Long-distance electrical signals caused by the local action of stressors influence numerous physiological processes in plants including photosynthesis and increase their tolerance to the action of adverse factors. Depolarization electrical signals were mainly investigated; however, we earlier showed that hyperpolarization electrical signals (HESs) can be caused by moderate stressors  and induce photosynthetic inactivation. We hypothesized that HESs are related to stressor-induced increases in the hydrostatic pressure in the zone of action of the stressor and following the propagation of a hydraulic wave. In the current work, we tested this hypothesis through the direct investigation of electrical signals induced by the local action of artificially increased pressure and an analysis of the subsequent photosynthetic changes in the nonirritated parts of plants. The electrical signals and parameters of photosynthetic light reactions were investigated in wheat plants. The local action of the increased pressure was induced by the action of weights on the wheat leaf. Extracellular electrodes were used for electrical signal measurements. Pulse–amplitude–modulation fluorescent imaging was used for measurements of the quantum yield of photosystem II and nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in wheat leaves. It was shown that the local action of pressure on wheat leaf induced electrical signals near the irritated zone: HESs were caused by low pressure (10 kPa) and depolarization signals were induced by high pressure (100 kPa). The local action of moderate pressure (50 kPa) induced weak electrical signals near the irritated zone; however, HESs were observed with increasing distance from this zone. It was also shown that the local action of this moderate pressure induced the photosynthetic inactivation  in the nonirritated parts of the wheat leaves. Thus, our results show that the local action of the increased pressure and, probably, subsequent propagation of the hydraulic wave induce electrical signals (including HESs) and photosynthetic inactivation in nonirritated parts of plants that are similar to ones caused by the local action of moderate stressors . This means that both HESs and depolarization electrical signals can have a hydraulic mechanism of propagation. In environmental conditions, plants can often be influenced by adverse factors. The action of many factors  can be spatially heterogenous. This means that plants should have long-distance stress signals providing a systemic adaptive response to the local action of adverse factors ,2. It is2 assimilation, quantum yield of photosystem I, quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), and linear electron flow and increases in the nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) and cyclic electron flow around photosystem I) [2 and reactive oxygen species production.It is considered that DESs can increase a plant’s tolerance to the action of stressors ,9, proviystem I) ,13,14, aystem I) ,16,17, system I) ,19,20, cystem I) ,22,23, aystem I) ,25,26, a2+, anions, and outwardly rectifying K+ channels [+-ATPase in the plasma membrane [However, the participation of DESs in physiological regulation under environmental conditions can be limited. There are two main types of DESs in higher plants: action potentials and variation potentials ,9. Actiochannels ,28, as wmembrane , can be membrane .2+ channels and the subsequent inactivation of H+-ATPase in the plasma membrane, can be induced by damaging stimuli  under both favorable and stress conditions . This m deficit ,32.PSII and increase NPQ). These photosynthetic changes are in a good accordance with the changes induced by DESs [Our previous works ,32 showe by DESs ,13,14,31+-ATPase in the plasma membrane is considered the main mechanism of HESs , because the generation of these signals is strongly dependent on the initial activity of the H+-ATPase and can be imitated by action of the activator of this transporter. However, the mechanisms of HESs’ propagation are not clear; interactions among H+-ATPases in the plasma membrane or the propagation of a wave of a decreased Ca2+ concentration in the apoplast were proposed as potential mechanisms of this propagation [In accordance with Zimmermann et al. , the actpagation ,6.2+-channels inducing the Ca2+ influx and H+-ATPase inactivation [Earlier, we hypothesized that HESs can be caused by the propagation of a hydraulic wave with low magnitudes from the irritated zone ,32. Thertivation ,33,34,35tivation , i.e., tSecond, local burning induces DESs  under irrigation or a moderate water deficit; however, this burning can induce HESs under a strong water deficit that is accompanied by a decreasing relative water content in plants . This st+-ATPase in the plasma membrane via increased hydrostatic pressure [2+ channels and a weak increasing calcium concentration in the cytoplasm [+-ATPase [+ channels through the Ca2+-dependent inactivation of the channels [2+ channels and large increasing Ca2+ concentration in the cytoplasm that accompany variation potentials, caused by the inactivation of H+-ATPase in the plasma membrane [Third, some works show the stimulation of Hpressure . This stytoplasm ,32, beca+-ATPase ,39,40 orchannels ,42. It smembrane ,29.PSII, and NPQ in nonirritated parts of this leaf. This pressure action should directly induce the propagation of a hydraulic wave through a wheat leaf and can be considered as an experimental model for the analysis of the hydraulic hypothesis of HESs’ propagation. The similarity of the electrical signals and photosynthetic changes induced by the local pressure action with the signals and changes induced by the local action of stressors , which has previously been shown [Thus, the aim of the current work was to test a hypothesis concerning the participation of hydraulic waves in the induction of HESs. To check this hypothesis, we analyzed ESs induced by the local action of artificially increased pressure on the wheat leaf and investigated subsequent changes in Φen shown ,32, shouAn analysis of ESs induced by the local action of increased pressure shows that the type of electrical signal was strongly dependent on the pressure’s magnitude. The local action of 10 kPa of pressure induced small and slow hyperpolarization at a 0 cm distance from the irritated zone a; this rThis result supports the possibility of the induction of both HESs and DESs under the different magnitudes of the hydraulic wave, which was hypothesized in our previous works ,32.Considering a decrease in the magnitude of the hydraulic wave with an increase in the distance from the irritated zone ,36, we sAn analysis of the dependence of the average amplitudes on the distance from the irritated zone supported the absence of significant amplitudes of electrical signals at a 0 cm distance and the appearance of significant amplitudes of hyperpolarization signals at 2 and 5 cm distances b. It shoPSII and increased NPQ [Our results show that the local action of increased pressure could induce HESs that were similar to HESs induced by the action of moderate stressors; this similarity supports the hydraulic mechanism of the hyperpolarization electrical signals . Howeverased NPQ ; these rased NPQ ,43. ThusPSII, which was observed in nonirritated parts of the plant after the local action of the moderate heating or a combination of this heating and illumination [It was shown  that themination . SignifiPSII; the size of the zone with changes in the nonphotochemical quenching was larger than the size of the zone with changes in the quantum yield of photosystem II. These characteristics were similar to the characteristics of the photosynthetic response induced by the local action of the moderate heating or a combination of this heating and illumination [The nonphotochemical quenching of the chlorophyll fluorescence was also influenced by the local action of the 50 kPa pressure and HESs . A signimination .Thus, the photosynthetic investigation also showed similarity between the effects induced by the local action of the increased pressure and the effects caused by the local action of moderate stressors . These results additionally support hydraulic mechanisms of HESs, which were earlier proposed ,32.ESs are a probable important mechanism of the induction of a fast systemic adaptive response in plants under the local action of stressors ,2,9. ThePSII and increasing NPQ; these photosynthetic changes are similar to the DES-induced response of photosynthesis [Earlier, we showed ,32 that ynthesis ,13,14,31ynthesis ,7) can p+-ATPase in the plasma membrane. This hypothesis is in good accordance with the hypothesis concerning the induction of variation potentials by hydraulic waves with high magnitudes [Our current work focused on the analysis of the hydraulic hypothesis of mechanisms of HESs. In accordance with this hypothesis ,31,32, hgnitudes ,33,34,35gnitudes ,7,8,31.The results of the current work support the hydraulic hypothesis through several important points. First, the dependence of the amplitude of ES on the magnitude of the increased pressure shows a two-phase response : inductiSecond, transformation of weak ESs into HESs with increasing distance from the zone of the 50 kPa pressure action  is in goPSII  decreases ΦPSII  and incrPSII . These r+-ATPase in the plasma membrane under different experimental conditions [2+ channels and an increasing concentration of calcium ions in the cytoplasm [2+ concentration can induce the activation of H+-ATPase [+ channels [+-ATPase in comparison to potassium ion channels. In contrast, a strong increase in the Ca2+ concentration should suppress H+-ATPase and induce DESs.Thus, our results support the hydraulic hypothesis of the propagation of HESs. This hypothesis is also in good accordance with data in the literature. It is known that increased hydrostatic pressure can both activate and suppress Hnditions ,37. It iytoplasm . Potenti+-ATPase ,39,40 anchannels ,42; the Finally, our results also show that HESs are potentially induced under moderate local mechanical impacts on plants, because these impacts can be accompanied by pressing of the leaf. Our work was not focused on the analysis of this possibility because the long-term action of increased pressure was only investigated. However, an analysis of ESs and photosynthetic changes induced by the short-term local action of increased pressure can be important problem for future investigations, because the short-term mechanical impact on parts of the plant seems to be more probable under environmental conditions than a long-term one. Additionally, an analysis of ESs and photosynthetic changes induced by the local action of increased pressure on different areas of this action can be also important for future investigations of the role of HESs under moderate local mechanical impacts on parts of plants.Triticum aestivum L., cultivar “Daria”) were cultivated for 13–14 days in the vegetation room of the Department of Biophysics  in accordance with our previous works [−2 s−1. The plants were irrigated three times a week.Spring wheat plants , a high-impedance IPL-113 amplifier , and a personal computer were used for the extracellular measurements of the ESs. The ESs were measured in the second mature leaf of the wheat plants. The measuring electrodes were placed 0 cm from the border of the irritated zone (zone of action of the increased pressure) for experiments with 10, 25, and 100 kPa pressures and 0, 2, and 5 cm from this zone for experiments with 50 kPa pressure. The reference electrode was contacted to the wheat stem near the soil. These electrodes were contacted to the plant via Uniagel conductive gel .In accordance with our previous works ,32, extrAfter the placement of the electrodes, wheat plants were