Frequent Renewal Research Articles

HISTOLOGICAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF THE TUNICA ALBUGINEA OF THE OVARY

Just below the surface epithelium of the ovary is the tunica albuginea, which is a tight irregular connective tissue structure that gives the tissue its white color and contains fibroblast cells. Tunica albuginea, which is more resistant to environmental factors, contains fewer cells and is rich in collagen fibers, is observed as the niche of preantral follicles. It has been observed that fibroblasts forming collagen fibers provide the development of follicles with the paracrine factors and cytokines they secrete and function as a nourishing cell layer. After the graaf follicle forms the corpus luteum, fibroblasts in the adjacent tunica albuginea proliferate and the thickness of this structure increases. The tunica albuginea undergoes frequent renewal due to the corpus luteum structures formed in rats. When the corpus luteum is formed, new capillaries and venules are formed in the adjacent tunica albuginea. This structure may be a suitable model for investigating the migration of cells from the bone marrow to the ovary via vessels. It can be suggested that mesenchymal cells and very small embryonic/epiblast-like stem cells (VSELs), which show pluripotent stem cell characteristics, may migrate from the bone marrow to the tunica albuginea through vascular structures and that the bone marrow may be the source of these cells, which have been previously shown to be present in the ovary. The aim of this review is to examine the effects of the tunica albuginea on the development of follicles and the dynamic structure of the ovary.

Методы и применение интенсификации фиторемедиации сточных вод горнодобывающей промышленности

The article presents the latest results of research on the biological treatment of mining and metallurgical industrial wastewater using higher aquatic plants: Eichhornia (Eichhornia crassipes Solm) and Pistia (Pistia stratiotes L). The features of these plants detected during contaminated wastewater treatment have been identified. The primary results of experiments are based on single-stage treatment processes that ensure efficient wastewater treatment upon completion of plant adaptation to these waters. However, the duration of the process is long, i.e., 15–30 days; therefore, the process intensification experiments have been conducted. Experiments conducted within a week have achieved significant reductions in calcium, magnesium, sulfate, and chlorine ions. During the first days of the experiments, the plants continued to grow and develop, but due to high salt concentrations, some of the plants (approximately 50–60 %) died due to insufficient time for adaptation. The remaining plants were slowly recovering and continued vegetation. These plants have demonstrated high cumulative and treatment effects as they are considered most adapted to the chemical composition of wastewater. The use of such plants, however, will require longer periods for wastewater treatment, namely around a month, which does not comply with the production requirements. Therefore, a decision to experiment during 24 hours has been made. The results of the analysis have shown that the plants completely absorb calcium, magnesium, chlorine, nitrates, zinc, and cobalt already on the first day of planting; bicarbonates and sodium are absorbed on the second day; and iron on the third day. Potassium, manganese, arsenic, and thiocyanates are neutralized during 7–10 days. The average efficiency of wastewater treatment per day is 51% on the condition of frequent renewal of the plant biomass. Based on the results obtained, a biotechnology built on a multi-stage biological wastewater treatment system of industrial scale has been developed.

The Inertia of Dominant Designs in Technological Innovation: An Ecosystem View of Standardization

The dominant design life cycle shows that standardization leads to stability and increased technology development. However, the breakneck speed of innovation means standards now require more frequent renewal. Therefore, this article conceptualizes standard inertia to include the factors impeding the emergence of a new standard. New standards must overcome the standard inertia generated by accumulated investments in knowledge, capabilities, and other resources, including identity and legitimacy. Multinational and small and medium-sized enterprises face complementary obstacles, and standard inertia is, thus, an ecosystem-level mechanism. Dominant designs may embed subsets of underlying dominant designs, meaning the emergence of a new design may overthrow an entire technology ecosystem. Therefore, inertial factors protecting the prior design also emanate from all ecosystem levels. Ecosystem platforms may consequently enable new forms of interaction required to break established patterns.

