bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current Approach to Spermatogonial Stem Cells in Vitro Maturation
Authors: KERVANCIOĞLU Gülnaz , KARADENİZ Zeliha , KERVANCIOĞLU Elif
Published: March 2022

The studies conducted to determine the stage of its usability in prospective fertility restoration of testicular tissues taken from prepubertal patients undergoing oncology treatment were screened. In addition, the current status of spermatogonial stem cell cultures, testicular tissue cultures, and testicular organoid research and their potential in fertility restoration were examined.

Spermatogonial stem cells are only found in prepubertal testicular tissue. Germinal serial cells are not found. Since spermatozoa are not produced in this period, spermatogonial stem cells are stored by freezing in the form of testicular tissue pieces or testicular cell suspension. It is not yet clear how to ensure the maturation of freeze-thawed or fresh spermatogonial stem cells for fertility reconstruction when it is necessary.

The spermatogonial stem cells can be placed in their original niche by maintaining the vitality of the seminiferous tubules in vitro. Then, it can be transplanted to the recipient.

Many hypotheses suggested that that maturation can be achieved via such as two-dimensional, three-dimensional tissue cultures. To ensure differentiation and proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells in three-dimensional cultures, it is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of

the seminiferous tubules in vitro or solve creating an environment similar to the seminiferous tubules niche. In this review article, spermatozoa could be obtained in three-dimensional culture. However, the application of this system in different laboratories and the provision of the setup involves various difficulties. Standard organoids and organoid scaffolds that can be developed for three-dimensional cultures seem to be more preferable.
An LSM-Tree Index for Spatial Data
Authors: He Junjun , Chen Huahui
Published: March 2022

An LSM-tree (log-structured merge-tree) is a hierarchical, orderly and disk-oriented data storage structure which makes full use of the characteristics of disk sequential writing, which are much better than those of random writing. However, an LSM-tree can only be queried by a key and cannot meet the needs of a spatial query. To improve the query efficiency of spatial data stored in LSM-trees, the traditional method is to introduce stand-alone tree-like secondary indexes, the problem with which is the read amplification brought about by dual index queries. Moreover, when more spatial data are stored, the index tree becomes increasingly large, bringing the problems of a lower query efficiency and a higher index update cost. To address the above problems, this paper proposes an ER-tree(embedded R-tree) index structure based on the orderliness of LSM-tree data. By building an SER-tree(embedded R-tree on an SSTable) index structure for each storage component, we optimised dual index queries into single and organised SER-tree indexes into an ER-tree index with a binary linked list. The experiments showed that the query performance of the ER-tree index was effectively improved compared to that of stand-alone R-tree indexes.
Gender Reporting Guidelines in Italian Public Universities for Assessing SDG 5 in the International Context
Authors: Lucchese Manuela , Di Carlo Ferdinando , Aversano Natalia , Sannino Giuseppe , Tartaglia Polcini Paolo
Published: March 2022

Gender equity is a topic of significant interest for universities, who are called upon to plan strategies and measures to increase gender equality in line with international policies. With a qualitative methodology based on manual content analysis, the paper aims to understand whether and how this report could positively assess a university’s actions for reaching SDG 5. This study’s results show that the CRUI guidelines can be used by universities to disclose gender policies that may be of interest to stakeholders, and can also be synthesized in THE ranking, increasing university visibility. The present study could be helpful for universities, regulatory bodies, policy makers, and agency rankings to help them identify the most relevant gender items on which to focus their attention.
Nature’s Contributions to People Shape Sense of Place in the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia
Authors: Murillo-López Beatriz E. , Castro Antonio J. , Feijoo-Martínez Alexander
Published: March 2022

Understanding the roots of a sense of place in farmlands is crucial for stopping rural exodus to urban areas. Farmers’ experiences related to their way of life, peace and quiet, rootedness, pleasure, and inspiration are fundamental components of a sense of place in farmlands. Here, we used the city of Pereira located in the Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia (CCLC) to examine the role of nature’s contributions to people (NCP) in forming meanings and attachments that shape their sense of place to this region. This region has experienced intense agricultural lands abandonment due to rapid urbanization over the last decades. To do so, a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods was used, including semi-structured interviews, observation, and dialogue, to capture farmers’ perceptions and emotions associated with farmlands, reasons for remaining, and the diversity of NCPs. Results indicated that farmers recognized farmlands as a quiet and safe space that support family cohesion. Results also showed that the characteristics of the farms (e.g., agricultural practices, distance to cities, and gender) play an important role in articulating a farmer’s attachment to farmlands. Finally, farmers identified nonmaterial NCP (e.g., physical and psychological experiences and supportive identities) to be the most important contributions for shaping their sense of place. We call for the need to include robust and transparent deliberative and negotiation mechanisms that are inclusive of all relevant stakeholders, to aim to address unequal power, and to recognize and strengthen communities’ mechanisms of action on the CCLC.
The Impact of Agricultural Ecological Capital Investment on the Development of Green Circular Economy
Authors: Zou Fanqi , Li Tinghui
Published: March 2022