adapted for 60 min before the initiation of the local action of the increased pressure; the duration of measurement after this local irritation was approximately 25 min.PSII) and nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) were measured with using a PAM imaging Open FluorCam FC 800-O/1010  in accordance with our previous work [The quantum yield of photosystem II  after 15 min dark adaptation was used for the estimation of the maximum fluorescence (Fm) [−2 s−1, cold white light, 6500 K); this illumination was not changed for the remaining experimental time (60 min). The duration of the photosynthetic measurements (duration of the repeating generation of saturation pulses) before the initiation of the local action of the increased pressure was 15 min; this duration after the initiation was 45 min. The 50 kPa pressure was used in the photosynthetic experiments. ΦPSII and NPQ were calculated on the basis of Fm, Fm’, and F in accordance with standard equations [The first standard saturation pulse of this system (4000 μmol mnce (Fm) . The nexTwo wheat plants  were simultaneously investigated in each repetition in the experiments with photosynthetic measurements b. The phPSII and ΔNPQ were used in the investigation. ΔΦPSII was calculated as ΦPSII − ΦPSII0, and ΔNPQ was calculated as NPQ − NPQ0, where ΦPSII0 and NPQ0 were ΦPSII and NPQ before the initiation of the local action of pressure. ΦPSII0 and NPQ0 were calculated as the averaged ΦPSII and NPQ for three measuring points before the initiation of the pressure action. Using ΔΦPSII and ΔNPQ decreased the individual variability of the photosynthetic parameters in the investigated wheat plants.In accordance with Yudina et al. , ΔΦPSII t-test was used for the estimation of the significance.Each experimental or control group included from 9 to 14 separate plants; these quantities are shown in the caption of the figures. The representative records, averaged records, mean values, and standard errors are presented in the figures. The Student’s PSII and increased NPQ in the nonirritated parts of leaves. Changes in ΦPSII were observed at the 4 cm distance from the zone of the increased pressure action; changes in NPQ were observed at the 2–6 cm distance.In the current work, we showed that the local action of increased pressure could induce both hyperpolarization electrical signals (10 kPa pressure) and depolarization electrical signals (100 kPa pressure) in wheat plants. The type of signal was also dependent on the distance from the irritated zone, because the local action of the 50 kPa induced weak electrical signals at the 0 cm distance and hyperpolarization electrical signals at the 2 and 5 cm distances. An analysis of the parameters of the photosynthetic light reactions showed that the local action of the 50 kPa pressure decreased ΦThus, the local action of the increased pressure, which should directly cause the propagation of the hydraulic wave through the wheat leaf, induced different types of electrical signals , depending on the pressure’s magnitude and distance from the irritated zone, and suppressed photosynthetic processes in the nonirritated parts of the plant. The observed responses were strongly similar to the electrical signals and photosynthetic changes under the local action of moderate stressors in our previous works . The


Casting cores produced in additive manufacturing are more often used in industrial practice, in particular in the case of the production of unit castings and castings with very complex geometry. The growing interest in the technology of 3D printing of cores and molds also brings emerging doubts related to their mechanical and technological properties. This article presents a comparison of the properties of cores made of sand with acid-curing furfuryl resin, made with 3D printing technology; the cores were prepared in a conventional way (mixing and compaction). The main purpose of this research was to determine the possibility of using shell cores as a substitute for solid cores, aimed at reducing the amount of binder in the core. The influence of the type of the binder and the size of the grain matrix fraction on the obtained mechanical and technological properties of the cores, with particular emphasis on abrasion and thermal deformation, as well as on the kinetics of their hardening, was demonstrated. Durability and time-regulated shelf life for molding;High resistance-to-moisture during core storage;High resistance-to-erosion and -penetration and no chemical interaction with the casting alloy;High gas permeability;High strength;Easy knockout properties;Good susceptibility to regeneration of used molding sand;Lower capital expenditure;No need to heat core boxes;High surface quality of castings;Environmentally friendly core systems with low odor.Foundry is one of the oldest methods of manufacturing usable parts. Over the years, it has remained one of the basic methods of producing parts for the engineering, automotive, aviation, shipbuilding, energy, and many other industries. The main advantage of casting is the possibility of making elements of complex shape with high mechanical properties that are difficult or even impossible to obtain through other technological processes. The process involves melting and then pouring a previously prepared mold, which imitates the future shape of the casting, with a liquid casting alloy of a specific composition. Most castings are made in disposable molds using molding and core sands, which, by definition, are a mixture of quartz sand, binding material, and additives. There are many bonding systems, of which molding sands with bentonite are the most commonly used due to their low cost and the possibility of using them in a closed circuit. However, their limitation is the low quality of the surface. In the production of high-quality castings, organic binders based on furfuryl resin are a frequently used system for binding grain matrix grains. They meet the basic requirements for molding and core sands, i.e., ,2:DurabiThe problem of gas and the emission of odors is widely discussed in publications ,4,5,6. IThe manufacture of molds and cores using 3D sand printing is of great interest, as evidenced by the growing number of publications devoted to the subject ,24,25,26The process of printing molds and cores differs significantly from the conventional method of making molding sands with acid-cured furfuryl resin. First of all, in the conventional method, mixing is used, which allows for a fairly uniform coating of the binder over the entire surface of the matrix grains. In the case of 3D printing, we are dealing with the imposition of a portion of sand, mixed beforehand with a suitable amount of hardener, on a previously applied thin layer of resin. There is no additional compaction process here, leading to a lower packing density. This can promote free spaces between the grains, and the printed parts may have increased porosity. The manufacturer of the ExOne   printer,Three-dimensionally printed cores using furfuryl resin have an indisputable advantage over the conventional self-cured molding sand system due to the slower heat dissipation process and smaller pores between grains while printing the core in a bed of loose sand. This advantage is due to the slower heat dissipation process and smaller pores between grains while printing the core in a bed of loose sand. This is most likely the reason for the higher strength of 3D-printed cores, which is often cited in the literature. In , a bindeAs shown in the review of the state-of-the-art, tests have been conducted to measure the strength  and permeability of cores made with 3D printing technology, and these have been compared with results from the no-bake system. However, according to the authors, flexural strength may not always be the best parameter for determining the actual mechanical properties of cores. This is because it combines two parameters: compression at the top and tension at the bottom. Moreover, there is a lack of friability testing of 3D-printed cores, which is as an important technological indicator, and there has been little research into thermal deformation according to the methodology used in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as comparisons between additively manufactured cores and binders available in local markets. Furthermore, the industry has expressed an interest in knowing the achieved mechanical and technological properties of cores made using additive technology compared to conventional self-curing molding sand technology.Determination of the mechanical and technological properties of the shell core made in additive manufacturing a and comComparison of thermal deformation of cores made by using a binder dedicated to 3D printing, with cores made by using the typical FNB system (furan no-bake system).Determining the possibility of an interchangeable use of a binder dedicated to 3D printing in typical FNB technology.Determination of binding (hardening) kinetics expressed by core strength over time, depending on the size of the grain matrix and the share of the binder in the molding (core) sand.Therefore, the aim of this research includes the following:Properties of molding sands prepared with the use of two binders , on the specific matrix graining , using a composition dedicated to 3D printing, i.e., 1.5 parts by weight of resin and 0.4 parts by weight of hardener.The influence of the amount of binder on the properties of core sands, with a conventional binder as a reference point.The strength of cores as a function of curing time (curing kinetics) was also carried out. This research aimed to compare the following:Determining the hardening time, which indicates when the core is ready to be placed in the mold cavity and has gained sufficient strength to withstand the impact of the liquid casting alloy, is crucial in terms of casting technology and the ability to produce defect-free castings. Additionally, studies have shown the impact of the hardening time (ageing) on selected core properties.3D molding sand sample.Solid core a—S13D mo3D molding sand sample.Shell core filled with uncured hardener-coated sand b—S13D moCylindrical standard samples (Ø50 × 50 mm), made by 3D printing technology from ExOne, were used for the tests. The specimens (cores) were made on quartz sand (FS001) using furfuryl resin FB001 and hardener FA001. Two types of cylindrical specimens were used:Splitting tensile strength ( Poland) ; in thisThe following parameters were determined:Tensile strength molding sands in a hardened state  was performed by the fast method on electrical apparatus type LpiR-3e ;Q2—weight of the specimen after testing [g].Friability of hardened samples , according to the methodology described in 3D and S2 to compare the effect of the matrix grain size on the properties of the hardened composition with the same amount of binder.In the first step, research was conducted on the composition of S1To compare the properties of the molding sands prepared with the commercial resin dedicated for 3D printing  and the resin used in conventional technology on the same granular matrix sand with the same amount of binder, tests were conducted for molding sand S4 . The final result of each selected method is the arithmetic average of a minimum of three measurements.The tests were carried out using standard dog-bone shaped specimens that were compacted by vibration using the LUZ-2e apparatus. The determination of the strength properties of the molding sand was carried out after 1, 3, 24, 48, and 120 h after preparation using the LRu-2e device . In addiA DMA apparatus   was used3D). The results of the loss of ignition (LOI) are presented in Determining the loss of ignition provides information on the actual amount of binder in the sample made by 