Efficacy Evaluation of Cu- and Ag-Based Antibacterial Treatments on Polypropylene Fabric and Comparison with Commercial Products

Filter masks are disposable devices intended to be worn in order to reduce exposure to potentially harmful foreign agents of 0.1–10.0 microns. However, to perform their function correctly, these devices should be replaced after a few hours of use. Because of this, billions of non-biodegradable face masks are globally discarded every month (3 million/minute). The frequent renewal of masks, together with the strong environmental impact of non-biodegradable plastic-based mask materials, highlights the need to find a solution to this emerging ecological problem. One way to reduce the environmental impact of masks, decrease their turnover, and, at the same time, increase their safety level is to make them able to inhibit pathogen proliferation and vitality by adding antibacterial materials such as silver, copper, zinc, and graphene. Among these, silver and copper are the most widely used. In this study, with the aim of improving commercial devices’ efficacy and eco-sustainability, Ag-based and Cu-based antibacterial treatments were performed and characterized from morphological, compositional, chemical–physical, and microbiological points of view over time and compared with the antibacterial treatments of selected commercial products. The results demonstrated the good distribution of silver and copper particles onto the surface of the masks, along with almost 100% antibacterial capabilities of the coatings against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which were still confirmed even after several washing cycles, thus indicating the good potential of the developed prototypes for mask application.

A dialysis medium refreshment cell culture set-up for an osteoblast-osteoclast coculture.

Culture medium exchange leads to loss of valuable auto- and paracrine factors produced by the cells. However, frequent renewal of culture medium is necessary for nutrient supply and to prevent waste product accumulation. Thus it remains the gold standard in cell culture applications. The use of dialysis as a medium refreshment method could provide a solution as low molecular weight molecules such as nutrients and waste products could easily be exchanged, while high molecular weight components such as growth factors, used in cell interactions, could be maintained in the cell culture compartment. This study investigates a dialysis culture approach for an in vitro bone remodeling model. In this model, both the differentiation of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts and monocytes (MCs) into osteoclasts is studied. A custom-made simple dialysis culture system with a commercially available cellulose dialysis insert was developed. The data reported here revealed increased osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity in the dialysis groups compared to the standard nondialysis groups, mainly shown by significantly higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, respectively. This simple culture system has the potential to create a more efficient microenvironment allowing for cell interactions via secreted factors in mono- and cocultures and could be applied for many other tissues.

The disentanglement and shear properties of amorphous polyethylene during friction: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations

This work is designed to provide new insights into the friction process on the amorphous polyethylene substrate by means of classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Both the rises in normal pressures and sliding velocities could result in an increase in the internal shear force. The disentanglement and the crystallinity of the amorphous PE substrate increased during friction, which were strengthened at smaller normal pressures and smaller sliding velocities. The distribution and migration of the adsorbed polyethylene chains during the friction process exhibit directional features along the 〈110〉 direction as restricted by the surface Cu atoms. Furthermore, the existence of a thin transfer film adsorbing on the Cu slab, helps to reduce the shear forces by 27.8%∼31.9% and hinders the increase of crystallinity during friction. In addition, a frequent renewal of the PE substrate surface was observed at the interface and an apparent separation of the transfer film from the PE substrate occurs with the extension of the friction process.

Consumer Adoption of Fast-Fashion, Differences of Perceptions, and the Role of Motivations Across the Adoption Groups

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the adoption groups of the fast-fashion consumers, evaluate the consumers’ perceptions of the fast-fashion in different groups, and model the role of “social or status image”, “uniqueness”, and “conformity” on the level of fast-fashion consumer adoption. The consumer adoption groups were determined as “innovators”, “early adopters”, “early majority”, “late majority”, and “laggards” by using a domain-specific innovativeness (DSI) scale. Consumers’ perceptions of fast-fashion were evaluated from cognitive and emotional aspects and the differences across the consumer groups were investigated by using Kruskal-–Wallis test and Mann-–Whitney U test. The roles of “social or status image”, “uniqueness”, and “conformity” on consumer groups were modeled by using ordinal logistic regression analysis. As a result of the research, consumers’ perceptions of fast-fashion were found to vary across different consumer adoption groups in terms of “being in-style products”, “expressing self-image”, “imitating the luxury fashion products”, and “frequent renewal of the collections”. Further, the findings revealed that the probabilistic relationship between different levels of consumer adoption based on innovativeness could be modeled based on the motivations of “social or status image” and “uniqueness”.