Agricultural ecological capital investment aims to achieve the coordinated and sustainable development of agricultural and rural ecology, economy, and society through a series of inputs to a specific range of agricultural ecological resources, ecological environment, and ecological service capacity. Based on the macro data of 31 provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) in China, this paper uses coupling coordination and linear regression models to study the impact of agricultural ecological capital investment on green circular economy development. At the same time, considering the differences between active and passive investment, their impacts on green circular economy development are discussed, respectively. The empirical conclusions are as follows. First, agricultural ecological capital investment plays a significant role in promoting the development of the green circular economy on the whole, but the roles of active investment and passive investment are different. Second, agricultural ecological capital investment positively impacts the development of the green circular economy by increasing green inventions and promoting green credit index. Third, the impacts mechanisms of active and passive investment have on green circular economy are different. Fourth, the impact of agricultural ecological capital investment on the green circular economy is regionally heterogeneous.
Age- and Sex-Related Changes in Body Weight, Muscle, and Tibia in Growing Chinese Domestic Geese (Anser domesticus)
Authors: Yu Jun , Wan Yu , Yang Haiming , Wang Zhiyue
Published: March 2022

This study evaluated the changes in body weight (BW), muscle mass, and tibial parameters of growing domestic geese from hatching to 63 days. A total of 256 Jiangnan White geese (128 males and 128 females) were assigned to 16 pens (8 pens of males and 8 pens of females) and fed with the same diet until the age of 63 d. Geese were weighed at hatch and then at 7-d intervals by pen, and then sixteen birds (8 males and 8 females) were selected for measuring breast and leg muscle weights and tibial characteristics. The BW of goslings increased with age throughout the whole study, with males being significantly heavier than females after 28 d. The breast muscle (pectoral major and minor) weight increased slowly before 42 d and then increased rapidly after 42 d regardless of the sex of goslings. At 42 d, the breast muscle weight of males was significantly lower than that of females. Goose leg muscle (thigh and drumstick) weight increased slowly from 0 to 14 d, rapidly from 15 to 49 d, and almost flat from 50 to 63 d. At 63 d, the leg muscle weight of males was higher than that of females. The leg muscle of goslings grew synchronously with their BW, while the growth of the breast muscle lagged behind the leg muscle and BW. The tibia length and width increased with age, especially from hatching to 35 d and then remained with little change from 35 d onward. The fat-free weight and breaking strength of the tibia significantly increased with age, especially from 0 to 49 d. The tibia ash content of goslings increased rapidly before 28 d and gradually flattened after 28 d. During the growth of the tibia, changes in ash were considerably more advanced, followed by morphology and finally by fat-free weight and breaking strength. In summary, the BW, muscle mass, and tibial parameters of goslings showed sex differences after 28 d. After hatching, geese rapidly grew leg muscle and tibia to support their increased BW and movement.
Does a Soybean Intercrop Increase Nodule Number, N Uptake and Grain Yield of the Followed Main Crop Soybean?
Authors: Porte Anne , Lux Guido , Lewandowska Sylwia , Kozak Marcin , Feller Jörg , Schmidtke Knut
Published: March 2022

It is not known whether seed inoculated soybean intercropping can increase the number of nodules, nitrogen uptake and yield of the subsequent main crop, soybean. For this reason, the soybean intercropping approach, sole or mixed cropping with buckwheat, was adopted to examine the influence of inoculation and intercropping of soybean and buckwheat on the subsequent main crop, soybean. Field trials were conducted from 2016 to 2019 in Germany and Poland. For this purpose, soils on which soybeans had not been grown in the past were selected as experimental plots and laid out in a split-plot design. It was surprising that even without inoculation a nodule growth could be documented. However, intercrop inoculation resulted in an average of 12 times more nodules per plant at four out of five sites. In addition, a 43% higher number of nodules was found on the lateral roots of the main soybean crop when intercropping with inoculated soybean occurred. The influence of the intercrop on the main crop soybean also depended on their growth in late summer and autumn. Further, there was a medium relationship (R = 0.7) between the number of nodules in the intercrop soybean and the nitrogen content of the soybean grain in the main crop. In terms of soybean grain yield, a single inoculation of the intermediate soybean crop contributed an average of 5% higher yield and inoculation of both the intercrops, and the main crop improved yield by 15%.
Relationships of the Microbial Communities with Rumen Epithelium Development of Nellore Cattle Finished in Feedlot Differing in Phenotypic Residual Feed Intake
Authors: Silvestre Antonio M. , Pinto Ana Carolina J. , Schleifer Werner F. , Miranda Lidiane S. , Silva Leandro A. F. , Casali Daniel M. , Souza Katia L. R. , Gasparini Vanessa G. L. , Cruz Gustavo D. , Suen Garret , Millen Danilo D.
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study was to examine the relationships among ruminal microbial community, rumen morphometrics, feeding behavior, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics of Nellore cattle, classified by residual feed intake (RFI). Twenty-seven Nellore yearling bulls with an initial body weight (BW) of 423.84 ± 21.81 kg were fed in feedlot for 107 d in individual pens to determine the RFI phenotype. Bulls were categorized as high RFI (>0.5 SD above the mean, n = 8), medium RFI (±0.5 SD from the mean, n = 9), and low RFI (<0.5 SD below the mean, n = 10). At harvest, whole rumen content samples were collected from each bull to evaluate ruminal microbial community, including bacteria and protozoa. The carcass characteristics were determined by ultrasonography at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period, and behavior data were collected on d 88. As a result of ranking Nellore bulls by RFI, cattle from low-RFI group presented lesser daily dry matter intake (DMI), either in kilograms (p < 0.01) or as percentage of BW (p < 0.01) than high-RFI yearling bulls, resulting in improved gain:feed (G:F). However, variables, such as average daily gain (ADG), final BW, hot carcass weight (HCW) and other carcass characteristics did not differ (p > 0.05) across RFI groups. The eating rate of either dry matter (DM )(p = 0.04) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p < 0.01) was slower in medium-RFI yearling bulls. For ruminal morphometrics an RFI effect was observed only on keratinized layer thickness, in which a thinner layer (p = 0.04) was observed in low-RFI Nellore yearling bulls. Likewise, Nellore yearling bulls classified by the RFI did not differ in terms of Shannon’s diversity (p = 0.57) and Chao richness (p = 0.98). Our results suggest that the differences in feed efficiency of Nellore bulls differing in phenotypic RFI should be attributed to metabolic variables other than ruminal microorganisms and epithelium, and deserves further investigation.
Citrus Pulp Replacing Corn in the Supplement Decreased Fibre Digestibility with No Impacts on Performance of Cattle Grazing Marandu Palisade Grass in the Wet-Dry Transition Period
Authors: de Oliveira André Alves , Romanzini Eliéder Prates , Costa Diogo Fleury Azevedo , Barbero Rondineli Pavezzi , Azenha Mariana Vieira , Lage Josiane Fonseca , Ruggieri Ana Cláudia , Reis Ricardo Andrade
Published: March 2022