3D printing technology (S13D) and a sand sample with only the hardener taken from the inside of the printed shell-shaped core. By subtracting both results, the amount of resin in the core was determined.The determination of the loss of ignition was carried out to confirm the assumed quantitative dosing of binder components, i.e., hardener and resin. According to the manufacturer’s data, the mixture is prepared by combining quartz sand with 0.4 parts by weight of hardener (relative to sand) and 1.5 parts by weight of furfuryl resin. The loss-of-ignition test was conducted for the printed core  was utilized. The main fraction of this sand was collected in sieves with a mesh size of 0.40/0.32/0.20 mm, and its average grain size was 0.39 mm , which q3D(shell)) was close to the strength of the S2 molding sand. If, from a technological point of view, such a value of shell core strength is sufficient, one can consider using this solution, which, on a larger scale of production, should lead to savings in the consumption of the FB001 resin and FA001 hardener. In addition, it has been shown that the strength of cores prepared by the conventional method by compacting on sand with a sieved fraction of 0.16–0.10 mm—S3 and S4—showed significantly lower strength parameters. This may be related to the physical and chemical properties of the sand from the quartz sand . Moreover, different grades of binders are dedicated to different technologies, and there is no way to replace them, despite the fact that binders for 3D printing are much more expensive. The reason for this can also be attributed to the way the binder is applied to the matrix grains. In 3D printing, the resin can settle on the surface of the fine-grained sand without coating the entire surface. On the other hand, in conventional technology (mixing), a certain volume of resin introduced into the sand coats the grains over the entire surface. With a fine grain fraction, the consumption of resin increases due to the larger specific surface area. Therefore, to obtain better mechanical properties, it would be necessary to increase the amount of the binder added, which would result in higher production costs, but also an increased amount of gas that may be formed due to thermal degradation of the binder and may lead to defects in castings.This study shows that the highest rate of setting (curing of the molding sand) can be achieved with the Kaltharz U404 resin with the 100T3 hardener on a matrix of coarse sand (S5). After 3 h, the molding sand shows a tensile strength of about 1.27 MPa, which is the highest increase in strength over time. It should also be noted that the slowest strength gain is observed for the composition S3, prepared on the same resin base but on a sieved grain fraction. Finally, after 120 h of curing, this molding sand also exhibits the lowest strength. Interestingly, the curing rate of composition S2  and composition S4 (with a binder dedicated to 3D printing) is almost identical, but only after 24 h. In the initial stage, i.e., after 3 h, the composition S4 binds much more slowly.3D(solid)) and shell core (S13D(shell)) made using 3D printing technology showed similar permeability, but it was the lowest among all tested systems. This result is surprising, because the inner part of the core consists only of loose sand with a hardener. In the case of molding sands prepared using separated fractions of quartz sand , a slightly higher permeability was achieved with molding sand S4 (a furan binder dedicated to 3D printing).The best permeability is shown by the molding sand prepared using a matrix of coarse quartz sand with the least amount of binder (S2). The solid core , shows the lowest friability.As can be seen from The results of the thermal deformation tests on molding sands made on the same grain matrix , with the same share of binder components (1.5 parts by weight of resin and 0.4 parts by weight of hardener), but with different binders, i.e., a typical furan binder , and a binder dedicated to 3D printing technology  showed significant differences in strain size that may be important from a technological point of view a,b. The As shown in The highest mechanical strength is achieved by cores made by using 3D printing technology;Shell (3D-printed) cores are characterized by lower mechanical strength but are similar to cores made with conventional technology. Considering the high cost of purchasing sand, resin, and hardener, one can consider switching to such a production system, taking into account the proper thickness of the core wall;The use of a binder dedicated to 3D printing in conventional technology (mixing and compacting) is not justified both from a technological and economic point of view;Printed cores (solid and shell) have similar a permeability, but are the lowest of all the tested systems;The friability of 3D-printed cores is at a low level, due to their high mechanical properties;Three-dimensionally printed cores show a negligible susceptibility to thermal deformation and a resistance to high temperature;The most significant influence on the thermal deformation of molding sands is the binder content. It has been noted that molding sands with a binder dedicated to 3D printing (FB001 and FA001) show greater susceptibility to deformation compared to typical binders ;By reducing the amount of binder by 0.5 parts by weight, the deformation of the sample is reduceable by up to two times.Based on this study, the following conclusions can be made:The obtained results show that it is possible to reduce the amount of binder in the entire volume of the core by using a shell core, while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength from the point of view of casting-production technology and reducing the susceptibility of the core to thermal deformation. The cores also maintain good technological properties, i.e., friability and gas permeability, and the thermal deformation of 3D-printed cores is lower than those made with conventional technology. In addition, the reduction of the amount of the binder positively affects the size of the core deformation when in contact with high temperature.


In the process of logistics, shock and vibration are the most important factors contributing to product damage. Assembling honeycomb paperboard and EPE is commonly used to provide cushioning and anti-vibration effects to materials. Therefore, it is necessary to study the vibration transmission properties of this kind of assembly in the anti-vibration process. The aim of this paper was to experimentally determine the vibration transmission properties of assemblies with honeycomb paperboard and expanded polyethylene (EPE). Through a sinusoidal sweep vibration test of this assembly, the vibration transmission characteristic curves of assemblies with honeycomb paperboard and EPE of different thicknesses were obtained and compared. Assuming the assembly and mass block as a single degree of freedom with a small damping linear system, the damping energy dissipation of the assembly and the resonance frequency were obtained. The vibration transmission property curves of the assembly can be divided into four regions. With an excitation acceleration of 0.5 g and a honeycomb paperboard with a thickness of 60 mm (F60), the vibration transmission rate and the resonance frequency—of the material dampened with EPE at a thickness of 60 mm (E60), and the assembly (F30/E30) with a 30 mm thick honeycomb paperboard and 30 mm thick EPE—increased by −2.5% and −17.5%, −86.9% and 79.3%, and −95.9% and −85.7%, respectively. Compared to the assembly with 20 mm thick honeycomb and 20 mm thick EPE (F20/E20), the vibration transmission rate, the resonance frequency, and the material damping and damping energy dissipation of F40/E20, F30/E30, and F20/E40 increased by 75.6%, 48.3%, and 66.1%; 1.2%, −21.5%, and −38.9%; 241.5%, 82.8%, and 13.3%; and 12.5%, 98.9%, and 106.8%, respectively. Compared to F60 and E60, the damping energy dissipation of F30/E30 increased by 2816.7% and 133.3%, respectively. The assembly of F30/E30 has the smallest vibration transmission rate and the most vibration energy dissipation among these assemblies. This means that the assembly of F30/E30 absorbs the most external vibration energy, while the acceleration that is transmitted to the internal product is minimal. Therefore, in the design of cushioning packaging, according to the characteristics and natural frequency of the internal products, an appropriate assembly can be selected, which should have a lower vibration transmission rate and more vibration energy dissipation, and should not resonate with the internal product. This will provide a theoretical basis for the design of cushioning packaging. Tr-f curve was drawn with the excitation frequency as the horizontal coordinate and the vibration transmission rate as the vertical coordinate [A packaging system is generally composed of complex internal products, non-linear viscoelastic cushioning materials, and outer packaging, such as EPE and a honeycomb box. Due to the elasticity and damping ability of the cushioning material, on the one hand, the response of the product to external vibration excitation is reduced, and the plastic deformation of the cushioning material occurs, dissipating the energy of the external vibration excitation . Therefoordinate .Honeycomb paperboard is a kind of nonmetallic, composite, porous, and solid sandwich structure, which has good cushioning and anti-vibration performance and is widely used in the fields of product protection and packaging engineering ,4,5,6. HEPE has good cushioning and sound insulation properties, and is often used in protective and shock-energy-absorbing materials for packaging. In terms of its vibration transmission properties, EPE mainly has vibration energy absorption, vibration isolation, frequency response, and other properties . EPE is Wc of the packaging system can be calculated at any frequency. With an increase in honeycomb structure parameters, the damping ability of honeycomb board decreases, and the damping energy dissipation of the resonance vibration point increases. With the increase in load mass, the damping energy dissipation of the system resonance point also increases. Gong Guifeng [Guo Yanfeng ,18 has a Guifeng  conducte Guifeng  studied  Guifeng  studied cW of composite sandwich structures, especially the damping performance of composite materials. Wang [Many scholars have conducted a lot of research on the damping performance and ls. Wang ,27 studils. Wang  proposedls. Wang  studied ls. Wang  investigThe above studies are either analyses of the vibration transmission rate of the honeycomb paperboard or other single cushioning materials, or studies of the influence of external conditions on the vibration transmission of cushioning materials.Because honeycomb paperboard and EPE have certain differences in vibration resistance at different frequencies, the assembly of honeycomb paperboard and EPE with different thickness changes the vibration resistance in a specific frequency band, and combines the actual transportation environment and the different natural frequencies of the internal products to prevent the occurrence of resonance phenomena. At the same time, the vibration transmission rate of the assembly is reduced to the greatest extent, and the damping energy dissipation of the assembly needs to be as high as possible. Therefore, we need to systematically and comprehensively study the vibration transmission property of the assemblies to provide a better theoretical basis for cushioning packaging design.Prepare honeycomb paperboard and EPE specimens of different thickness, glue the two kinds of materials together with hot melt adhesive to form the different assemblies, then calibrate the test equipment, and