Determining the Relative Importance of Dietborne and Waterborne Toxicity of 4-tert-Butylphenol and 4-tert-Octylphenol to the Benthic Crustacean, Heterocypris incongruens.

Organic pollutants with high solid-water equilibrium partition coefficients are adsorbed into solid particles and are easily ingested by benthic organisms, potentially causing dietborne toxicity. Whether dietborne toxicity is more important than waterborne toxicity for such chemicals remains to be determined. In this study, we identify the most relevant uptake route for the toxicity of two alkylphenols, 4-tert-butylphenol (4tBP), and 4-tert-octylphenol (4tOP). To achieve this, 6-day toxicity tests under two exposure conditions, namely dietary exposure (clean water + contaminated food) and combined exposure (contaminated water + contaminated food) were conducted on a benthic ostracod, Heterocypris incongruens. The toxicologically important exposure routes were confirmed by the consistency of dietary and aqueous dose-response relationships under different exposure conditions. During the test, frequent renewal of water and food was performed to reduce variability in the exposure conditions. The results showed that, under the equilibrium condition, the dietary exposure route was toxicologically more important than the aqueous route for 4tBP, whereas the waterborne exposure route was more important than the dietary exposure route for 4tOP. This study provides a novel approach to identify the most relevant uptake pathways for chemical toxicity, which better explains the importance of exposure routes in toxicity effects.

Removal of nickel from chemical plating waste solution through precipitation and production of microsized nickel hydroxide particles

Chemical plating of nickel is widely used in wafer packaging. However, frequent renewal of plating baths generates a large amount of waste solution. When hazardous Ni2+ ions are removed from waste solutions through chemical precipitation, the complexing agent in the solution hinders nickel removal and reduces the nickel hydroxide [Ni(OH)2] precipitate size to approximately 0.5 μm. This study revealed that the precipitation rate of Ni(OH)2 can be controlled by the pH, temperature, and agitation. Furthermore, a Ni removal efficiency of more than 98% can be achieved. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the recovered particles included amorphous Ni(OH)2 and α-Ni(OH)2, indicating a high potential for energy conversion in nickel-based secondary batteries. Therefore, the proposed method can be used to sustain a circular economy by creating a Ni waste-to-energy cycle.

Modelling the effects of pasture renewal on the carbon balance of grazed pastures.

In New Zealand, pasture renewal is a routine management method for maintaining pasture productivity. However, knowledge of the renewal effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is still limited. Here we use a process-based model, CenW, to comprehensively assess the effects of pasture renewal on the carbon balance of a temperate pasture in the Waikato region of New Zealand. We investigated the effects of renewal frequency, length of fallow period, renewal timing, and the importance and quantification of age-related reductions in productivity. Our results suggest that SOC change depends on the combined effects of renewal on gross primary productivity (GPP), autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration, carbon removal by grazing and carbon allocation to roots. Pasture renewal reduces grazing removal proportionately more than GPP because newly established plants need to allocate more carbon to re-build their root system following renewal which limits foliage production. That lengthens the time before above-ground biomass has grown sufficiently to be grazed again. New plants have a lower ratio of autotrophic respiration to GPP, however, which partly compensates for the GPP loss during renewal. Our simulations suggested an average SOC loss of 0.16 tC ha-1 yr-1 if pastures were renewed every 25 years, but could gain an average of 0.3 tC ha-1 yr-1 if pastures were renewed every year. For maximizing pasture production, the optimal renewal frequency depends on the rate of pasture deterioration with more rapid deterioration rates favouring more frequent renewal. Additionally, the length of the fallow period, renewal timing, and associated environmental conditions are important factors that can affect SOC temporally, but the importance of those effects diminishes at the annual or longer time scales. A major uncertainty for a full understanding of the renewal effect on SOC lies in the rate of pasture deterioration with time since previous renewal.