The wet-dry transition period brings unique challenges to cattle producers in the tropics as the forage quality starts to decrease and animal performance is negatively affected unless supplementation strategies are applied. Two experiments were conducted concomitantly to evaluate the performance and metabolic parameters of cattle supplemented with two different energy sources under a C4 tropical grass continuous grazing system in the wet-dry transition period. In experiment (exp) 1, the liveweight (LW) gain of 42 growing Bos indicus Nellore bulls allocated to 12 paddocks of Uruchloa brizantha cv. Marandu, in a completely randomized block design, was evaluated to compare corn and citrus pulp-based supplements offered at 0.5% LW. Metabolism was evaluated in exp 2 with eight rumen-cannulated Nellore steers in an incomplete replicated Latin square design (RLSD) 4 × 2 (steers × treatment) fed the same two treatments as in exp 1. No differences in animal performance were observed between corn or citrus pulp-based supplements. Rumen pH, ammonia nitrogen, and blood urea nitrogen were lower in the rumen of animals supplemented with citrus pulp. Despite this, there were no differences in total dry matter intake amongst the two energy sources. The neutral detergent fibre digestibility of the diet containing corn decreased, but it neither affected performance nor liveweight gain per area. The findings suggest that corn can be replaced by citrus pulp with neither detrimental effects on animal performance nor indirect effects on pastures productivity.
Exploring the Roles of Dietary Herbal Essential Oils in Aquaculture: A Review
Authors: Dawood Mahmoud A. O. , El Basuini Mohammed F. , Yilmaz Sevdan , Abdel-Latif Hany M. R. , Alagawany Mahmoud , Kari Zulhisyam Abdul , Abdul Razab Mohammad Khairul Azhar , Hamid Noor Khalidah Abdul , Moonmanee Tossapol , Van Doan Hien
Published: March 2022

The aquaculture sector is one of the main activities contributing to food security for humanity around the globe. However, aquatic animals are susceptible to several farming stressors involved in deteriorated growth performance, reduced productivity, and eventually high mortality rates. In some countries still, antibiotics and chemotherapies are comprehensively applied to control biotic stressors. Aside from the apparent benefits, the continuous usage of antibiotics develops bacterial resistance, deteriorates bacterial populations, and accumulates these compounds in the aquatic environment. Alternatively, environmentally friendly additives were used to avoid the direct and indirect impacts on the aquatic ecosystem and human health. In aquaculture, medicinal herbs and extracts are extensively used and approved for their growth-promoting, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties. Herbal essential oils contain many bioactive components with powerful antibacterial, antioxidative, and immunostimulant potentials, suggesting their application for aquatic animals. Essential oils can be provided via diet and can benefit aquatic animals by improving their well-being and health status. The use of essential oils in aquafeed has been studied in a variety of aquatic animals to determine their beneficial roles and optimum doses. The outputs illustrated that herbal essential oils are exciting alternatives to antibiotics with prominent growth promotion, antioxidative, and immunostimulant roles. Herein, we reviewed the beneficial roles of essential oils in aquaculture. This review also aims to describe trends in herbal essential oils use, mainly in commercial fish species, and to analyze different factors that affect essential oils’ efficacy on the growth performance, antioxidative, and immune responses of finfish species.
Characterization of the Microbial Communities along the Gastrointestinal Tract in Crossbred Cattle
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhang Hailiang , Hu Lirong , Zhang Guoxing , Lu Haibo , Luo Hanpeng , Zhao Shanjiang , Zhu Huabin , Wang Yachun
Published: March 2022

