Hippocampal Adaptations to Continuous Aerobic Training: A Functional and Ultrastructural Evaluation in a Young Murine Model

Aerobic training is known to influence cognitive processes, such as memory and learning, both in animal models and in humans. Particularly, in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that aerobic exercise can increase neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus, improve hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), and reduce age-related decline in mnemonic function. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Based on this evidence, the aim of our study was to verify whether the application of two aerobic training protocols, different in terms of speed and speed variation, could modulate synaptic plasticity in a young murine model. Therefore, we assessed the presence of any functional changes by extracellular recordings in vitro in mouse hippocampal slices and structural alterations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our results showed that an aerobic training protocol, well designed in terms of speed and speed variation, significantly contributes to improving synaptic plasticity and hippocampal ultrastructure, optimizing its benefits in the brain. Future studies will aim to clarify the underlying biological mechanisms involved in the modulation of synaptic plasticity induced by aerobic training.

Model Study on the Combination of Operating Parameters of Corn Kernel Harvesters

This study analyzed the engine operating condition curve of the corn kernel harvester. Field experiments identified the feed rate, concave clearance, and cylinder speed as the main factors affecting operating quality and efficiency. A ternary quadratic regression orthogonal center-of-rotation combined optimization test method was used to determine the feed rate, cylinder speed, and concave clearance as the influencing factors, and the engine speed variation rate, crushing rate, impurity rate, loss rate, and cylinder speed variation rate as the objective functions. A mathematical regression model was developed for the combination of operating quality indicators, efficiency indicators, and operating parameters of the corn kernel harvester. A non-linear optimization method was used to optimize the parameters of each influencing factor. The results showed that with a feed rate of 12 kg/s, a forward speed of 5 km/h, a cylinder speed of 360 r/min, and a concave clearance of 30 mm, the average crushing rate was 3.91%, the average impurity rate was 1.71%, and the kernel loss rate was 3.1%. This model could be used for the design and development of intelligent control systems.

Effect of Speed Variation on Clogging of Sewage Pumps

Pump clogging is a well-known problem due to the increasing amount of nonwoven wet wipes in the wastewater system. In addition, the usage of water decreases which causes higher concentration of solids in the wastewater. Based on the high variation of sewage flow many operators of sewer systems and sewage pumping stations were motivated to act that the wastewater is pumped as needed. It means that with reducing costs of frequency-controlled drives the usage of pumps with speed variation became a more state of the art application. The current operation mode when speed variation in wastewater pumps are used, affects the pumping of sewage water depending on inflow and the minimum velocity in the pipes. Until now, there is no answer which functionality and clogging occurs in the pump when speed changes. The study investigates how speed influences the clogging phenomena of wastewater pumps. The pumps have been approved at a test stand in a laboratory that is designed for proving wastewater pumps. The test includes several speeds with different quantities of wipes in a short-time and long-time functional performance test. The effects on the pumps and their clogging behavior are very different.