Leaf webs of Emblyna sp. and Mallos hesperius (Araneae: Dictynidae)

The prey capture webs of Emblyna sp. and Mallos hesperius (Chamberlin, 1916) span gentle curves in the surfaces of single, rigid leaves. They share several traits with orb webs: geometrically regular and approximately planar arrangements of strong, non-sticky lines; geometrically regular arrays of sticky lines laid on these non-sticky lines; and frequent renewal (webs are routinely damaged by rain, and are often largely renewed daily). They generally differ from orbs in that neither the sticky nor the non-sticky lines are organized radially. Comparisons with the webs of 22 other dictynid species in seven other genera reveal little phylogenetic pattern. Comparisons with the orb-like para-orbs of six, distantly related species reveal variable combinations of orb-like traits in different groups, suggesting widespread convergence. New details of possible taxonomic interest concerning how silk is combed from the cribellum are described.

Results of a Continent of Urine After an Open Retropubic Prostatectomy with Preservation of the Puboprostatic Ligament

Open retropubic prostatectomy is one of the most common operations used to treat clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa). Today, there is a limited amount of evidence of the successful use of some modern surgical modifications.The objective: to analyze the functional results of applying the technique of preservation of the prostoprostatic ligament in a group of patients with localized prostate cancer.Materials and methods. A clinical retrospective study was carried out over a 3-year period at the Urology Clinic of theScientificCenter for the Management of Human Migration. The study included men with clinically localized prostate cancer who agreed to undergo surgical treatment. Patients with locally advanced forms of prostate cancer and those with severe concomitant pathology were excluded from the study. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (version 17).Results. In total, from September 2014 to September 2017, 72 patients underwent open-ended radial prostatectomy with preservation of the puboprostatic ligament. The average age of the patients was 67 years (ranged from 55 to 76 years). In 6 patients, stress incontinence was detected, in 8 patients, post-prostatectomy incontinence was detected for 3 months. So, 58 (out of 72) patients out of 72 for 3 months were continental.Conclusion. Preservation of puboprostatic ligaments when performing an open-ended posterior prostatectomy is associated with faster and more frequent renewal of the urine continent in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer.

Phenolic and volatile compounds in Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. wood: effect of toasting with respect to oaks traditionally used in cooperage.

The most frequent renewal of barrels of different origins and species is a current trend, but this demand does not match the current availability of wood. An alternative could be the use of Quercus humboldtii wood. However, there is little information about its composition. Because of this, the aim was to study low-molecular-weight phenols (LMWP), ellagitannins and volatile compounds in untoasted and toasted Q. humboldtii oak, and compare these with the species traditionally used in cooperage: Q. petraea (French and Romanian) and Q. alba (American). The LMWPs in Q. humboldtii were comparable to those in Q. petraea and Q. alba. Ellagitannin composition in Q. humboldtii was similar to that in Q. alba. The toasting process improved volatile composition, mainly in Q. humboldtii, presenting the highest concentration of several volatile compounds. The results indicate that Q. humboldtii could be considered suitable for aging wine, although it is necessary to continue the study of this wood species to confirm its potential use in oenology. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Molecular Mechanism Underlying Pro-apoptotic Role of Hemocytes Specific Transcriptional Factor Lhx9 in Crassostrea hongkongensis.