The gastrointestinal microbiota greatly affects the health status and production performance of bovines. Presently, many studies have used high-throughput sequencing methods to investigate the gastrointestinal microbiome in bovines. However, the microbiome profile of crossbred cattle across the whole gastrointestinal tract (GIT) has not been thoroughly reported. In this study, the digesta at ten regions (including the rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum) of the GIT were collected in three Simmental × Holstein crossbred heifers aged 17 months, and microbial DNA was extracted and amplified for sequencing of the V3–V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Functional orthologs of the microbiota genome were predicted and analyzed. We found that samples were categorized into three groups (the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine) by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on Bray–Curtis dissimilarity in both the bacterial composition and functional profile. Samples from small intestine had the lowest alpha diversity of bacteria composition and highest alpha diversity of the functional composition. Three groups of GIT regions were characterized by several microbiome features. The stomach was characterized by Bacteroidetes and Fibrobacteres at the phylum level, and KEGG pathways related to the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, glycan biosynthesis, and metabolism were enriched in the stomach. The small intestine was characterized by Actinobacteria and Patescibacteria at the phylum level, and KEGG pathways related to xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism were enriched in the small intestine. The large intestine featured Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Bacteroidacea at the family level, and KEGG pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, linoleic acid metabolism, and cysteine and methionine metabolism were enriched in the large intestine. The results of the current study revealed the spatial heterogeneity of microbiota across the GIT in Simmental × Holstein crossbreeds and identified microbial biomarkers of different regions. The results can provide useful information for the study of the gastrointestinal microbiome in bovines.
Adaptive Vertical Positioning as Anti-Predator Behavior: The Case of a Prey Fish Cohabiting with Multiple Predatory Fish within Temperate Marine Algal Forests
Authors: Thiriet Pierre D. , Di Franco Antonio , Cheminée Adrien , Mangialajo Luisa , Guidetti Paolo , Branthomme Samuel , Francour Patrice
Published: March 2022

Prey fish cohabit with specialized predator fish within structurally complex habitats. How the vertical stratification of the habitat affects lethal and behavioral predator–prey interactions and contributes to explaining these patterns has never been investigated within a forest-like marine habitat, i.e., a habitat containing three vertical strata (understory, canopy, open-water above). We studied this in tank experiments, with a model prey (the wrasse Symphodus ocellatus) and two model predators (the stalk-and-attack comber Serranus cabrilla and the sit-and-wait scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus), which are among the most abundant prey and predators cohabiting in Mediterranean Cystoseira forests. Wrasse anti-predator behavior was predator-specific. When exposed to the scorpionfish, the wrasse increased its vertical distance from the predator, regardless of the habitat structure. Conversely, when exposed to the comber, the wrasse sought refuge within forest structures: (1) the canopy provides more hiding opportunities due to its high complexity, and (2) the understory provides more escape/avoidance opportunities due to (a) its low complexity that allows for fast prey movements, and (b) the presence of the canopy above that limits the comber’s access to the understory. Our results suggest that habitat vertical stratification mediates predator–prey interactions and potentially promotes the co-existence of prey and multiple predators within marine forests.
The Use of Animal’s Body, Scrotal Temperature and Motion Monitoring in Evaluating Boar Semen Production Capacity
Authors: Stravogianni Vasiliki , Samaras Theodoros , Boscos Constantin M. , Markakis John , Krystallidou Evdokia , Basioura Athina , Tsakmakidis Ioannis A.
Published: March 2022

Biomedical measurements by specialized technological equipment have been used in farm animals to collect information about nutrition, behavior and welfare. This study investigates the relation of semen quality (CASA analysis, viability, morphology, membrane biochemical activity and DNA fragmentation) with boar behavior during ejaculation. Sensors were placed on the boar’s body. Movement features were collected using an inertial measurement unit (IMU), comprising an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer. Boar, scrotal and dummy temperatures were measured by an infrared (IR) camera and an IR thermometer, while the face salivation of the boar was recorded by a moisture meter (also based on IR technology). All signals and images were logged on a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) using a Bluetooth connection and then transferred wirelessly to the cloud. The data files were then processed using scripts in MATLAB 2021a (MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts) to derive the necessary indices. Ninety-four ejaculates from five boars were analyzed in this study. The statistical analysis was performed in the Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox of MATLAB 2021a using a linear mixed effects model. Significant and strong negative correlations (R2 > 0.5, p ≤ 0.05) were observed between boar, dummy and scrotal temperature with the progressive, rapid and slow movement of spermatozoa, VCL (curvilinear velocity), VSL (straight line velocity) and ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement) kinematics. The volume of the ejaculate was correlated with the scrotal and dummy temperature. Dummy’s temperature was negatively correlated with BCF (beat/cross-frequency), viability and total time of ejaculation, while it was positively correlated with abnormal morphology. Body temperature was negatively correlated with BCF. Positive correlations were noticed between VAP (average path velocity) and total time of ejaculation with body acceleration features, as well as between the overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) and total time of ejaculation. In conclusion, the use of biomedical sensors can support the evaluation of boar sperm production capacity, providing valuable information about semen quality.
Hyperthermia Treatment as a Promising Anti-Cancer Strategy: Therapeutic Targets, Perspective Mechanisms and Synergistic Combinations in Experimental Approaches
Authors: Yi Ga Yeong , Kim Min Ju , Kim Hyo In , Park Jinbong , Baek Seung Ho
Published: March 2022