carry out sine sweep frequency vibration test in strict accordance with the vibration experiment standards of cushioning materials. The test scheme and flow chart are shown in 3. The honeycomb paperboard was acquired from Xi′an Haihong Packaging Co., Ltd., Xi′an, China, with an aperture of 6 mm.The EPE foams were acquired from Suzhou Shunsheng Packaging Material Co., Ltd., Suzhou, China, with density of 15.3 kg/mSpecimens have a cross-section of 100 mm × 100 mm. Specimen labels include a letter and 1 set of numbers; for example, F and E represent the uniform code of the honeycomb paperboard specimen and EPE specimen, respectively. The following two-digit number is a thickness of the specimen. Thus, specimen F20/E40 is the assembly specimen with a thickness of 20 mm for honeycomb paperboard and a thickness of 40 mm for EPE. The honeycomb paperboard and EPE were bonded to form an assembly using hot-melt adhesive.The test specimen parameters are shown in In order to obtain the vibration transmission curve of cushioning material, it is necessary to carry out sinusoidal sweeping vibration test on the cushioning packaging system composed of cushioning material and mass block. Sinusoidal sweep vibration makes the frequency change linearly or exponentially with time , and hasThere are two acceleration sensors used in the test. One is installed on the mass block to monitor the output signal with a sensitivity of 24.50 V/g, and the other is installed on the DC-300-2 electric vibration table to control the input signal with a sensitivity of 24.40 V/g. The test parameters are shown in r–fT curve.The vibration test system is composed of cushioning material, mass block, charge amplifier, 16-channel A/D conversion board, acceleration sensor, computer, vibration controller RC-2000 and vibration table of DC-300-2. m is the mass of the assembly and mass block, y(t) is the external excitation displacement, x(t) is the response displacement of the assembly, k and c are the equivalent stiffness coefficient and damping coefficient of the packaging material, respectively.The system composed of an assembly and mass block is regarded as a linear system with single degree of freedom and small damping. As shown in The differential equation of the system under vibration is as Equation (1) :(1)mx¨=−A is the amplitude of the harmonic excitation displacement, ω is the excitation frequency, and t is the excitation duration.The complex displacement excitation received by the assembly during transportation can be simplified into a linear superposition of multiple harmonic excitation, so it can be expressed with Equation (2):m, and introducing damping ratio ξ, natural frequency ωn, and frequency ratio λ can be expressed with Equation (3):By substituting Equation (2) into Equation (1), dividing both left and right ends by c can be expressed with Equation (4) [Under the vibration condition of simple harmonic excitation, the material damping tion (4) :C = 2mξωrT of the single-degree-of-freedom system composed of mass blocks and assembly is as Equation (5) [Under sinusoidal excitation, the formula for calculating the vibration transmission rate tion (5) :(5)Tr=1+ξ can be obtained from Equations (5) and (6):When the system resonates, the frequency ratio is λ ≈1, and the formula for calculating the material damping ratio Wc refers to the conversion of system kinetic energy into heat or other forms of energy loss by increasing system damping, so as to achieve the purpose of shock absorption, vibration suppression, or energy consumption [sumption . System sumption .cW can be expressed with Equation (7) [When the assembly vibrates under a certain mass block, with a certain frequency point as the period, the energy dissipation is the mechanical energy consumed by the cushioning material damping in a period. By integrating the work carried out by the damping force in a period, tion (7) :(7)Wc=∮cThe steady-state response expression of a linear system with single degree of freedom under harmonic excitation acceleration is as Equation (8):By integrating Equation (8), the velocity expression can be obtained with Equation (9):cW in a period of a single degree linear system at any frequency point under harmonic excitation acceleration can be expressed with Equation (10) [By substituting Equation (9) into Equation (7) for integral operation, ion (10) :(10)Wc=cB is the amplitude of excitation acceleration, which is 0.5 g, that is, 4.9 m/s2. Equation (10) shows that cW is related to the vibration transmission rate rT and natural frequency of the material, and the vibration transmission curve can be obtained to calculate the damping energy dissipation of the packaging system.In Equation (10), The typical vibration transmission curves of honeycomb paperboard and assembly are shown in The reason for this trend in the typical vibration transmission property curves in Sinusoidal sweep vibration tests were carried out on the honeycomb paperboard, EPE, and assembly with a thickness of 60 mm, respectively. The response acceleration–frequency curves and vibration transmission rate–frequency curves were obtained, as shown in It can be seen from cW of the assembly can be calculated via Equation (4), Equation (6), and Equation (10), respectively. The results are shown in When the structural parameters, thickness, and mass of the tested material were determined, the resonance frequency and damping ratio of the system were fixed. Therefore, the damping, damping ratio, and fn, maximum vibration transmission rate Tm, material damping c of F60 increased by 660.9%, 24.4%, 2348.3%, respectively. Therefore, under the same thickness, the damping, the vibration transmission rate, and the resonance frequency of honeycomb paperboard are larger than those of EPE.As shown in nf, maximum vibration transmission rate Tm, material damping c of the assembly of F40/E20 increased by −73.3%, 5.1%, −73.3%, respectively. For the assembly of F20/E40, the resonance frequency nf, maximum vibration transmission rate Tm, material damping c increased by −83.9%, −0.6%,−91.1%, respectively, compared to the assembly of F60. Compared to the assembly of F20/E20, the resonance frequency fn, maximum vibration transmission rate Tm, material damping c of the assembly of F40/E20 increased by 1.2%, 75.6%, 240.7%, respectively. In the assemblies of E60, F40/E20, F30/E30, F20/E40, and F60, the damping of the assemblies increased obviously with a thickness of honeycomb paperboard increases and a thickness of EPE decreases. The damping performance of honeycomb paperboard was better than EPE, and the thickness was an important factor affecting the damping performance of the assemblies.Compared to the assembly of F60, the resonance frequency System resonance means that under a certain frequency, the vibration amplitude generated by the system after being stimulated by the outside world becomes large, and the system absorbs the most external energy during the resonance frequency. The resonance point is the point at which the system has the largest amplitude at a certain frequency. However, resonance can also lead to the loss of control and destruction of the system, so measures need to be taken to reduce the adverse effects caused by resonance. The goal of damping energy analysis is to evaluate the damping performance of the system near the resonance point to ensure that the system can effectively dissipate energy during vibration, reduce amplitude, and reduce the impact of resonance.cW of honeycomb paperboard with a thickness of 60 mm increased by −0.92%. Compared to the assembly of F20/E40, the damping energy dissipation of the assembly of F40/E20 increased by 34.3%.It can be seen from It can be seen that the damping energy dissipation at the resonant point of the assembly increases with the increasing thickness of the honeycomb paperboard and EPE. The damping energy dissipation of the amplifier region and the resonant point of the honeycomb paperboard also increased with the increasing thickness of the paperboard, while the damping energy dissipation of the plateau region of the honeycomb paperboard decreased with the increasing thickness of the paperboard. The influence of thickness on damping energy dissipation in the attenuation region of the honeycomb paperboard is not obvious .It can be seen that the damping and resonance frequency of the assembly are between those of honeycomb paperboard and EPE, but the damping energy dissipation of the resonant vibration point of the assembly is far greater than that of honeycomb paperboard and EPE, indicating that the combination of honeycomb paperboard and EPE as a cushioning packaging material can increase the absorption of vibration energy and reduce the vibration energy transferred to the internal products.cW of EPE is larger than that of honeycomb paperboard with the same thickness. The results show that EPE can absorb more vibration energy than honeycomb under the same thickness condition. When a thickness of honeycomb paperboard and of the EPE in the assembly are equal, the vibration transmission rate will be lower. Therefore, in the design of cushioning packaging, according to the characteristics and natural frequency of the contained products, the appropriate assembly can be selected for packaging, which should have a lower vibration transmission rate, more vibration energy dissipation, and which will not resonate with the contained product.The damping and resonance frequency of honeycomb paperboard are much larger than that of EPE with the same thickness, but the cW have been obtained. The following conclusions have been drawn:Based on the sinusoidal sweep vibration test, the response acceleration, vibration transmission rate, resonance frequency, damping, and (1)The obtained vibration transmission rate curve shows that the assembly generally has four stages, according to the frequency range. In the amplification region, the acceleration transmitted to the product will be multiplied by several times, especially at the resonance frequency, and the product is likely to be damaged. In the attenuation region, the protective ability for the product is better, and the response acceleration to the product is small.(2)When the aperture of honeycomb paperboard and the density of EPE were constant, the vibration transmission rate and damping energy dissipation of different assemblies were studied. Among all the assemblies, the assembly of F30/E30 had better damping energy dissipation and a lower vibration transmission rate. In the cushioning packaging design, it can be assumed that a thickness of the honeycomb paperboard and EPE are equal; then, the assembly has a lower vibration transmission rate and greater damping energy dissipation, which can minimize the maximum acceleration value transmitted to the internal product and protect the product from being damaged.The aim of this study was to examine the influence of thickness on the vibration transmission rate and the frequency and damping energy dissipation of the assembly when the structural parameters of EPE and honeycomb paperboard are fixed. By changing the thickness to adjust the frequency of the assembly, it is possible to prevent resonance with the internal product, and to reduce the vibration transmission rate, increase the damping energy dissipation of the assembly. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the selection of the thickness of honeycomb paperboard and EPE in the assembly design of cushioning packaging.The structural parameters of honeycomb paperboard and EPE also affect the vibration transmission property of the assembly, such as the cell side length of honeycomb paperboard and the density of EPE. The influence of these structural parameters on the vibration transmission property of the assembly will be studied later.