Hemocytes are the central organ of immune defense against pathogens by means of inflammation, phagocytosis, and encapsulation in mollusks. The well-functioning of the host immune system relies on the hemocytes’ task exertion and frequent renewal, but the underlying renewal mechanism remains elusive at the gene level. Here, we identified one transcription factor, LIM homeobox 9, in Crassostrea hongkongensis (ChLhx9) that could be involved in hemocyte apoptosis or renewal. ChLhx9 contains a homeodomain and two LIM domains. The expression profile of ChLhx9 showed that it was specific and had high expression in hemocytes, and it significantly increased under the bacterial challenge. RNA interference of ChLhx9 dramatically decreased the apoptosis rate of hemocytes when compared with a control group, which strongly implies its pro-apoptotic role in hemocytes. Furthermore, the genomic responses to the knockdown of ChLhx9 were examined through RNA-seq, which showed that multiple pathways associated with cell apoptosis, including the apoptosis pathway, hippo signal pathway and p53 signaling pathway, were significantly down-regulated. Meanwhile, seven of the key apoptotic genes were confirmed to be upregulated by ChLhx9, among which ChASPP1 (apoptosis stimulating protein of p53) was confirmed to induce hemocyte apoptosis strongly, which demonstrates that ChASPP1 was a downstream target mediated by ChLhx9 that caused apoptosis. In conclusion, tissue-specific transcription factor ChLhx9 induces hemocyte apoptosis through activating apoptotic genes or pathways, which could contribute to hemocyte renewal and immune defense in oysters.

Study of mucin turnover in the small intestine by in vivo labeling

Mucins are highly glycosylated proteins which protect the epithelium. In the small intestine, the goblet cell-secreted Muc2 mucin constitutes the main component of the loose mucus layer that traps luminal material. The transmembrane mucin Muc17 forms part of the carbohydrate-rich glycocalyx covering intestinal epithelial cells. Our study aimed at investigating the turnover of these mucins in the small intestine by using in vivo labeling of O-glycans with N-azidoacetylgalactosamine. Mice were injected intraperitoneally and sacrificed every hour up to 12 hours and at 24 hours. Samples were fixed with preservation of the mucus layer and stained for Muc2 and Muc17. Turnover of Muc2 was slower in goblet cells of the crypts compared to goblet cells along the villi. Muc17 showed stable expression over time at the plasma membrane on villi tips, in crypts and at crypt openings. In conclusion, we have identified different subtypes of goblet cells based on their rate of mucin biosynthesis and secretion. In order to protect the intestinal epithelium from chemical and bacterial hazards, fast and frequent renewal of the secreted mucus layer in the villi area is combined with massive secretion of stored Muc2 from goblet cells in the upper crypt.

Color stability of nonpigmented and pigmented maxillofacial silicone elastomer exposed to 3 different environments

Statement of problemThe color degradation of maxillofacial prostheses in clinical service requires their frequent renewal. How different materials compare is unclear. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the color stability of a nonpigmented and pigmented maxillofacial silicone when stored in darkness and exposed to accelerated aging in a weathering chamber and natural outdoor weathering. Material and methodsM511 elastomer was colored with Spectromatch Pro colorants, stored in darkness, and exposed to accelerated aging and natural outdoor weathering for 1500 hours. Test groups included nonpigmented specimens (n=18), individually pigmented specimens (n=90), and Caucasian skin tone-colored specimens (n=18). The CIELab values of the test specimens were measured using the CM-2600d spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta Sensing) at base line (0 hours) and then every 100 hours up to 1500 hours of aging. Color changes (ΔE) were calculated based on the recorded CIELab values. All data were analyzed by using linear mixed models and the Šídák multiple comparison of means test (α=.05). ResultsA significant effect of time was found on the ΔE of all test specimens in all environments (P=.001). All pigmented M511 specimens demonstrated good color stability with maximum ΔE below the acceptability threshold of 2 ΔE when stored in darkness and exposed to outdoor weathering. However, nonpigmented specimens crossed this acceptability threshold when exposed to outdoor weathering with maximum ΔE values of 3.65. The greatest color changes were observed for all specimens when exposed to accelerated aging and most exceeded the acceptability threshold. Nonpigmented (ΔE, 4.86) and Indian yellow (ΔE, 5.20) demonstrated the highest color changes after 1500 hours. ConclusionsAll environments resulted in visible color changes of nonpigmented and pigmented M511 elastomer. The lowest ΔE values were observed for specimens stored in darkness and the greatest for specimens exposed to accelerated aging. The organic pigment Logwood maroon demonstrated the best color stability with maximum ΔE values below the perceptibility threshold (PT) of 1 ΔE.