Despite recent developments in diagnosis and treatment options, cancer remains one of the most critical threats to health. Several anti-cancer therapies have been identified, but further research is needed to provide more treatment options that are safe and effective for cancer. Hyperthermia (HT) is a promising treatment strategy for cancer because of its safety and cost-effectiveness. This review summarizes studies on the anti-cancer effects of HT and the detailed mechanisms. In addition, combination therapies with anti-cancer drugs or natural products that can effectively overcome the limitations of HT are reviewed because HT may trigger protective events, such as an increase of heat shock proteins (HSPs). In the 115 reports included, the mechanisms related to apoptosis, cell cycle, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA damage, transcription factors and HSPs were considered important. This review shows that HT is an effective inducer of apoptosis. Moreover, the limitations of HT may be overcome using combined therapy with anti-cancer drugs or natural products. Therefore, appropriate combinations of such agents with HT will exert maximal effects to treat cancer.
An Olive-Derived Extract 20% Rich in Hydroxytyrosol Prevents β-Amyloid Aggregation and Oxidative Stress, Two Features of Alzheimer Disease, via SKN-1/NRF2 and HSP-16.2 in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Romero-Márquez Jose M. , Navarro-Hortal María D. , Jiménez-Trigo Victoria , Muñoz-Ollero Pedro , Forbes-Hernández Tamara Y. , Esteban-Muñoz Adelaida , Giampieri Francesca , Delgado Noya Irene , Bullón Pedro , Vera-Ramírez Laura , Battino Maurizio , Sánchez-González Cristina , Quiles José L.
Published: March 2022

Olive milling produces olive oil and different by-products, all of them very rich in different bioactive compounds like the phenolic alcohol hydroxytyrosol. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an olive fruit extract 20% rich in hydroxytyrosol on the molecular mechanisms associated with Alzheimer disease features like Aβ- and tau- induced toxicity, as well as on oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, characterization of the extracts, regarding the profile and content of phenolics, as well as total antioxidant ability, was investigated. The study of lethality, growth, pharyngeal pumping, and longevity in vivo demonstrated the lack of toxicity of the extract. One hundred μg/mL of extract treatment revealed prevention of oxidative stress and a delay in Aβ-induced paralysis related with a lower presence of Aβ aggregates. Indeed, the extract showed the ability to avoid a certain degree of proteotoxicity associated with aggregation of the tau protein. According to RNAi tests, SKN-1/NRF2 transcription factor and the overexpression of HSP-16.2 were mechanistically associated in the observed effects.
Characterization and Optimization of a Conical Corona Reactor for Seed Treatment of Rapeseed
Authors: Nishime Thalita M. C. , Werner Jasmin , Wannicke Nicola , Mui Taiana S. M. , Kostov Konstantin G. , Weltmann Klaus-Dieter , Brust Henrike
Published: March 2022

Plasma agriculture is a growing field that combines interdisciplinary areas with the aim of researching alternative solutions for increasing food production. In this field, plasma sources are used for the treatment of different agricultural goods in pre- and post-harvest. With the big variety of possible treatment targets, studied reactors must be carefully investigated and characterized for specific goals. Therefore, in the present study, a cone-shaped corona reactor working with argon was adapted for the treatment of small seeds, and its basic properties were investigated. The treatment of rapeseed using different voltage duty cycles led to an increase in surface wettability, possibly contributing to the accelerated germination (27% for 90% duty cycle). The discharge produced by the conical reactor was able to provide an environment abundant with reactive oxygen species that makes the process suitable for seeds treatment. However, operating in direct treatment configuration, large numbers of seeds placed in the reactor start impairing the discharge homogeneity.
Numerical Investigation of the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of 3-Fin Surfboard Configurations
Authors: Crameri Sam , Collins Paul K. , Gharaie Saleh
Published: March 2022

Surfing is a popular sport, with the associated market forecast to reach 2.6 billion US dollars by 2027. In the published literature, there is a range of investigations into the performance of surfboard fins. Some studies model a single fin or review the performance of different fin layouts and surface designs. However, the effects of individual fin design features on flow dynamics are not well understood. This study provides numerical analysis into the thruster fin aspects (rake, depth, and base length) and resultant key performance indicators (i) lift and drag coefficients, and (ii) turbulent kinetic energy. The models were simulated in Ansys Fluent R19.1, solving steady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations using the SST k−ω turbulence model at a velocity of 7 m/s. The results indicate the performance of fins varies more post-stall. The variations in rake showed the biggest impact on the turbulence intensity at an angle ≥20°. The variations in base length exhibited coefficient trends with greater lift at small angles but significant lift losses at high angles of attack. The variations in depth affected the forces on the fins rather than the performance indicators. Based on these simulations, a proposed fin set was developed that presented the lowest lift losses after the stall point.
Numerical Analysis of Dynamics of Jack-Up Offshore Platform and Its Seabed Foundation under Ocean Wave
Authors: Ye Hailin , Yu Dawei , Ye Jianhong , Yang Zhiwen
Published: March 2022