The review uses publications of the study results of 9.21.3 chromosomal locus in association with CHD and DM2, which are important for changing the focus of clinical practice. The eligibility criteria are full-text articles published in the PubMed database (MEDLINE) up to December 31, 2022. A total of 56 publications were found that met the inclusion criteria. Using the examples of the progressive stages in understanding the role of the chromosomal locus 9p.21.3, scientific ideas were grouped, from a fragmentary study of independent pathological processes to a systematic study of the overall development of CHD and DM2. The presented review can become a source of new scientific hypotheses for further studies, the results of which can determine the general mechanism of the congenital risk of CHD and DM2 and change the focus of clinical practice. Additionally, CHD is becoming an increasingly significant cause of disability and mortality among diabetics, reducing their lifespan by ten years.Almost 75% of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) or severe glucose homeostasis disorders, and the number of patients with CHD is gradually rising over the recent years. For instance, since 2000, there has been an increase in the number of clinical complications associated with DM2 in young and middle-aged individuals, including myocardial infarction and stroke. In Hong Kong, Wu X et al have reported a similar trend based on a 16-year observation of the development of DM2 in 770,780 patients aged 20 years and older. Moreover, the active and joint increase of CHD and DM2 was manifested in vascular events in patients who had no prior signs of coronary artery obstruction, making this trend a new challenge for global public health.–9Researchers have observed new epidemiological trends in the prevalence of CHD in individuals with DM2. The chromosomal locus 9p.21.3 is the second main reason for predisposition for CHD development and the main genetic inducer for DM2 development. However, it is not associated with any of the side effects. It is also worth noting that the positive lifestyle changes to reduce the mortality rate associated with cardiovascular diseases in patients with high polygenic risk of CHD or DM2 seem to be inefficient with only more than 30% success rate, in the absence of an intensive long-term intervention in lifestyle over usual treatments. It has also been reported that genetically predisposed subgroups for DM2 have similar consequences of cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risks. All these recent findings support the hypothesis of the significance of the chromosomal locus in the development of these 2 conditions. Therefore, the growing global burden of CHD and DM2 calls for effective interventions. Clinical and genetic factors are of great importance in the strategy for preventing CHD and DM2, providing valuable information for clinical practice. This article presents a review of clinically relevant publications to understand the role of the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 in the development of DM2 and CHD.There is a large amount of evidence indicating a genetic risk for the development of CHD and DM2. In particular, the group of observations by Yun JS et al demonstrated that a high genetic risk of CHD or DM2 (about 1% of the population) increased the risk of cardiovascular death by 1.6 and 2.1 times, respectively, versus participants with low genetic risk.The review uses clinically relevant publications reflecting the current trends in scientific research on 9p21.3 chromosomal locus in association with CHD and DM2 that were obtained from the PubMed database (MEDLINE) up to December 31, 2022. A total of 86 sources were found, of which 56 were selected that met the inclusion criteria.The study was conducted through a sequential comprehensive and systematic literature search. The chromosomal locus 9p21.3 was used as the genetic risk locus of interest, and the outcomes of interest were CHD and DM2.A literature search of relevant published articles in the PubMed databases (MEDLINE) was performed using the search query . The most recent search update was on December 31, 2022. Additionally, relevant publications were obtained by searching for references cited in published articles. Article types were limited to reviews, systematic reviews, and original studies. To provide sufficient depth of review, publications included in vitro and in vivo studies.The study is an analytical processing of scientific research materials published in the public database PubMed (MEDLINE), therefore, it is not subject to ethical review.The obtained results were considered in terms of the presence of progress and, therefore, the prospects of new knowledge about the investigated locus for clinical practice.,14 Genetic relation between early CHD and signs of metabolic syndrome  with a short segment of chromosome 12 has also been identified.The search for genes involved in monogenic disorders in CHD and DM2 began in the 1990s with the use of large family lineage, followed by an analysis of candidate genes. At that time, formal genetics operated with the abstract concept of genes, linearly arranged in linkage groups, directly or indirectly affecting the manifestation of a trait. Consequently, it led to the observations of the relationship between CHD and DM2 with genetic variants, - in particular, the role of haploids located on chromosomes 11 and 3, for CHD and DM2, respectively, was revealed.–18 At the same time, researchers of the genetic risk of DM2 came to approximately the same results.–21In the 2000s, the development of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using DNA microarrays gave rise to structural genomics. Based on their results, 3 papers were published in 2007 identifying the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 as the strongest genetic signal for CHD in individuals of European descent. An indirect confirmation of this conclusion was the discovery of 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in 2 neighboring haplotypes in the 9p21.3 region, which was associated with DM2 and CHD in the Han Chinese population. Two subsequent studies suggested for the first time that common risk factors for CHD and DM2 do not necessarily imply the presence of common genetic risk factors.,25 Thus, new avenues for investigating the pathophysiology of complex disorders have been presented.The first mention of the locus in connection with both diseases was noted in the publication of a study conducted by the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. The study examined 2000 individuals of the British population for 7 diseases. As a result, it has been identified that some loci are associated with risks for more than one of these diseases. Their prevalence and strong additive effect lead to at least 15% of CHD and DM2 cases, representing the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 as the largest known genomic source of CHD and DM2 development.The risk haplotypes of the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 are unique in each human individual and do not have coding genes, making it difficult to attempt to decipher its function using GWAS. The possibilities of whole genome and whole exome sequencing have expanded the understanding of the genetic architecture and functional significance of CHD and DM2. It was found that 2 risk haplotypes of these diseases in the locus represent blocks of 50 to 100 SNPs in non-equilibrium linkage, providing nonrandom joint inheritance up to 50% of cases in representatives of many populations.The first scientific data on the p15/CDKN2B-p16/CDKN2A-p14/gene encoding protein ADP ribosylation factor locus gene cluster were associated with the largest family of 7 syndromes of the melanoma-neural system and detection using heterozygosity mapping based on microsatellite markers of the 9p21 large germline deletion. The results of the study suggested the presence of coordinated regulation of transcription by antisense gene, non-coding RNA, non-coding gene (ANRIL).,29 Its expression is also influenced by pathological changes in preexisting diseases. The regulation of the balance depends on the cell type and context, however, there is still no sufficient data on the molecular coordinator of the ratio of linear and circular isoforms, and it is not known whether inhibition of linear ANRIL isoforms is sufficient to protect against CHD and DM2. Perhaps this special influence of ANRIL can also explain the paradox when the genes involved in the biology of traits show different effects. Genetic variants can disrupt ANRIL, which mechanically links CHD to DM2. Subsequently, it is hypothesized that 9p21.3 chromosomal locus controls large gene networks that predispose to the adoption of cellular conditions that lead to CHD and DM2.,33It should be noted that the data on ANRIL are inconsistent, probably due to the presence of numerous linear and circular isoforms in the gene capable of transformation by back splicing. ANRIL can both positively and negatively regulate the work of genes while acting both locally and remotely. In general, the role of ANRIL is determined by the balance between the level of expression of linear and circular variants; and the molecular differences between variants can lead to fundamental changes in function cells, i.e. the rate of proliferation in smooth muscle cells, pancreatic β-cells, or macrophages. The expression of linear ANRIL is associated with the development of CHD and DM2. Circular ANRIL is recognized as useful for the regulation of homeostasis, it has a higher expression level and is more stable. Even a slight predominance of the linear variant over the circular one will contribute to the development of CHD and DM2. It turned out that the true transmission of endocrine signals is carried from organ to organ by inter-tissue pathways, which determine the specificity of the source and the target. In this case, the phenotype of the target tissue cell acquires prognostic significance in the development of СHD and DM2. The study group of Indumathi B et al, seeking to identify epigenetic signatures characteristic of CHD, concluded that hypomethylation of the locus causes activation of CDKN2A increasing the risk of CHD by 1.79 times, which is on par with similar epigenetic traits that were noted in the early onset of DM2.Transcriptional changes suggest a broad context of gene interaction and regulation. The integration of DNA and RNA sequencing data that interact in the supernetwork of cardiometabolic diseases within the framework of a system analysis made it possible to form an understanding of the modules of genetic regulation of gene expression. In particular, the relationship between СHD and DM2 at the interorgan level is regulated by a module that binds 553 genes, among the driver-gene loci of which the influence of 9p21.3 was noted. It was previously determined that CHD and myocardial infarction belong to different risk haplotypes at the chromosomal locus 9p21.3. Hence, transcriptional dysregulation as one of the causes for the onset of at least 15% of cases of T2D and ischemic heart disease (IHD) appears compelling.Thibaut M et al noted the involvement of rs1333049 in the early severe myocardial infarction in the Slovenian population while revealing a positive connection in the control group with individuals with DM2 but without CHD. The propensity for plaque rupture was explained by the low number of smooth muscle cells due to the high expression of CDKN2B-AS1, which revealed the need to use rs1333049 as a genetic marker to isolate a group of patients with DM2 for careful cardiac monitoring. Due to that, it was possible to determine the functions of different participants in the transcription process. A promoter is a sequence of DNA nucleotides recognized by RNA as a launching pad for the start of transcription. The sequence and architecture of the DNA promoter determine the variability in gene expression, representing a selective trade-off between its stability and signaling plasticity. Enhancers activate transcription induced by a particular promoter. The ability of a number of