) have drawn up a general research theme based on these remains which now form part of an international discussion framework. There are three main lines of research based on the typology of material traces from the conflict. The first of these is dedicated to battlefield remains, which are currently being used to compile an archaeology of military operations in Normandy. The second is the study of defensive structures (bunkers on the Atlantic Wall and passive defence constructions) that are also the subject of exciting discoveries in Normandy and other French regions. The third area of research addresses remains linked to internment and mass crimes. In particular, this concerns the search, currently underway, of the only Nazi concentration camp on French soil, the KL Natzweiler-Struthof. This houses the European Centre of Deported Resistance Members (CERD) and performs important research on other deportation or internment memorials (e.g. Drancy, Mont-Valérien) and on a series of prison camps across France. These sites, long threatened by soil and coastal erosion, development or the looting of militaria, are now crystallising as powerful heritage assets, even though the expression and sharing of this archaeological memory of World War II comes in response to high levels of national and international public expectation.
Underground City: Archaeology of the Warsaw Ghetto in its academic, memorial and social context
Authors:   Aleksander Gieysztor Academy, Konik jacek
Published: March 2024

Archaeological research in ​​the former Warsaw Ghetto conducted in 2021-2022 was the first scientific investigation undertaken in the area in a systematic and planned way. Non-invasive research took place in four locations, followed by excavation campaigns in two selected sites and revealed the cellars of the pre-war buildings and lots of artefacts. Especially interesting was the immediate vicinity of the so-called Anielewicz bunker, where the commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, Mordechai Anielewicz, fought his last battle. Very little is known about the bunker itself and the excavations have shed new light on the issue, possibly unearthing part of the bunker's extended structure. We have to be aware that in comparison to the typical problems of urban archaeology, the archaeology of the Warsaw Ghetto faces some specific issues. The post-war buildings in the area were constructed on the rubble of the ancient city, almost completely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. Moreover, the former residential quarter of the murdered Jews carries a huge emotional load, and any archaeological find made here acquires symbolic significance. Thus the social reception of the research is extremely important.
Archaeology and the public perception of a Soviet prisoner of war cemetery
Authors:   Landesarchäologie Bremen, Halle Uta , Hähn Cathrin ,   Landesarchäologie Bremen
Published: March 2024

Between July 2021 and November 2022, the federal archaeological office of Bremen (Landesarchäologie) excavated the site of a former cemetery for Soviet Prisoners of War and forced labourers. The remains had officially been reinterred at an honorary cemetery in Bremen in 1948. Only a small part of this article is about what the excavation revealed and rather its purpose is to reflect on the situation that has arisen between the federal archaeological office, the politics of Bremen versus two citizen's initiatives at the time of the official closure of the excavation. We set out how local conflicts can emerge from such a highly political topic in an archaeological excavation. We also explore how to manage the public interest while, at the same time, attempting to protect the personal dignity of the buried individuals. We engaged with the historical responsibility the city takes for its industrial sites and its past of profiting from forced labour and with the (often unfamiliar) societal function of the work of archaeologists. The research project aims to identify the people buried and to find out about the status of health provision, food supply and overall daily living in the Soviet POW-camps in Bremen by linking the results of archaeology, bioanthropology and historical sources in a database.
Different Schemes, Same City? How lessons from Luas Cross City works are informing the design and implementation of the Luas Finglas and MetroLink Cultural Heritage Strategies
Authors:   Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Dennehy Emer
Published: March 2024

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Archaeology and Heritage operate under a Code of Practice (CoP) for Archaeology (2017) as agreed with the present Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (MHLGH). In accordance with the CoP, a Project Archaeologist is assigned to each scheme. TII Project Archaeologists are responsible not just for archaeological remains, but for cultural heritage in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 2014/52/EU and Environmental Protection Agency Guidelines. Therefore our responsibilities equally encompass the management of built and cultural heritage constraints. This is inclusive of statutory constraints such as National Monuments, Record of Monuments and Places (RMPs) sites, and Protected Structures, and non-statutory constraints such as those included on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH), industrial heritage complexes, parklands, statues, and street furniture.Between 2013 to 2017, TII managed the various cultural heritage requirements of works contracts associated with the construction of Luas Cross City (LCC) in Dublin, Ireland. This scheme provides an ideal case study to consider how archaeological projects can help us understand the development and eastward expansion of the city's public realm from the late 17th to the 20th century. It also demonstrates how we can apply lessons learned from cultural heritage works to engineering contracts.
The Archaeological Legacy of the Lignite Boom in Upper Lusatia
Authors:   Landesamt für Archäologie Sachsen, Prust Anja
Published: March 2024

At the beginning of the 19th century, nobody in the landscape of the heaths and ponds of Lusatia, a small region in the German-Polish border area, would have suspected the lasting effects of the lignite mining boom on the economy, landscape, and the local communities there. The initially small underground mines soon developed into large open-pit mines. 'Industrial cathedrals' were established, new cities were raised out of the heathland, long-distance transport networks were expanded, and industrial centres emerged that gained importance throughout Europe. The local population and culture changed through migration, adaptation and assimilation, the landscape through the huge earth movements caused by lignite mining. This enormous transformation of an entire region has an impact on identity even today, and still influences political processes. It is now the task of archaeology and heritage management organisations to document this recent past as well and to preserve its cultural value.
Finding the Wrong People. Challenges of contemporary archaeology in Poland
Authors:   Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa, Oniszczuk Agnieszka and , Wrzosek Jakub ,   Narodowy Instytut Dziedzictwa
Published: March 2024

The immediate past has been of interest within Polish archaeology only very recently. Research was first undertaken in 1967 and was incidental, tending not to change the general view of archaeologists focused on periods spanning prehistory to the Middle Ages, and then gradually adding the 17th and 18th centuries. A permanent change came in the 1990s with the emergence of development-led archaeology in Poland. Excavations preceding construction of motorways and other infrastructure projects revealed relics dating back to 1800-1945 on an unprecedented scale. Initially, insufficient historical knowledge made archaeological research particularly difficult. Now, after a few decades, this pioneer era is coming to an end, and there are archaeologists focusing mainly on the contemporary period e.g. archaeology of armed conflicts in the broadest sense of the term or narrowly specialised forensic archaeology.
Should We Adopt a Pragmatic Approach to Holocaust Heritage in the 21st Century?
Authors:   University of Cambridge, Carr Gilly
Published: March 2024

This essay proposes that a pragmatic approach be taken towards Holocaust heritage in the 21st century and beyond. Its point of departure is the recognition that it is now nearly 80 years since the end of the war and we are not making heritage decisions today about such sites based on inheriting them 'untouched' in 1945 and dictating their future role as sites of education, remembrance and pilgrimage. Rather, in acknowledgement that many decades have passed and that buildings from many sites of Holocaust heritage have been put to other uses, I argue that a pragmatic solution is required rather than an insistence that Holocaust heritage must have no function today other than one based solely on remembrance and memorialisation. This essay discusses whether we should be prepared to accept compromises and give up idealistic perceptions of a single 'right' solution that dictates the heritage futures of such sites. The research for this discussion is based upon the 2019-24 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) project Safeguarding Sites, chaired by the author. This essay thus prizes an approach that safeguards Holocaust sites, but questions what we mean by 'safeguarding', arguing that Holocaust heritage is not like the archaeological site of Pompeii; we have not inherited it untouched and preserved in volcanic ash, nor have we had ownership of it continuously since the end of the war.
Thermal Hydraulic Analysis of Turbulent Flow of Superheated Steam Through Multiple Configurations of 3D Angular Piping Bend in Power Plant Installations
Authors: Khan Mohammad , Haque Jehad , Putul Lubon , Sohel Shamsul Huda
Published: March 2024

One of the most vulnerable parts in high-pressure and temperature pipeline networks in steam turbine power plant installations is pipe bends, due to intense fluctuation of velocity and pressure of the superheated steam flowing through the piping bend. On the other hand, because of unique chemical and physical properties, the transportation of superheated steam can adversely effect on the integrity of the pipe bends in the piping network. Therefore, the potential risk of pipeline failure becomes more probable at bends. Therefore, to ensure the survivability of the piping network, thorough investigations of the superheated steam flowing through pipe bends are of great significance in better understanding its flow behavior. However, to predict flow behavior at piping bend, intensive research by direct experiment at high temperature and pressure might not be possible to some extent. In that case, computer codes and models can help us analyze flow behavior of superheated steam at pipe bends. The current work is a computational fluid dynamics investigation, where numerical examination is carried out by commercial code ansys fluent for thermal hydraulic analysis of flow behavior of superheated steam through multiple configurations of 3D angular piping bend: 90 deg, 120 deg, and 135 deg. Validation of credibility of the computational approach is done against Sudo et al.'s experiment. With relatively good agreement between the experiment and numerical result using air flowing through 90 deg elbow, single-phase turbulent flow of superheated steam is examined by the application of realizable turbulence model (k–ɛ). The final assessment of the computed results has been done using qualitative and quantitative analyses. The study reveals that unlike the pressure profiles, the radial velocity profiles at the bend exit are noticeably different from those at the bend inlet, since they exhibit more rounded peaks and gentler velocity gradients. The study also shows that the radial pressure and velocity profiles do not display any sign of the existence of a pair of vortices.
Investigation on the Influence of the Condenser Length and Its Coupling Effect With Elevation on the Performance of Loop Heat Pipe
Authors: Zhou Xue , Zheng Suzheng , Li Nanxi , Lin Bingyao , Chen De , Jiang Zhenhua , Lu Yan
Published: March 2024

The effects of condenser length and evaporator/condenser elevation on the performance of a loop heat pipe (LHP) in a gravity field were investigated, respectively, as well as their coupling effect. The refrigerant R40 was selected, and the condenser length was altered by changing the number of fins connected to the water-cooled plates. The experiments were conducted at three evaporator/condenser elevations: zero elevation, favorable elevation, and adverse elevation. The experimental results indicated that the evaporator temperatures of LHP with three different condenser lengths are very close when the LHP operates in variable conductance mode (VCM). However, an excessively long condenser will increase the LHP thermal resistance in VCM. In constant conductance mode (CCM), the longer the condenser, the lower the evaporator temperature. As the heat load increases, the LHP first exhibits gravity-driven mode and then capillarity-gravity-driven mode at a favorable elevation. The positive coupling effect on reducing the evaporator temperature by extending the condenser length and running at a favorable elevation manifests that the influence of condenser length is very small in gravity-driven mode, while in capillarity-gravity-driven mode, the effect of operating at a favorable elevation gets weakened, and the positive effects of the two factors cannot be simply calculated by the linear superposition principle. Additionally, reverse flow and flash evaporation were also observed and analyzed in depth. These results and conclusions can be used to guide the design of the condenser and the installation of LHP for ground applications.
Ignition of Aircraft Combustible Fluids by Hot Surface Under Ventilation
Authors: Wu Haitao , Chen Xiguang , Cong Beihua , Xie Fei
Published: March 2024

Flight-fire is a crucial factor that affects the safety of aircraft. It mainly results from combustible fluid leakages on hot surfaces. Hence, this study investigates the ignition probability of a droplet on a hot surface under ventilation through experiments. Specifically, two types of widely used combustible fluids, No. 3 Jet Fuel and Mobile Jet Oil II, were investigated at varying surface temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 700 °C. This range covers the non-ignition to sure-ignition temperatures for the two fluids. The experiments were carried out considering the actual ventilation conditions of an aircraft, wherein the airflow rate ranged from 0 m/s to 3 m/s, and the airflow temperature ranged from room temperature to 380 °C. The experimental results indicate that environmental factors have a significant influence on droplet ignition probability, ignition probability corresponds with the airflow temperature but is opposite to the airflow rate. Furthermore, the degree of influence on ignition probability varies with the type of combustible liquid. The critical temperatures for non-ignition and sure-ignition on hot surfaces for No. 3 Jet Fuel and Mobile Jet Oil II under ventilation conditions have been acquired. Additionally, an empirical model is established to determine the ignition probability of No. 3 Jet Fuel under ventilation. The results of this work have instructional significance for aircraft fire protection design and airworthiness certificate of aircraft fire safety.
Hydrodynamic Performance Research of Underwater Oscillating Fin With the Compound Locomotion of Two Modes
Authors: Yin Qian , Xia Ming-hai , Zhang Wen-bin , Luo Yuan , Shang Jian-zhong , Luo Zi-rong
Published: March 2024

The fish-like propulsion robot is becoming a profound intelligent equipment due to its excellent swimming ability and good environmental adaptability. In this paper, we propose the oscillating fin based on the fish swimming mechanism, which is compounded with the locomotion modes of sway and yaw. The kinematic and dynamic models are established to study the locomotion mechanism of the oscillating fin. The hydrodynamic performance of underwater locomotion is investigated to analyze the velocity, the propulsive force, the pressure, the propulsive efficiency, and the vortices property. Finally, the experimental measurements of the robot with oscillating fin propulsion are carried out to analyze the underwater propulsion of the oscillating fin and the unsteady fluid flow with Strouhal number. The results illustrate that the propulsive force is fluctuating, and the velocity is increasing to the maximum value. The underwater propulsion velocity could reach 1.2 m/s in a period of 0.4 s. Besides, the high- and low-pressure regions change alternatively, and the fin deforming process illustrates the vortices property and the locomotion mechanism analyses. The propulsive efficiency of the oscillating fin with compound waves is increased by 11% compared with that of the one without deformation. The experiments of the robot prototype verify the numerical simulation, and the propulsive velocity with a period of 0.4 s is two times larger than that of a period of 0.8 s. The Strouhal number of each motion mode is obtained through theoretical and experimental analyses.