Jack-up offshore platform is a type of important marine structure, which is mainly used for satellite launch, oil exploitation, and other engineering tasks in the offshore area. The offshore platform is bound to be subjected to wave loading in the course of use. Whether it can withstand the wave impact is an important engineering problem. To solve this engineering problem, the self-developed fluid–structure–foundation interaction coupling model OlaFlow-ABAQUS is used to explore the dynamic response characteristics of a jack-up offshore platform and its seabed foundation under three conventional wave conditions (wave height is 3, 5, and 7 m, respectively) in a coupled way. The numerical results show that only a small amplitude of periodic sloshing occurs for the jack-up offshore platform under the three conventional wave conditions. The maximum sloshing amplitude is up to 8 cm, and there is no visible residual displacement. It is indicated that there is no plastic deformation zone in the seabed foundation near the pile legs of the jack-up platform. It can thus be concluded that the jack-up platform has excellent stability under conventional wave conditions. Under conventional wave loading, momentary liquefaction occurs in the seabed foundation around the pile legs of the platform, and the maximum liquefaction depth is about 1 m. This study indicates that the coupling model OlaFlow-ABAQUS for the fluid–structure–foundation interaction is feasible, and has some advantages to study the dynamic response and to evaluate the stability of large-scale marine structures and their seabed foundations under ocean waves.
Function-Based Design Principles for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Valjak Filip , Kosorčić Dora , Rešetar Marija , Bojčetić Nenad
Published: March 2022

The development of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies has brought new design possibilities, and to utilise those possibilities, new sources of AM design knowledge are needed. This paper presents an inductive methodology for extracting AM design knowledge based on the functional analysis of AM products. Extracted AM design knowledge is formalised in 32 AM design principles using the proposed methodology. The AM design principles are organised regarding the functions they solve. Initial validation and intended use are described through a case study. The AM design principles can facilitate systematic design processes and methods, and can be used in early design phases for finding partial solutions for subfunctions of the design problem.
A Novel Single Tube Semi-Active Tuned Liquid Gas Damper for Suppressing Horizontal Vibrations of Tower-like Structures
Authors: Reiterer Michael , Schellander Janez
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is to present a novel single tube semi-active tuned liquid gas damper (SA-TLGD) for suppressing horizontal vibrations of tower-like structures and to study its damping effectiveness. The main difference to the well-known state-of-the-art tuned liquid column damper (TLCD) is the special geometric shape of the developed SA-TLGD. Contrary to the TLCD, the presented SA-TLGD only consists of a single horizontal tube that is partially filled with water. A large deformable elastic membrane with neglectable stiffness is used as the interface between the liquid and the air. Both ends of the horizontal tube are sealed and the resulting gas spring is used as the restoring force and frequency tuning parameter, respectively. The developed SA-TLGD is a semi-active vibration damping device, where its natural frequency and magnitude of energy dissipation can be re-adjusted during operation. Due to the lack of any vertical tube parts, this new type of vibration absorber requires significantly less installation space compared to the classical TLCDs. The equations of motion of the SA-TLGD and the coupled main system are derived by the application of conservation of momentum. The procedure of optimal tuning of the SA-TLGD is presented, and computational numerical studies are performed to demonstrate the damper effectiveness. It is shown that the application of the developed SA-TLGD provides a large reduction in the maximum horizontal forced vibration amplitudes of tower like-structures and that its semi-active functionality enables the possibility of re-adjustment any time during the operation life of the structure.
Perivascular Adipose Tissue Inflammation: The Anti-Inflammatory Role of Ghrelin in Atherosclerosis Progression
Authors: Peiu Sorin Nicolae , Popa Radu Florin , Akad Fawzi , Cretu-Silivestru Iustina S. , Mihai Bogdan Mircea , Visnevschi Anatolie , Vudu Lorina , Tamba Bogdan , Oboroceanu Teodor , Timofte Daniel , Mocanu Veronica
Published: March 2022

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and its adipokines engage in bidirectional crosstalk with the vascular wall. Atherosclerosis disrupts this interaction through inflammation, rupture-prone plaques, and subsequent thrombosis. The cardioprotective effects of ghrelin are in contradiction to its adipogenic properties. The concurrent research of anti-/pro-atherogenic mechanisms of ghrelin and PVAT-derived adipokines provides a better understanding of atherosclerosis progression in metabolic disorders. In-depth coverage of the characteristic features of PVAT concerning vascular dysfunction, with a survey of ghrelin-induced anti-inflammatory effects on adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and the inhibitory activity of ghrelin on the proinflammatory adipokine secretion, show that the impact of ghrelin on the endothelial function should be studied in relation to PVAT.
A Study of Hybrid Predictions Based on the Synthesized Health Indicator for Marine Systems and Their Equipment Failure
Authors: Zhang Peng , Cao Lele , Dong Fangyang , Gao Zeyu , Zou Yongjiu , Wang Kai , Zhang Yuewen , Sun Peiting
Published: March 2022