enhancers to interact with specific proteins (transcription factors) in differentiated cells ensures the tissue-specific nature of gene expression. Changes in the sequence of cell type-specific enhancers make a significant contribution to the phenotypic variability of the human population. There are hundreds of different types of cells in the body, but they all have the same genes. Enhancers, acting as a genetic switch, determine which gene needs to be turned on and assemble a short sequence. And transcription factors, specific proteins of the cell, recognize this sequence and begin to work together, contributing to the activation of the gene. The mechanism by which the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 confers increased susceptibility to CHD and DM2 remains unclear. SNPs are likely to disrupt specific regulatory sequences within tissue-specific ANRIL enhancers. The identification of these SNPs and the cells in which they function is of scientific interest for CHD and DM2.The traditional reductionist approach prevails in most studies focusing on CHD and DM2. An alternative for representing the complex interaction between the molecular, biological, biochemical, and cellular structures of CHD and DM2 within a single architecture is network medicine. It aims to provide more accurate genotyping of multiple interactions using integrated multi-omics as a comprehensive view.An integrated multi-omics approach that combines transcriptomic and epigenetic data with the data from the cellular phenotypes of the disease is already yielding promising results. The convergence of knowledge and methods in the field of molecular biology, genetics and genomics has made it technically possible and in demand to edit certain base pairs or DNA segments in cells and living organisms. In particular, based on clustered genome editing (CRISPR) technology applicable to human beta-cells, a genomic screening technology was developed and implemented in a human beta cell model, linking the direction of epigenetic activity of the causative genes of the DM2 locus GWAS with the tissue of influence and functional mechanisms of DM2. It can be assumed that such studies using the general cell biology of CHD and DM2 at the level of the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 can also become a source of unexpected discoveries. Since 2017, the increasing amount of publications indicated the existence of membrane-less organelles in every human cell - biomolecular protein condensates. It is assumed that their activities are affected by more than 36,000 pathogenic mutations that contribute to the emergence of almost 1700 diseases. In particular, aberrative protein condensation of metabolic enzymes is associated with DM2 and CHD. To date, there are numerous fairly well-founded objections to this new complex and poorly defined field of scientific research. Nonetheless, biotech companies see condensates as a target for exposure, such as the dissolution of toxic cancer and neurodegenerative disease-inducing proteins in the condensate. The biological pathways that connect condensates with the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 would be the new avenue for the exploration for researchers. Therefore, progress in understanding the biological processes involved in IHD and T2D deepens our understanding of the biological role of the 9p21.3 chromosomal locus and may serve as a source for effective interventions in clinical practice  each of these conditions has a unique starting point and development; (2) shared development of these 2 conditions but with independent starting points; (3) a common starting point for both conditions with independent subsequent development. Accumulated results support the last scenario based on the following data.,45DM2 and CHD are components of a multifaceted disorder at the level of immune metabolism. The key biological processes in humans as multicellular organisms are the targeted production of nutrients in cells and tissues (metabolism) and defense against external infections and damage (immunity). The interconnection processes inevitably involve the metabolism of lipids and glucose, which activate the reprogramming of immune cells. Thus, metabolic signaling governs the functions of cells. The influence of a common immune-metabolic starting point on the development and progression of many diseases, including DM2 and CHD, is highly probable.Aberrations in the transcription of a specific DNA sequence in the locus trigger a unified mechanism for the development of both diseases. The fact that immune cells adopt metabolic programs specific to their state and the surrounding environment can serve as an example of the interconnection between metabolic pathways, signaling, and cell differentiation. Identifying the mechanism of transcriptional regulation in the genetic locus that induces inflammatory signaling and tissue proliferation changes allows it to be identified as a common genetic signature for DM2 and CHD, in conjunction with sha red environmental risks and clinical association. The locus induced and controlled by ANRIL also contributes to the involvement of various factors at multiple levels of the system, contributing to the diversity of disease endophenotypes unrelated to the 9p21.3 chromosomal locus.Transcriptional regulation is influenced by ANRIL, the product of the CDKN2B-AS gene. The genetic risk associated with cell cycle regulation depends not on the presence of significant risk factors for both diseases but on earlier events. Specifically, the CDKN2B-AS gene, through ANRIL, influences the cellular growth and proliferation of pancreatic beta cells and smooth muscle cells of the vascular wall, forming the future phenotype of “DM2 and CHD.”The sequence and architecture of nucleotides in the promoter and enhancer provide the influence of ANRIL on the transmission of inflammatory signals and tissue proliferation changes by altering the expression of genes associated with DM2 and CHD. The influence of the ANRIL transcription gene encompasses a cluster of enhancers, each of which can act depending on the tissue type and exhibit pronounced specificity. By targeting transcription factors or epigenetic modifiers involved in gene expression regulation, a wide range of effects beyond the direct study of the 9p21.3 locus can be expected. SNPs influencing RNA modification regulate susceptibility genes, thereby participating in the pathogenesis of CHD and DM2. These SNPs can facilitate the identification of regulatory enhancers in different cell types and, therefore, understand how SNPs lead to changes in gene expression regulation.The ability of a series of enhancers to interact with specific proteins in differentiated cells ensures tissue-specific gene expression. The ability of tissues to undergo regeneration is a fundamental driving force against aging—ann innate cellular response controlled, in part, at the 9p21.3 locus. There is a suggestion that in DM2 and CHD, the transcriptional regulation of the locus is primarily mediated by distal regulatory elements. Even in the absence of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance contributes to early atherogenesis, endothelial dysfunction, and the development and progression of CHD. Both diseases, having a shared innate genetic risk at the level of cell cycle regulation, can develop independently based on their own metabolic phenotypes. Abdul-Ghani T et al identified 3 distinct metabolic phenotypes of DM2, characterized by different clusters of DM2 and differential responses to glucose-lowering therapy. Nair, et al concluded that different phenotypes of DM2 have distinct outcomes and responses to medication. For example, patients in the European population with retinopathy exhibit phenotypic differences compared to patients with CHD and also demonstrate a different treatment response.The endophenotype that links DM2 and CHD. Variations in 9p21 are currently the most reliable markers for cardiovascular disease outcomes in large-scale GWAS. In patients with a 9p21 risk genotype, fasting plasma insulin levels are higher compared to the non-risk group. Both DM2 and CHD are caused by impaired insulin signaling and subsequent insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is associated with atherosclerosis through the pro-inflammatory activity of immune and vascular cells, which are also regulated at the 9p21.3 locus. although CHD may precede DM2. DM2 patients carrying the risk allele of the 9p21.3 locus more often experience severe CHD and poorly controlled hyperglycemia, which develops indirectly through vascular endothelium and pro-inflammatory processes.,53 The Mendelian randomization study demonstrated that the association between DM2 and CHD risk is age-dependent at the onset of DM2.Personalized interventions targeting the underlying causes and progression, as well as intracellular biomolecular protein condensates, deserve attention as a unified approach in the concurrent onset of CHD and DM2. Many scientific studies emphasize that it is DM2 that causes CHD, DM2 and CHD represent a complex phenotype determined by genetic factors and environmental factors. However, by developing together, they represent a dangerous phenotypic endotype for the patient health and life, requiring early intervention. Understanding that disturbances in the genome sequence at the 9p21.3 chromosomal locus often contribute to their development can serve as a basis for such intervention.Thus, the assumptions about the shared starting point of DM2 and CHD development as a result of a transcriptional error at the 9p21.3 chromosomal locus influenced by ANRIL are quite convincing and continue to be supplemented through scientific research.Certainly, there are some limitations to the presented study. Firstly, the list of publications whose results were used in this review is not exhaustive. It is limited to the 9p21.3 chromosomal locus and the symptoms associated with DM2 and CHD risk, as well as the availability of publications to the review authors. Secondly, not all presented data have compelling numerical evidence of their existence, and decades of observation may be required for such evidence. Additionally, some cases show unsuccessful molecular analysis studies, which, on the one hand, illustrate the complexity of this interaction and, on the other hand, hold promising prospects for future research. However, despite the limitations, the review presents the most significant medically relevant sequential stages of the 9p21.3 locus investigation concerning the consensus genetic risk of DM2/CHD.Access to more advanced technologies contributes to progress in acquiring new scientific knowledge about the prospects of diagnosing and treating chronic non-communicable diseases. Systematizing research ideas, from fragmented to systematic study of the overall development of DM2 and CHD in relation to the genetic locus 9p21.3, can serve as a source of new hypotheses for effective interventions in managing the growing global burden of DM2 and CHD. In the short term, the results of our review can be seen in the inclusion of genetic risk at the level of the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 in decision-making algorithms for patients with the phenotype of “DM2 + CHD.” Indeed, understanding the biological processes related to the chromosomal locus 9p21.3 gains practical significance, as for example, by focusing on the condensates and their associated proteins, researchers and biotech companies aim to develop novel approaches to mitigate the effects of CHD and T2D and improve patient outcomes.Special thanks to Valery Benberin  the head of the Center of Gerontology and Rauza Bigarinova  for contributing in winning the funding for the research.Conceptualization: Rauza Bigarinova.Data curation: Valeriy Benberin.Funding acquisition: Valeriy Benberin.Investigation: Nazgul Kulmyrzaeva.Methodology: Raushan Karabaeva.Project administration: Rauza Bigarinova, Valeriy Benberin.Resources: Raushan Karabaeva.Validation: Raushan Karabaeva.Writing – original draft: Tamara Vochshenkova, Nazgul Kulmyrzaeva, Rauza Bigarinova.Writing – review & editing: Tamara Vochshenkova.