Autonomous Optofluidic Chemical Analyzers for Marine Applications: Insights from the Submersible Autonomous Moored Instruments (SAMI) for pH and pCO2

The commercial availability of inexpensive fiber optics and small volume pumps in the early 1990’s provided the components necessary for the successful development of low power, low reagent consumption, autonomous optofluidic analyzers for marine applications. It was evident that to achieve calibration-free performance, reagent-based sensors would require frequent renewal of the reagent by pumping the reagent from an impermeable, inert reservoir to the sensing interface. Pumping also enabled measurement of a spectral blank further enhancing accuracy and stability. The first instrument that was developed based on this strategy, the Submersible Autonomous Moored Instrument for CO2 (SAMI-CO2), uses a pH indicator for measurement of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2). Because the pH indicator gives an optical response, the instrument requires an optofluidic design where the indicator is pumped into a gas permeable membrane and then to an optical cell for analysis. The pH indicator is periodically flushed from the optical cell by using a valve to switch from the pH indicator to a blank solution. Because of the small volume and low power light source, over 8,500 measurements can be obtained with a ~500 mL reagent bag and 8 alkaline D-cell battery pack. The primary drawback is that the design is more complex compared to the single-ended electrode or optode that is envisioned as the ideal sensor. The SAMI technology has subsequently been used for the successful development of autonomous pH and total alkalinity analyzers. In this manuscript, we will discuss the pros and cons of the SAMI pCO2 and pH optofluidic technology and highlight some past data sets and applications for studying the carbon cycle in aquatic ecosystems.

Characterization and performance improvement of the large titanium sublimation pumps in the AUG and W7‐X neutral beam injectors

The experimental devices ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) and Wendelstein 7‐X (W7‐X) are equipped with two neutral beam injectors each for plasma heating with up to 20MW. Four large titanium sublimation pumps (TSPs) (4×1.5×0.2m3) in each injector provide proper vacuum conditions (below 10−2Pa) during the 10s beam pulse with a gas feed of up to 30 Pa×m3/s. A maximum pumping speed of up to 3000m3/s for H2 is obtained by frequent renewal of the Ti coating at the pump surfaces. Ti is sublimed from 4m long ohmically heated hanging pairs of Ti sublimation wires. So far, all pairs of wires were operated with constant current during 120s, despite of the large spread of the resistance of the wires. Tests have been performed in a dedicated test facility in order to characterize the pumping performance for H2 with different parameters for sublimation power and time. The data gathered can be used to simulate fully operative TSP systems for real NBI operation scenarios in AUG and W7‐X, so as to find an optimal sublimation strategy for the TSPs.

Cultivar-Dependent Direct Organogenesis of Date Palm from Shoot Tip Explants.

A number of public and private laboratories are working on date palm micropropagation to meet the increasing worldwide demand for date palm planting material. A standardized direct organogenesis protocol exists for the production of date palm plantlets to maintain the genetic fidelity of regenerated plants. Organogenesis has the advantage of using low concentrations of plant growth regulators and avoiding the callus phase. In addition, direct regeneration of vegetative buds minimizes the risk of somaclonal variation among plant regenerants. However, in vitro multiplication cycles should be limited in duration by frequent renewal of plant material. This chapter describes a simple and routine organogenesis protocol for date palm multiplication using shoot tip explants.

Continuous Monitoring of Metal Working Fluid Quality in Machining Processes

Metal working fluid (MWF) emulsions are utilized as coolants and lubricants in machining processes like turning or drilling. During their operation life time cycle, MWFs change their properties due to impacting stresses which may influence the machining and tool performance. A frequent refreshing or renewal of MWFs in machining process is thus necessary. This investigation discusses measurement techniques of MWF emulsions to be used for MWF quality assessment and process monitoring. By means of optical spectroscopic measurement techniques (turbidimetry and laser diffraction), the evaluation of the temporal change of the wavelength exponent and the MWF emulsion droplet size is related to the MWF stability. The in-process monitoring of the MWFs in machining during several weeks of operation is shown. Thus, it will be demonstrated that optical spectroscopic measurement techniques may be applied to determine stability change of the emulsion system.