Ship mechanical system health prognosis is one of the major tasks of ship intelligent operation and maintenance (O&M). However, current failure prediction methods are aimed at single pieces of equipment, and system-level monitoring remains an underexplored area. To address this issue, an integration method based on a synthesized health indicator (SHI) and dynamic hybrid prediction is proposed. To accurately reflect the changes in system health conditions, a multi-state parameter fusion method based on dynamic kernel principal component analysis (DKPCA) and the stacked autoencoder (SAE) is presented, along with construction of a system SHI. Taking into consideration that the system degradation process includes global degradation trends, local self-healing phenomena, and local interference, a dynamic hybrid prediction model is established after SHI decomposition. The performance of the proposed approach is applied to a ship fuel-oil system to show its effectiveness.
Investigation of Load Capacity of High-Contact-Ratio Internal Spur Gear Drive with Arc Path of Contact
Authors: Wang Yanzhong , Liu Peng , Dou Delong
Published: March 2022

Tooth root bending stress and surface contact stress are two major determinants of the load carrying capacity of gear drives. Generally, a high contact ratio has the potential to enhance the gear strength. In this paper, the basic procedures and methods for constructing a high-contact-ratio (HCR) internal spur gear pair with the arc path of the contact are presented. The effects of design and modification parameters such as deflection angle, modification angle, and addendum coefficient on gear drive are analyzed in detail based on 2D finite-element models (FEMs). A comparison of experimental and finite-element analyses (FEA) of the bending stress, contact stress, and contact ratio between HCR and involute internal spur gear drives was conducted to demonstrate the advantages of the HCR gear drive in terms of load capacity. The results show that appropriately increasing the deflection angle and addendum coefficient is beneficial for reducing bending and contact stresses. It was also observed that the bending and contact stresses of a HCR pinion are lower than those of an involute one. Moreover, the contact ratio increases with input torque.
Trends and Prospects in Geotechnics
Authors: Oliveira Paulo J. Venda , Correia António Alberto S.
Published: March 2022

The Special Issue, titled “Trends and Prospects in Geotechnics”, was launched with an invitation to authors from all over the world to address current and future challenges in geotechnics [...]
Erythropoietin Nanobots: Their Feasibility for the Controlled Release of Erythropoietin and Their Neuroprotective Bioequivalence in Central Nervous System Injury
Authors: Le Thi Huong , Nguyen Chanh Trung , Koo Kyo-in , Hwang Chang Ho
Published: March 2022

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) plays important roles in neuroprotection in central nervous system injury. Due to the limited therapeutic time window and coexistence of hematopoietic/extrahematopoietic receptors displaying heterogenic and phylogenetic differences, fast, targeted delivery agents, such as nanobots, are needed. To confirm the feasibility of EPO-nanobots (ENBs) as therapeutic tools, the authors evaluated controlled EPO release from ENBs and compared the neuroprotective bioequivalence of these substances after preconditioning sonication. Methods: ENBs were manufactured by a nanospray drying technique with preconditioning sonication. SH-SY5Y neuronal cells were cotreated with thapsigargin and either EPO or ENBs before cell viability, EPO receptor activation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related pathway deactivation were determined over 24 h. Results: Preconditioning sonication (50–60 kHz) for 1 h increased the cumulative EPO release from the ENBs (84% versus 25% at 24 h). Between EPO and ENBs at 24 h, both neuronal cell viability (both > 65% versus 15% for thapsigargin alone) and the expression of the proapoptotic/apoptotic biomolecular markers JAK2, PDI, PERK, GRP78, ATF6, CHOP, TGF-β, and caspase-3 were nearly the same or similar. Conclusion: ENBs controlled EPO release in vitro after preconditioning sonication, leading to neuroprotection similar to that of EPO at 24 h.
Haze Grading Using the Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Yin Lirong , Wang Lei , Huang Weizheng , Tian Jiawei , Liu Shan , Yang Bo , Zheng Wenfeng
Published: March 2022

As an air pollution phenomenon, haze has become one of the focuses of social discussion. Research into the causes and concentration prediction of haze is significant, forming the basis of haze prevention. The inversion of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) based on remote sensing satellite imagery can provide a reference for the concentration of major pollutants in a haze, such as PM2.5 concentration and PM10 concentration. This paper used satellite imagery to study haze problems and chose PM2.5, one of the primary haze pollutants, as the research object. First, we used conventional methods to perform the inversion of AOD on remote sensing images, verifying the correlation between AOD and PM2.5. Subsequently, to simplify the parameter complexity of the traditional inversion method, we proposed using the convolutional neural network instead of the traditional inversion method and constructing a haze level prediction model. Compared with traditional aerosol depth inversion, we found that convolutional neural networks can provide a higher correlation between PM2.5 concentration and satellite imagery through a more simplified satellite image processing process. Thus, it offers the possibility of researching and managing haze problems based on neural networks.
Some Notes for Two Generalized Trigonometric Families of Distributions
Authors: Vasileva Maria T.
Published: March 2022

The paper deals with two general families of cumulative distribution functions based on arctangent function. We provide analysis of the error of the best one-sided Hausdorff approximation for some special cases of these families. We obtain precious estimates for the value of the Hausdorff distance that can be used as an additional criterion in practice. Further, the family of recurrence generated adaptive functions is constructed and investigated. All new results are illustrated with suitable numerical experiments. Simple dynamic software modules show applicability of Hausdorff approximation.
Nearly Cosymplectic Manifolds of Constant Type
Authors: Rustanov Aligadzhi
Published: March 2022

Fundamental identities characterizing a nearly cosymplectic structure and analytical expressions for the first and second structural tensors are obtained in this paper. An identity that is satisfied by the first structural tensor of a nearly cosymplectic structure is proved as well. A contact analog of nearly cosymplectic manifolds’ constancy of type is introduced in this paper. Pointwise constancy conditions of the type of nearly cosymplectic manifolds are obtained. It is proved that for nearly cosymplectic manifolds of dimension greater than three, pointwise constancy of type is equivalent to global constancy of type. A complete classification of nearly cosymplectic manifolds of constant type is obtained. It is also proved that a nearly cosymplectic manifold of dimension less than seven is a proper nearly cosymplectic manifold.
Some Iterative Approximation Results of F Iteration Process in Banach Spaces
Authors: Ahmad Junaid , Ullah Kifayat , Ahmad Imtiaz , Arshad Muhammad , Jarasthitikulchai Nantapat , Sudsutad Weerawat
Published: March 2022

In this research, we suggest some convergence results for operators having (RCSC) condition in Banach space setting under F iterative scheme. We establish weak convergence under Opials condition and also establish some important strong convergence results under some appropriate assumptions on the domain or on the mapping. We furnish a non-trivial example of mappings having (RCSC) condition and show that its F iterative scheme is more effective than the corresponding well known iterative schemes on this particular example.
Default-Mode Network Connectivity Changes Correlate with Attention Deficits in ALL Long-Term Survivors Treated with Radio- and/or Chemotherapy
Authors: Mazio Federica , Aloj Giuseppina , Pastorino Grazia Maria Giovanna , Perillo Teresa , Russo Carmela , Riccio Maria Pia , Covelli Eugenio Maria , Parasole Rosanna , Tedeschi Enrico , Ugga Lorenzo , D’Amico Alessandra , Quarantelli Mario
Published: March 2022

Whether chemotherapy (ChT) and radiotherapy (RT) determine neurocognitive impairment in acute lymphoblastic leukemia long-term survivors (ALL LTSs) through similar mechanisms affecting the same brain regions is still unknown. We compared neurocognitive alterations, regional brain tissue volumes (by voxel-based morphometry), and functional connectivity of the main default-mode network hubs (by seed-based analysis of resting state functional MRI data), in 13 ALL LTSs treated with RT and ChT (Group A) and 13 treated with ChT only (Group B). Group A performed significantly worse than Group B at the digit span and digit symbol tests (p = 0.023 and 0.013, respectively). Increased connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (the main anterior hub of the default-mode network) and the rolandic operculi was present in Group A compared to Group B, along with the absence of significant differences in regional brain tissue volumes. In these regions, the functional connectivity correlated inversely with the speed of processing scores, independent of treatment group. These results suggest that similar mechanisms may be involved in the neurocognitive deficits in ALL LTS patients, regardless of the treatment group. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these changes represent a direct expression of the mechanisms underlying the cognitive deficits or ineffective compensatory phenomena.
Myc-Interacting Zinc Finger Protein 1 (Miz-1) Is Essential to Maintain Homeostasis and Immunocompetence of the B Cell Lineage
Authors: Piskor Eva-Maria , Ross Julie , Möröy Tarik , Kosan Christian
Published: March 2022

Aging of the immune system is described as a progressive loss of the ability to respond to immunologic stimuli and is commonly referred to as immunosenescence. B cell immunosenescence is characterized by a decreased differentiation rate in the bone marrow and accumulation of antigen-experienced and age-associated B cells in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). A specific deletion of the POZ-domain of the transcription factor Miz-1 in pro-B cells, which is known to be involved in bone marrow hematopoiesis, leads to premature aging of the B cell lineage. In mice, this causes a severe reduction in bone marrow-derived B cells with a drastic decrease from the pre-B cell stage on. Further, mature, naïve cells in SLOs are reduced at an early age, while post-activation-associated subpopulations increase prematurely. We propose that Miz-1 interferes at several key regulatory checkpoints, critical during B cell aging, and counteracts a premature loss of immunocompetence. This enables the use of our mouse model to gain further insights into mechanisms of B cell aging and it can significantly contribute to understand molecular causes of impaired adaptive immune responses to counteract loss of immunocompetence and restore a functional immune response in the elderly.