Harvesting is an important process in the production of hydroponic lettuce. To reduce the injury level of hydroponic lettuce during harvesting, the impacts of the flexible finger-grabbing position applied on the grabbing force and the area of the injured leaves were investigated in this study by utilizing thin-film sensors and a high-speed video camera. According to the overlapping structural characteristics of adjacent leaves on lettuce, flexible finger-grabbing positions were divided into areas of the surface of the leaves and the intersections of the leaves. Three grabbing types—which are referred to in this paper as Grabbing Types A, B, and C—were identified according to the number of flexible fingers grabbing the leaf surface and the intersection area of the leaves. The force curves of all the flexible fingers were measured by thin film sensors, and the injury area of the leaves was detected using an image processing method. The results showed the consistency of the grabbing force curves and the motion characteristic parameters of the four flexible fingers. The maximum grabbing force of each flexible finger appeared at the stage of pulling the lettuce. The grabbing force of the flexible fingers acting on the intersection areas of the leaves was less than that acting on the leaf surface. As the number of flexible fingers acting on the intersection areas of the leaves increased, both the injury area of the leaves and the grabbing force decreased gradually. Grabbing Type C had the smallest injury area of the leaves: 120.3 ± 13.6 mm Plant factories are an advanced form of protected horticulture, which have been rapidly developed and widely employed in urban agriculture and other scenes ,3,4,5,6.At present, low-damage harvesting research mainly focuses on the harvesting of fruits and vegetables, and it is primarily achieved through optimizing the harvesting mechanism and employing force sensor technology ,21,22,23To further reduce the injury level of lettuce leaves in flexible harvesting of hydroponic lettuce, the aims of this paper were (1) to sort the grabbing types according to the arrangement of hydroponic lettuce leaves and the flexible fingers’ grabbing positions; (2) to investigate the grabbing force and motion characteristics of flexible fingers in different grabbing types by utilizing thin-film pressure sensors and high-speed cameras; and (3) to analyze how the grabbing positions and the grabbing types affect the injury level of vegetable leaves.The hydroponic lettuce tested in the experiment was the Naiyou lettuce cultivated in a plant factory for 30 days from a corporation, Xutian Photoelectric Co., Ltd., Xi’an, China, as shown in A flexible harvesting test device for hydroponic lettuce  was mainSingle flexible fingers’ grabbing positions were indicated in The grabbing force of flexible fingers on hydroponic lettuce during harvesting was measured by the grabbing force measuring system . It mainTo analyze the motion characteristics of flexible fingers in the process of grabbing hydroponic lettuce, a PHANTOM high-speed camera   was util(1) Measurement calibration, i.e., the ratio of the actual size of the object to the image pixel (1 mm/pix).xOpy) was established.(2) The origin and coordinate system set up, i.e., the center of lettuce planting plate was taken as the coordinate origin and the rectangular coordinate system (1) was the contact point between the flexible finger end and the intersection area of the leaves, and measuring point (P2) was the contact point between the flexible finger end and the cabbage leaf surface. Phantom Camera Control software was used to capture the motion trajectories of both measuring points during the grabbing process (recorded every 0.25 s) and to calculate the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the measuring points. (3) Measurement of the motion parameters of the contact point at the end of the flexible finger, i.e., the contact mostly occurred at the end of flexible finger, and, hence, the measurement point was selected. According to the different grabbing parts of the flexible fingers, two measuring points were selected in the test: measuring point . Experiments were repeated ten times for each grabbing type, and one plant of hydroponic lettuce was tested in each experiment. A total of thirty plants of hydroponic lettuce were consumed. The injured area was defined as the total area of injured parts of the lettuce leaves of a single plant after harvesting. Since the injury on the upper part of the vegetable leaves was difficult to observe directly, fuchsin staining was used to highlight the injury ,27. An i(1) Manually peel leaves off from the harvested lettuce.(2) Dye the leaves for 15 min in the 5% acid fuchsin.(3) Rinse the magenta off from surfaces of the leaves and then dry them afterwards.2 was 3458. The root mean square error and coefficient of variation of pixels were 157 and 4.5%, respectively ((4) A Microsoft LifeCam camera was used to collect the images of vegetable leaves, and the height of the camera from the upper surface of the loading board was 350 mm. Nine calibration units with size of 20 × 20 mm were used for area calibration. The calibration results indicated that the average number of pixels in 400 mmectively .(5) The injured parts of the vegetable leaf in the picture were extracted in Photoshop as the image foreground, and the image background was part of the black area . The image was saved as in The grabbing force curves of flexible fingers and the characteristics of high-speed photography movement were analyzed. Taking Grabbing Type B as an example, 1 and P2 were about 150 mm/s.In Stage 1, flexible fingers were approaching the lettuce. At this stage, the flexible fingers began to approach the lettuce in a negative pressure state. Since the flexible finger did not touch the lettuce, the grabbing force was approximately 0 N. Due to the comprehensive effect of flexible finger deformation under negative pressure and the vertical downwards movement of the robotic arm, the maximum speeds of both points P1 and P2 were 410 and 445 mm/s2 with negative and positive directions of the x axis, respectively. The grabbing forces of Finger 1 increased rapidly, with the maximum value of 1.72 N, which was smaller than those from Fingers 2, 3, and 4. The resistances of flexible fingers were weakened after contacting the vegetable leaves. The average acceleration of P1 and P2 dropped to 215 and 220 mm/s2 with positive and negative directions of the x axis, respectively, and the lettuce state also changed from loose to firm. The average accelerations of both P1 and P2 were 0 mm/s2 when the grabbing process was completed with the positive pneumatic pressure of the fingers. Afterwards, the grabbing forces of flexible Finger 1 and Finger 3 were stabilized at about 1.50 and 1.70 N, respectively. In this stage, the vertical robotic arm remained stationary, and the flexible fingers were the only deformed part. Therefore, the speeds of both contact points P1 and P2 remained stable. As In Stage 2, the flexible fingers grabbed the vegetable leaves. At this stage, the pneumatic pressure in the flexible fingers started to increase, and its value turned from negative to positive. Then, the flexible finger started to contact and grab the lettuce. The average accelerations of P1 and P2 in the process of pulling were 292 and 310 mm/s2 with a positive direction of the y axis, respectively. The maximum grabbing force of flexible Finger 1 (acting on the intersection area of leaves) was about 2.15 N, which was lower than that of flexible Finger 3 (acting on the surface of the leaf) (about 2.47 N). The grabbing force of the flexible fingers in this stage increased compared with the grabbing force in the second stage due to the occurrence of a vertical friction force between the flexible fingers and the lettuce in the vertical pulling process. The curling process of the flexible finger was completed, and only the vertical manipulator moved upward. The velocities at points P1 and P2 increased in the first place and then remained stable. As In Stage 3, the flexible fingers pulled out the lettuce from the board. The flexible fingers grabbed the lettuce and pulled out the lettuce from the hole in the planting board under the action of the vertical mechanical arm. The average accelerations of P1 and P2 dropped to 0. The above analysis indicates that the grabbing force curves and motion characteristic parameters of the four flexible fingers were basically the same during harvesting. At the same grabbing stage, the grabbing force of the flexible fingers acting on the intersection area of the leaves was smaller than that acting on the leaf surface. The maximum grabbing force appeared in Stage 3. The differences of the grabbing position would cause variation in the maximum grabbing force. In the process of lettuce harvesting, the injury of lettuce leaves is indeed mainly caused by the maximum grabbing force. Therefore, the maximum grabbing force value curve was selected as the data source in the subsequent study, which was about the influence of the grabbing position on the grabbing force.In Stage 4, flexible fingers released the lettuce. At this stage, with the decreasing value of the positive pneumatic pressure of the flexible fingers, the lettuce was released, so the grabbing forces and the speeds of both P1) were smaller than those acting on the surfaces of the leaves .As shown in 2), which was smaller than that of Ma et al. [2. Grabbing Type C had the smallest injured area (120.3 ± 13.6 mm2), which was smaller than that of Ma et al. [2). The most reasonable grabbing type could effectively reduce the grabbing force and the grabbing damage areas of leaves. The injured areas of vegetable leaves of Grabbing Types A, B, and C decreased successively. Analyzing the grabbing forces of flexible fingers in a et al. , who gata et al. , who did(1) According to the arrangement of lettuce leaves, the grabbing position of flexible fingers could be divided into the leaf surface and the intersection of the leaves. There were three grabbing types of the four flexible fingers: all four flexible fingers grab the leaf surface (Type A); three flexible fingers grab the leaf surface and one flexible finger grabs the intersection area of the leaves (Type B); and two flexible fingers grab the leaf surface and two flexible fingers grab the intersection areas of the leaves (Type C).(2) The grabbing force curves and the motion characteristic parameters (displacement and velocity) of the four flexible fingers were basically the same. At the same grabbing stage, the grabbing forces of the flexible fingers acting on the intersection areas of the leaves were less than the force acting on the leaves’ surfaces. The maximum grabbing force of each flexible finger appeared in the third stage of the grabbing process (flexible finger plucking lettuce).2. The standard deviation and coefficient of variation were 13.6 mm2 and 11.4%, respectively.(3) As the number of flexible fingers acting on the intersection areas of the leaves increased, the grabbing forces of various grabbing types decreased successively and the injured areas of the leaves also decreased accordingly. The injury area of the leaves of Grabbing Type C was the smallest. The mean value of the injury area of Grabbing Type C was 120.3 mm


Nature reserves (NRs) are the main components of protected areas and geographic spaces, with unique natural and cultural resources. The establishment of nature reserves has not only strengthened the protection of specific species but has also played a vital role in the protection of ecosystem services (ESs). However, few studies have been conducted to systematically assess the effectiveness of nature reserves from the perspective of ecosystem services supply and demand (S&D) or make comparisons between the conservation effects of different types of nature reserves. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of ecosystem service supply and demand in 412 Chinese national nature reserves. The results showed that both supply and demand for ecosystem services per unit area show a spatial pattern of increasing from west to east. The supply–demand matching pattern is dominated by high supply–high demand (H–H) and low supply–high demand (L–H) in the central and eastern regions, and high supply–low demand (H–L) and low supply–low demand (L–L) in the northeast, northwest, and southwest regions. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) of ecosystem services supply and demand increased from 0.53 in 2000 to 0.57 in 2020, and the number of NRs reaching the coordinated level (>0.5) increased by 15 from 2000 to 2020, representing 3.64% of the total number of protected areas. Steppe meadows, ocean coasts, forest ecosystems, wildlife, and wild plant types of nature reserves all improved more obviously. This provides a scientific basis for strengthening the ecological and environmental supervision of nature reserves, and the research methods and ideas can provide references for similar research. NRs are the main part of protected areas, which are geographical spaces with unique natural and cultural resources in which specific protection measures and related regulations are implemented to reduce human disturbance and achieve the long-term protection of the ecological environment and ESs , the ESs S&D are well coordinated.The coupling degree (Equation (8)) indicates the strength of the association between the dimensions of the system . Howevern et al. , the CCDk(·) is the kernel function, i.e., the weight function in the density function estimation; the larger the specific value of the bandwidth parameter δ, i-xX is the distance from the estimated point x to the event iX. The larger the neighborhood in the vicinity of x, the smoother the density function will be, so the bandwidth parameter δ is also called the smooth parameter. Commonly used kernel functions include Gauss, Epanechnikov, rectangle, etc. [The kernel density function, a nonparametric estimation method for studying the distribution characteristics of data samples, derives a variety of different estimation functions. Its core is to use a smoothed peak function to fit the CCD, in order to simulate the real probability distribution curve of the CCD of ESs S&D. By comparing the estimated CCD kernel density in different years, it can reflect the overall trend of CCD in NRs.le, etc. . Since tBased on LULC and NDVI data from 2000 to 2020, we quantified the supply of the four ESs by different land use types in NRs through Equations (1)–(3) . The totIn terms of spatial distribution, there was a clear spatial heterogeneity in the S&D of ESs . In termUsing Equations (4) and (5), we measured the and in the NRs. The overall demand for ESs was also high in the east and low in the west, with a spatial pattern increasing from inland to coastal . The higBased on the S&D of ESs in NRs, this study matched the S&D for ESs using Equation (6) . Due to In terms of the number of NRs, the vast majority of NRs were dominated by H–H and L–L . In 2000Using Equations (7)–(10), we measured the CCD of ESs S&D in NRs. In 2000, the CCD ranged from 0.02 to 0.85, with a mean value of 0.53, showing largely basic coordination. In 2010 and 2020, the coordination degrees of S&D of ESs were 0.55 and 0.57, respectively. Which indicates that since 2000, the ESs S&D in NRs have become more coordinated. The number of NRs that reached coordination (>0.5) in 2000 was only 263, accounting for 66.75%, while the number rose to 278 in 2020, accounting for 70.74%. In terms of spatial distribution , the oveUsing Equations (11) and (12), we measured the kernel density analysis of CCD. From 2000 to 2020, the peaks of geological relic NRs decreased, and the trailing left and right were more obvious, indicating that the gap of CCD within geological relic NRs was increasing. The peak in 2020 decreased sharply, and the curve tends to flatten and trail to the right. Among the desert ecosystem and inland wetland NRs, the kernel density curve and peak in 2010 shifted to the right compared with 2000, and the overall level of CCD improved. Meanwhile, the peak in 2020 shifted to the left, and the kernel density in areas with high CCD was higher than that in 2010, which means that the CCD in some desert ecosystems and inland wetland NRs decreased significantly in this decade. The kernel density trends of the CCD of ESs S&D in steppe meadow, ocean coastal, forest ecosystem, wildlife, and wild plant type NRs all show a shift of the kernel density curve to the right as the number of years increases, indicating that the CCD of ESs S&D in these NRs is steadily improving.This study measured the S&D of ESs in Chinese national NRs based on LULC. The study found that the ESs supply and demand per unit of NRs were higher in the central and eastern regions and lower in the western regions, especially in Xinjiang and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, which is consistent with the ESV trend in China ,51. NatuA quantitative assessment of the CCD of ESs S&D in NRs is important for exploring and balancing the interactions between ecosystems and socio-economic systems . On averIt is essential to establish an S&D relationship between ESs and human benefits . IncorpoLULC patterns and their changes have a direct impact on supply and human demand . The ratThis study quantified the CCD of ESs S&D and assessed the effectiveness of ESs conservation in Chinese NRs. However, there are still some shortcomings.In the assessment of ESs supply, the simplification of 25 LULC to 7 reduced the complexity of ESs estimation, but it was essential to conduct statistical analyses . Xie et Overall, the supply of ESs in NRs improved significantly from 2000 to 2020. Both ESs supply and ESs demand in Chinese national NRs showed a spatial pattern of increasing from west to east. In terms of different land use types, woodlands and grasslands provided the highest ESs supply, with the sum of the two accounting for 61.92% of the total value of ESs in 2000. From 2000 to 2020, both ESs supply and ESs demand showed an increasing trend. The matching of ESs S&D showed significant spatial heterogeneity. Central and eastern NRs were dominated by H–H and L–H, while the northeast, northwest, and southwest regions were mostly H–L or L–L.Since 2000, the CCD of ESs S&D has improved, and the number of NRs reaching basic coordination (>0.5) has increased by 15 in the past 20 years. The CCD of ESs S&D in steppe meadow, ocean coastal, forest ecosystem, wildlife and wild plant type NRs improved significantly; ancient organism relic, desert ecosystem and inland wetland type NRs fluctuated and increased, while geological relic type NRs as a whole showed a small decreasing trend.Based on remote sensing data of LULC and socio-economic data in 2000, 2010 and 2020, this study measured the spatial and temporal changes of ESs supply, ESs demand, and CCD of ESs S&D in 411 Chinese national NRs. On this basis, the impact of land use changes on the CCD of ESs S&D was analyzed. The conclusions of the study are as follows: