bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unconformities and Gold in New Zealand: Potential Analogues for the Archean Witwatersrand of South Africa
Authors: Craw Dave , Phillips Neil , Vearncombe Julian
Published: August 2023

Possible young analogues for regionally extensive unconformities (100 to 400 km2) in the gold-bearing Witwatersrand Supergroup (Archean, South Africa) occur in the South Island of New Zealand. Extensive marine unconformities in New Zealand show progression from an unconformity surface to conglomerate to clean well-sorted sandstone to marine mudstone, as is also found in the major Witwatersrand auriferous reef horizons. The hosting young sedimentary basins of the South Island rest on thin or thick crust on inboard and outboard foreland settings, with variable alluvial gold budgets. They expose the Cretaceous–Oligocene Waipounamu Erosion Surface unconformity that formed when most of New Zealand was subsiding, and Pleistocene–Holocene unconformities related to global sea level changes. The Witwatersrand gold-bearing reef sediments are a good match for such marine transgressions, but not alluvial fans or braided streams. Most Witwatersrand gold is immediately above planar unconformity surfaces and not restricted to, or concentrated in, erosion channels that are incised through the reefs. However, in modern alluvial fans or braided streams, gold is almost entirely in erosion channels on a smaller scale than the Witwatersrand gold reef packages and not spread across the planar unconformities. Alluvial fans and braid plains in New Zealand dilute gold with large volumes of gravel.
Research Progress of Takeda G Protein-Coupled Receptor 5 in Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Gou Xianmei , Qin Lin , Wu Di , Xie Jian , Lu Yanliu , Zhang Qianru , He Yuqi
Published: August 2023

Bile acids are acknowledged as signaling molecules involved in metabolic syndrome. The Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) functions as a significant bile acid receptor. The accumulated evidence suggests that TGR5 involves lipid homeostasis, glucose metabolism, and inflammation regulation. In line with this, recent preclinical studies also demonstrate that TGR5 plays a significant role in the generation and progression of metabolic syndrome, encompassing type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this review, we discuss the role of TGR5 in metabolic syndrome, illustrating the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
Microbial-Transferred Metabolites of Black Tea Theaflavins by Human Gut Microbiota and Their Impact on Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Sun Li , Su You , Hu Kaiyin , Li Daxiang , Guo Huimin , Xie Zhongwen
Published: August 2023

Theaflavins (TFs), the primary bioactive components in black tea, are poorly absorbed in the small intestine. However, the biological activity of TFs does not match their low bioavailability, which suggests that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in their biotransformation and activities. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biotransferred metabolites of TFs produced by the human gut microbiota and these metabolites’ function. We profiled the microbial metabolites of TFs by in vitro anaerobic human gut microbiota fermentation using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods. A total of 17 microbial metabolites were identified, and their corresponding metabolic pathways were proposed. Moreover, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the TFs altered the gut microbiota diversity and increased the relative abundance of specific members of the microbiota involved in the catabolism of the TFs, including Flavonifractor_plautii, Bacteroides_uniformis, Eubacterium_ramulus, etc. Notably, the antioxidant capacity of the TF sample increased after fermentation compared to the initial sample. In conclusion, the results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the microbial metabolites and antioxidant capacity of TFs.
Simultaneous Extraction and Analysis of Seven Major Saikosaponins from Bupleuri Radix and the Exploration of Antioxidant Activity and Its Mechanism
Authors: Wang Ning , Li Qian
Published: August 2023

Saikosaponins (SS) are the main active components of Bupleuri Radix. In this study, the yields of SS a, b1, b2, c, d, e, and f were simultaneously determined using the HPLC-DAD dual wavelength method, and the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of saikosaponins was optimized using the response surface methodology. The antioxidant effect of saikosaponins was investigated using the scavenging rate of 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2-diazo-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazole-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), and hydroxyl (-OH) groups, and the mechanism was clarified via network pharmacological analysis. The results showed that the optimal extraction process of SS was a 5% ammonia–methanol solution as an extraction solvent, a material–liquid ratio of 1:40, a temperature of 46.66 °C, an extraction time of 65.07 min, and an ultrasonic power of 345.56 W. The total content of the seven saikosaponins under this condition was up to 6.32%, which was close to the model’s predicted value of 6.56%, where the yields of the seven saikosaponins a, b1, b2, c, d, e, and f were 1.18%, 0.11%, 0.26%, 1.02%, 3.02%, 0.38%, and 0.44%, respectively. The saikosaponins have an obvious scavenging ability for DPPH, ABTS, and -OH radicals. The interactions of seven saikosaponins with antioxidant targets were studied, and a database was used to collate the core of saikosaponins and antioxidants through network pharmacology. The mechanisms of the antioxidant effects of the saikosaponins were derived via GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis. Finally, the binding energy of the saikosaponins to the antioxidant targets was found to be less than −5.0 kcal·mol−1 via molecular docking, indicating that the antioxidant capacity of the saikosaponins are good. Therefore, this study developed a rapid and efficient method for the extraction of saikosaponins, which provides a theoretical basis for an in-depth understanding of the rational utilization of saikosaponins and the development of their medicinal value.
A Photosensitizer-Loaded Polydopamine Nanomedicine Agent for Synergistic Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Yan Shufeng , Dong Luying , Hu Ziyun , Zhang Yucheng , Xu Wei , Xing Jianhong , Zhang Juncheng
Published: August 2023

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have emerged as promising non-invasive approaches to cancer treatment. However, the development of multifunctional nanomedicines is necessary to enhance these approaches’ effectiveness and safety. In this study, we investigated a polydopamine-based nanoparticle (PDA-ZnPc+ Nps) loaded with the efficient photosensitizer ZnPc(4TAP)12+ (ZnPc+) through in vitro and in vivo experiments to achieve synergistic PDT and PTT. Our results demonstrated that PDA-ZnPc+ Nps exhibited remarkable efficacy due to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), induce photothermal effects, and promote apoptosis in cancer cells. Moreover, in both MCF-7 cells and MCF-7 tumor-bearing mice, the combined PDT/PTT treatment with PDA-ZnPc+ Nps led to synergistic effects. Subcellular localization analysis revealed a high accumulation of ZnPc+ in the cytoplasm of cancer cells, resulting in cellular disruption and vacuolation following synergistic PDT/PTT. Furthermore, PDA-ZnPc+ Nps exhibited significant antitumor effects without causing evident systemic damage in vivo, enabling the use of lower doses of photosensitizer and ensuring safer treatment. Our study not only highlights the potential of PDA-ZnPc+ Nps as a dual-functional anticancer agent combining PDA and PTT but also offers a strategy for mitigating the side effects associated with clinical photosensitizers, particularly dark toxicity.
Influence of 60Co-γ Irradiation on the Components of Essential Oil of Curcuma
Authors: Lei Chang , Liu Jianjun , Zhou Wenchao , Zhou Wei , Li Shunxiang , Huang Dan
Published: August 2023

The gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) method is a new technology for detecting volatile organic compounds. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of volatile aroma compounds of Curcuma essential oils (EOs) after 60Co radiation by GC-IMS. Dosages of 0, 5, and 10 kGy of 60Co were used to analyze EOs of Curcuma after 60Co irradiation (named EZ-1, EZ-2, and EZ-3). The odor fingerprints of volatile organic compounds in different EOs of Curcuma samples were constructed by headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-IMS after irradiation. The differences in odor fingerprints of EOs were compared by principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 92 compounds were detected and 65 compounds were identified, most of which were ketones, aldehydes, esters, and a small portion were furan compounds. It was found that the volatile matter content of 0 kGy and 5 kGy was closer, and the use of 10 kGy 60Co irradiation would have an unstable effect on the EOs. In summary, it is not advisable to use a higher dose when using 60Co irradiation for sterilization of Curcuma. Due to the small gradient of irradiation dose used in the experiment, the irradiation dose can be adjusted appropriately according to the required sterilization requirements during the production and storage process of Curcuma to obtain the best irradiation conditions. GC-IMS has the advantages of GC’s high separation capability and IMS’s fast response, high resolution, and high sensitivity, and the sample requires almost no pretreatment; it can be widely used in the analysis of traditional Chinese medicines containing volatile components. It is shown that irradiation technology has good application prospects in the sterilization of traditional Chinese medicines, but the changes in irradiation dose and chemical composition must be paid attention to.
Contemporary Strategies for Immobilizing Metallophthalocyanines for Electrochemical Transformations of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Lawson Scheryn E. , Leznoff Daniel B. , Warren Jeffrey J.
Published: August 2023

Metallophthalocyanine (PcM) coordination complexes are well-known mediators of the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2). They have many properties that show promise for practical applications in the energy sector. Such properties include synthetic flexibility, a high stability, and good efficiencies for the reduction of CO2 to useful feedstocks, such as carbon monoxide (CO). One of the ongoing challenges that needs to be met is the incorporation of PcM into the heterogeneous materials that are used in a great many CO2-reduction devices. Much progress has been made in the last decade and there are now several promising approaches to incorporate PcM into a range of materials, from simple carbon-adsorbed preparations to extended polymer networks. These approaches all have important advantages and drawbacks. In addition, investigations have led to new proposals regarding CO2 reduction catalytic cycles and other operational features that are crucial to function. Here, we describe developments in the immobilization of PcM CO2 reduction catalysts in the last decade (2013 to 2023) and propose promising avenues and strategies for future research.
Long-Chain Molecules with Agro-Bioactivities and Their Applications
Authors: Yin Fahong , Qin Zhaohai
Published: August 2023

Long-chain molecules play a vital role in agricultural production and find extensive use as fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, and plant growth regulators. This review article specifically addresses the agricultural biological activities and applications of long-chain molecules. The utilization of long-chain molecules in the development of pesticides is an appealing avenue for designing novel pesticide compounds. By offering valuable insights, this article serves as a useful reference for the design of new long-chain molecules for pesticide applications.
Chiral Mechanical Effect of the Tightly Focused Chiral Vector Vortex Fields Interacting with Particles
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Liu Zhirong , Cheng Ziqiang
Published: August 2023

The coupling of the spin-orbit angular momentum of photons in a focused spatial region can enhance the localized optical field’s chirality. In this paper, a scheme for producing a superchiral optical field in a 4π microscopic system is presented by tightly focusing two counter-propagating spiral wavefronts. We calculate the optical forces and torques exerted on a chiral dipole by the chiral light field and reveal the chiral forces by combining the light field and dipoles. Results indicate that, in addition to the general optical force, particles’ motion would be affected by a chiral force that is directly related to the particle chirality. This chiral mechanical effect experienced by the electromagnetic dipoles excited on a chiral particle could be characterized by the behaviors of chirality density and flux, which are, respectively, associated with the reactive and dissipative components of the chiral forces. This work facilitates the advancement of optical separation and manipulation techniques for chiral particles.
In Vitro Antiproliferative Apoptosis Induction and Cell Cycle Arrest Potential of Saudi Sidr Honey against Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Qanash Husam , Bazaid Abdulrahman S. , Binsaleh Naif K. , Patel Mitesh , Althomali Omar W. , Sheeha Bodor Bin
Published: August 2023

A range of natural products have been extensively studied for their chemopreventive potential for cancer, including those that inhibit growth and induce apoptosis. Sidr honey derived from the Ziziphus or Lote tree (Ziziphus spina-christi, Ziziphus lotus, or Ziziphus jujuba) is used in a wide range of traditional medicine practices. In the current study, the Saudi Sidr honey was analyzed by means of a GC–MS chromatogram and investigated for its antiproliferative effects on colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and lung cancer cells (A-549), as well as its apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest potentials against human colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116). The effects of Saudi Sidr honey on cells were determined using the MTT assay and the clonogenic assay. The induction of apoptosis was studied using Annexin V-FITC flow cytometry analysis. The propidium iodide staining method was used to detect cell cycle arrest via flow cytometry. By means of performing GS–MS and HR-LCMS analysis, 23 different chemical components were identified from Saudi Sidr honey. A dose–response analysis showed that Saudi Sidr honey was more effective against HCT-116 (IC50 = 61.89 ± 1.89 µg/mL) than against MCF-7 (IC50 = 78.79 ± 1.37 µg/mL) and A-549 (IC50 = 94.99 ± 1.44 µg/mL). The antiproliferation activity of Saudi Sidr honey has been found to be linked to the aggregation of cells during the G1 phase, an increase in early and late apoptosis, and necrotic cell death in HCT-116 cells. Considering these promising findings that highlight the potential use of Saudi Sidr honey as an antitumor agent, further research should be carried out with the aim of isolating, characterizing, and evaluating the bioactive compounds involved in Sidr honey’s antiproliferative activity to better understand the mechanism of their action.
WISER Survivor Trial: Combined Effect of Exercise and Weight Loss Interventions on Adiponectin and Leptin Levels in Breast Cancer Survivors with Overweight or Obesity
Authors: Lin Dan , Sturgeon Kathleen M. , Gordon Brett R. , Brown Justin C. , Sears Dorothy D. , Sarwer David B. , Schmitz Kathryn H.
Published: August 2023

Adipocyte dysregulation is one mechanism linking overweight and breast cancer recurrence. Exercise and weight loss are associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity, which may be mediated through reduced leptin levels, increased adiponectin levels, and an elevated adiponectin to leptin (A:L) ratio. The four-arm randomized controlled WISER Survivor trial examined the 12-month intervention effects of exercise, weight loss, and the combination of exercise and weight loss on adipokine levels among breast cancer survivors (n = 339) with overweight or obesity. Compared with Control, the Combination of Exercise and Weight Loss decreased leptin levels (−35.9%; 95% CI: −46.8%, −25.0%) and increased A:L ratio (11.6%; 95% CI: 5.6%, 17.6%) but did not change adiponectin levels (4.1%; 95% CI: −3.1%, 11.2%). Compared with Control, Weight Loss Alone decreased leptin levels (−35.6%; 95% CI: −46.6%, −24.5%) and increased A:L ratio (10.6%; 95% CI: 4.7%, 16.5%) but did not change adiponectin levels (0.9%; 95% CI: −6.0%, 7.9%). Compared with Control, Exercise Alone did not change leptin levels, adiponectin levels, or A:L ratio. In analyses that consolidated intervention groups, compared with Control, weight loss of ≥5% decreased leptin levels (p trend < 0.01) and increased A:L ratio (p trend < 0.01) but did not alter adiponectin levels (p trend = 0.53). Weight loss, with or without exercise, was associated with decreased leptin levels in breast cancer survivors with overweight or obesity. Improvements in the adipokine secretion profile (A:L ratio) were primarily driven by a weight loss-induced change in leptin levels.
6-Gingerol Ameliorates Adiposity and Inflammation in Adipose Tissue in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice: Association with Regulating of Adipokines
Authors: Hong Kyung Hee , Um Min Young , Ahn Jiyun , Ha Tae Youl
Published: August 2023

We investigated the effects of 6-gingerol on adiposity and obesity-induced inflammation by focusing on the regulation of adipogenesis and adipokines in white adipose tissue (WAT) of diet-induced obese mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing 0.05% 6-gingerol for 8 weeks. 6-Gingerol supplementation significantly reduced body weight, WAT mass, serum triglyceride, leptin and insulin levels, and HOMA-IR in HFD-fed mice. Additionally, the size of adipocytes in epididymal fat pads was reduced in HFD-fed mice by 6-gingerol supplementation. 6-Gingerol reduced the mRNA and protein levels of adipogenesis-related transcription factors, such as SREBP-1, PPARγ, and C/EBPα in WAT. Furthermore, 6-gingerol suppressed the expression of lipogenesis-related genes, such as fatty acid synthase and CD36 in WAT. Adiponectin expression was significantly increased, whereas inflammatory adipokines (leptin, resistin, TNF-α, MCP-1, and PAI-1) and the macrophage marker F4/80 were significantly reduced in the WAT of HFD-fed mice by 6-gingerol supplementation. In conclusion, 6-gingerol effectively contributed to the alleviation of adiposity and inflammation in WAT, which is associated with the regulation of adipokines in diet-induced obese mice.
Prunella vulgaris L.: An Updated Overview of Botany, Chemical Composition, Extraction Methods, and Biological Activities
Authors: Zholdasbayev Mussa E. , Atazhanova Gayane A. , Musozoda Safol , Poleszak Ewa
Published: August 2023

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a well-known renewable drug resource full of different groups of biologically active substances with a wide range of pharmacological actions and applications in medicine. In this review, we present an updated comprehensive overview of the botany, extracting methods, chemical composition, and pharmacological activity of different parts of PV extracts. As a result of this review, it was found that chemical composition of PV depends on various factors ranging from the part of the plant to the method of extraction. We also highlight extraction methods that have not been previously used for obtaining PV extracts and may have high scientific interest. With this review, we hope to guide present and future professionals and provide possible previously unexplored areas to find new solutions associated with PV plant.
Delivery of RNA to the Blood-Brain Barrier Endothelium Using Cationic Bicelles
Authors: Cheng Joan , Wang Lushan , Guttha Vineetha , Haugstad Greg , Kandimalla Karunya K.
Published: August 2023

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is prevalent in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Restoring normal BBB function through RNA therapy is a potential avenue for addressing cerebrovascular changes in these disorders that may lead to cognitive decline. Although lipid nanoparticles have been traditionally used as drug carriers for RNA, bicelles have been emerging as a better alternative because of their higher cellular uptake and superior transfection capabilities. Cationic bicelles composed of DPPC/DC7PC/DOTAP at molar ratios of 63.8/25.0/11.2 were evaluated for the delivery of RNA in polarized hCMEC/D3 monolayers, a widely used BBB cell culture model. RNA-bicelle complexes were formed at five N/P ratios (1:1 to 5:1) by a thin-film hydration method. The RNA-bicelle complexes at N/P ratios of 3:1 and 4:1 exhibited optimal particle characteristics for cellular delivery. The cellular uptake of cationic bicelles laced with 1 mol% DiI-C18 was confirmed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The ability of cationic bicelles (N/P ratio 4:1) to transfect polarized hCMEC/D3 with FITC-labeled control siRNA was tested vis-a-vis commercially available Lipofectamine RNAiMAX. These studies demonstrated the higher transfection efficiency and greater potential of cationic bicelles for RNA delivery to the BBB endothelium.
Density-Functional Study of the Si/SiO2 Interfaces in Short-Period Superlattices: Vibrational States and Raman Spectra
Authors: Smirnov Mikhail , Roginskii Evgenii , Savin Aleksandr , Oreshonkov Aleksandr , Pankin Dmitrii
Published: August 2023

Raman spectroscopy has proven its effectiveness as a highly informative and sensitive method for the nondestructive analysis of layered nanostructures and their interfaces. However, there is a lack of information concerning the characteristic phonon modes and their activity in Si/SiO2 nanostructures. In order to overcome this problem, the phonon states and Raman spectra of several Si/SiO2 superlattices (SL) with layer thicknesses varied within 0.5–2 nm are studied using DFT-based computer modeling. Two types of structures with different interfaces between crystalline silicon and SiO2 cristobalite were studied. A relationship between the phonon states of heterosystems and the phonon modes of the initial crystals was established. Estimates of the parameters of deformation potentials are obtained, with the help of which the shifts of phonon frequencies caused by elastic strains in the materials of the SL layers are interpreted. The dependence of intense Raman lines on the SL structure has been studied. Several ways have been proposed to use this information, both for identifying the type of interface and for estimating the structural parameters. The obtained information will be useful for the spectroscopic characterization of the silicon/oxide interfaces.
Subcellular Proteomics to Elucidate Soybean Response to Abiotic Stress
Authors: Wang Xin , Komatsu Setsuko
Published: August 2023

Climate change jeopardizes soybean production by declining seed yield and quality. In this review, the morphophysiological alterations of soybean in response to abiotic stress are summarized, followed by illustrations of cellular metabolisms and regulatory mechanisms to organellar stress based on subcellular proteomics. This highlights the communications associated with reactive oxygen species scavenging, molecular chaperones, and phytohormone signals among subcellular compartments. Given the complexity of climate change and the limitations of plants in coping with multiple abiotic stresses, a generic response to environmental constraints is proposed between calcium and abscisic acid signals in subcellular organelles. This review summarizes the findings of subcellular proteomics in stressed soybean and discusses the future prospects of subcellular proteomics for promoting the improvement of climate-tolerant crops.
Valorization of Two African Typical Crops, Sorghum and Cassava, by the Production of Different Dry Pasta Formulations
Authors: Galassi Elena , Gazza Laura , Nocente Francesca , Kouagang Tchakoutio Phabiola , Natale Chiara , Taddei Federica
Published: August 2023

Mediterranean diet is changing to keep up with the increasingly multiethnic Italian society. With food being considered as a means of integration, innovative foods capable of mixing different raw materials could be of interest. In this work, some of the most consumed African foods such as sorghum, cassava, and durum wheat were used to produce wholegrain spaghetti to valorize their nutritional and sensorial aspects and to combine Italian and foreign tastes. Different pasta formulations (cassava, semolina, cassava:semolina, cassava:sorghum, cassava:durum wheat whole meal, sorghum:semolina) were developed and compared for their content of proteins, total starch, resistant starch, amylose, fiber, total antioxidant capacity, ash, cooking quality and sensorial characteristics. The enrichment of cassava flour with durum wheat and sorghum wholegrain enhanced the total antioxidant capacity, protein, and fiber content with respect to 100% cassava pasta. The presence of cassava or sorghum resulted in a high diameter variability of pasta samples, lower water absorption, and shorter optimal cooking time with respect to semolina pasta. Sensory evaluation of cooked pasta revealed better scores in blends containing semolina. Although the obtained pasta samples were interesting for their nutritional aspects, further adjustments are required in the pasta-making process to improve pasta quality.
Waterlogging Tolerance of Actinidia valvata Dunn Is Associated with High Activities of Pyruvate Decarboxylase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase and Antioxidant Enzymes
Authors: Gao Minxia , Gai Chaoyue , Li Xinyu , Feng Xin , Lai Ruilian , Song Yuanyuan , Zeng Rensen , Chen Daoqian , Chen Yiting
Published: August 2023

Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) is susceptible to waterlogging stress. Although abundant wild germplasm resources exist among Actinidia plants for improving the waterlogging tolerance of kiwifruit cultivars, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, a comparative study was undertaken using one wild germplasm, Maorenshen (A. valvata Dunn, MRS), and one cultivar, Miliang-1 (A. chinensis var. deliciosa (A.Chev.) A.Chev. cv. Miliang-1, ML). Under stress, the ML plantlets were seriously damaged with wilted chlorotic leaves and blackened rotten roots, whereas the symptoms of injury in the MRS plantlets were much fewer, along with higher photosynthetic rates, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and root activity under stress conditions. However, neither aerenchyma in the root nor adventitious roots appeared in both germplasms upon stress exposure. The activities of pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), as well as their transcript levels, were constitutively higher in MRS than those in ML under both normal and stress conditions. Waterlogging stress significantly enhanced the PDC and ADH enzyme activities in both germplasms, which were 60.8% and 22.4% higher in the MRS roots than those in the ML roots under waterlogging stress, respectively. Moreover, MRS displayed higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT, and APX, as well as DPPH-radical scavenging ability, and decreased H2O2 and MDA accumulation under both normal and stress conditions. Our findings suggest that the waterlogging tolerance of the wild A. valvata germplasm was associated with high PDC and ADH, as well as antioxidant ability.
Valorisation of Pineapple Cannery Waste as a Cost Effective Carbon Source for Poly 3-hydroxyabutyrate (P3HB) Production
Authors: Suwannasing Waranya , Tanamool Varavut , Singhaboot Pakjirat , Kaewkannetra Pakawadee
Published: August 2023

Pineapple is one of the most important agro-industrial sugar-based fruits in Thailand. In this study, the waste stream from pineapple cannery processing was utilised and evaluated for potential use in the production of a main biopolymer group widely known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) through aerobic batch fermentation. Firstly, pineapple cannery waste (PCW) collected from three processing sources, pineapple juice (PAJ), peel and core juice (PCJ), and pulp-washing water (PWW), was used as a carbon source. Secondly, it was characterised and pretreated. Then, batch fermentation was performed by using the optimal condition (200 rpm agitation rate, 37 °C, and fermentation time of 72 h) under two different nutrient conditions in each type of carbon source. The results revealed that PHAs were produced during 24–72 h of fermentation without any interference. The PHAs product obtained was characterised by their properties. Interestingly, GC-MS showed homopolymer of poly 3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB) group characteristics, such as OH, CH, and C=O; meanwhile, H1 NMR analysis showed signals corresponding to CH3, CH2, and CH, respectively. Remarkably, utilising the PCW showed a high-potential cheap carbon source for the production of PHAs as well as for the treatment of wastewater from the fruit industry.
Ladder Polyphenylsilsesquioxanes and Their Niobium–Siloxane Composite as Coating Materials: Spectroscopy and Atomic Oxygen Resistance Study
Authors: Andropova Ulyana S. , Aysin Rinat R. , Serenko Olga A. , Ershova Tatyana O. , Anisimov Anton A. , Chernik Vladimir N.
Published: August 2023

In order to expand the range of materials that can be used in outer space and in development of small spacecraft, ladder polyphenylsilsesquioxanes with different molar weights and the Nb-siloxane composites based on them were studied. The properties of the polymer films were studied, including tests in an oxygen plasma flow. Both initial and filled ladder polymers feature extremely low erosion coefficients in the region of 10–26 cm3/atom O at a high fluence of atomic oxygen of 1.0 × 1021 atom O/cm2. Ladder polyphenylsilsesquioxane films irradiated with atomic oxygen (AO) retain their integrity, do not crack, and exhibit good optical properties, in particular, a high transmittance. The latter slightly decreases during AO exposure. The Nb-siloxane filling retains the AO resistance and slight decrease in optical transmission due to diffuse scattering on the formed Nb-[(SiO)x] nanoparticles. Ladder polyphenylsilsesquioxanes demonstrate their suitability for creating protective, optically transparent coatings for small spacecraft that are resistant to the erosive effects of incoming oxygen plasma.
Recent Advances of Natural-Polymer-Based Hydrogels for Wound Antibacterial Therapeutics
Authors: Zhao Yue , Wang Xiaoyu , Qi Ruilian , Yuan Huanxiang
Published: August 2023

Hydrogels have a three-dimensional network structure and high-water content, are similar in structure to the extracellular matrix, and are often used as wound dressings. Natural polymers have excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability and are commonly utilized to prepare hydrogels. Natural-polymer-based hydrogels can have excellent antibacterial and bioactive properties by loading antibacterial agents or being combined with therapeutics such as phototherapy, which has great advantages in the field of treatment of microbial infections. In the published reviews of hydrogels used in the treatment of infectious wounds, the common classification criteria of hydrogels include function, source of antibacterial properties, type of antibacterial agent, etc. However, there are few reviews on the classification of hydrogels based on raw materials, and the description of natural-polymer-based hydrogels is not comprehensive and detailed. In this paper, based on the principle of material classification, the characteristics of seven types of natural polymers that can be used to prepare hydrogels are discussed, respectively, and the application of natural-polymer-based hydrogels in the treatment of infectious wounds is described in detail. Finally, the research status, limitations, and prospects of natural-polymer-based hydrogels are briefly discussed.
Review of Thermal Runaway Monitoring, Warning and Protection Technologies for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yin Sumiao , Liu Jianghong , Cong Beihua
Published: August 2023

Due to their high energy density, long calendar life, and environmental protection, lithium-ion batteries have found widespread use in a variety of areas of human life, including portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and electric ships, among others. However, there are safety issues with lithium-ion batteries themselves that must be emphasized. The safety of lithium-ion batteries is receiving increasing amounts of attention as incidents such as fires and explosions caused by thermal runaway have caused significant property damage and fatalities. Thermal runaway can easily occur when lithium-ion batteries experience issues such as electrical abuse and thermal abuse. This study compares various monitoring, warning, and protection techniques, summarizes the current safety warning techniques for thermal runaway of lithium-ion batteries, and combines the knowledge related to thermal runaway. It also analyzes and forecasts the future trends of battery thermal runaway monitoring, warning, and protection.
A Model Based on the Random Forest Algorithm That Predicts the Total Oil–Water Two-Phase Flow Rate in Horizontal Shale Oil Wells
Authors: Zhou Huimin , Liu Junfeng , Fei Jiegao , Shi Shoubo
Published: August 2023

Due to variables like wellbore deviation variation and flow rate, the local flow velocity in the output wellbore of horizontal shale oil wells varied significantly at various points in the wellbore cross-section, making it challenging to calculate the total single-layer production with accuracy. The oil–water two-phase flow rate calculation techniques for horizontal wells developed based on particular flow patterns and array spinners had excellent applicability in their respective niches but suffered from poor generalizability and demanding experience levels for logging interpreters. In this study, we employed five spinners in a triangular walled array instrument to create the multi-decision tree after figuring out how many leaf nodes there were and examining the defining characteristics of the observed values gathered under various experimental setups. The construction of the entire oil–water two-phase flow prediction model was made possible when the random forest regression approach was used with it. The total oil–water flow rate at each perforated layer was predicted using the model in sample wells, and the mean square error with the third party’s interpretation conclusion was 1.42, indicating that the model had an excellent application effect. The approach, which offered a new interpretation method for calculating the oil–water two-phase flow rate of horizontal wells based on multi-location local flow rate, required less interpretation knowledge from the interpreter and had a stronger generalization capacity.
A Review of Dendrophthoe pentandra (Mistletoe): Phytomorphology, Extraction Techniques, Phytochemicals, and Biological Activities
Authors: Awang Mohd Azrie , Nik Mat Daud Nik Nurul Najihah , Mohd Ismail Nurul Izzati , Abdullah Farah Izana , Benjamin Mohammad Amil Zulhilmi
Published: August 2023

Dendrophtoe pentandra, popularly known as mistletoe, is a semi-parasitic plant that can grow on many host plants and is native to Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia. D. pentandra is regarded as an unfavourable plant for an economically significant horticultural plant; however, D. pentandra is also regarded as a medicinal plant and is used in traditional and alternative medicine to treat coughs, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Scientific research has also found that this plant has significant potential for medical properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antiproliferative, antidiabetic and antihyperglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, and anti-aging properties. Numerous phytochemical compounds from D. pentandra extracts have been identified using extraction techniques such as maceration and reflux. Thus, this review aims to provide thorough information on phytomorphology, extraction techniques, phytochemicals, biological activities, and the future prospects of D. pentandra.
Numerical Simulation of Natural-Gas-Hydrate Decomposition in Process of Heat-Injection Production
Authors: Yu Qiannan , Tang Huimin , Li Chenglong , Chen Zhijing , Zhang Kun , Yu Yang , Liang Shuang
Published: August 2023

Heat-injection production is a common technique for gas-hydrate development, and the mechanism needs further in-depth study, particularly of the decomposition characteristics of natural-gas hydrate, which are important fundamental issues. The natural gas-hydrate-reservoir model is based on a mathematical description of reservoir properties that considers the effects of hydrate decomposition and reservoir stress conditions. The aim of our investigation was to analyze the production and decomposition characteristics of natural-gas hydrates based on the results of numerical simulations of heat-injection production. The effects of different heat-injection temperatures and heat-injection rates on production were compared, and the decomposition characteristics of hydrates were evaluated qualitatively and characterized quantitatively by temperature distribution, saturation distribution, and the decomposition front in the process of heat-injection production of natural-gas hydrate. The results showed that, with the increase in the heat-injection temperature, the decomposition front moved faster, the area share of decomposition zone increased, but the increase extent decreased. The high heat-injection rate had a more significant effect than the heat-injection temperature in promoting the decomposition of natural-gas hydrate.
The Industrial Digital Energy Twin as a Tool for the Comprehensive Optimization of Industrial Processes
Authors: Rubio-Rico Alejandro , Mengod-Bautista Fernando , Lluna-Arriaga Andrés , Arroyo-Torres Belén , Fuster-Roig Vicente
Published: August 2023

Industrial manufacturing processes have evolved and improved since the disruption of the Industry 4.0 paradigm, while energy has progressively become a strategic resource required to maintain industrial competitiveness while maximizing quality and minimizing environmental impacts. In this context of global changes leading to social and economic impact in the short term and an unprecedented climate crisis, Digital Twins for Energy Efficiency in manufacturing processes provide companies with a tool to address this complex situation. Nevertheless, already existing Digital Twins applied for energy efficiency in a manufacturing process lack a flexible structure that easily replicates the real behavior of consuming machines while integrating it in complex upper-level environments. This paper presents a combined multi-paradigm approach to industrial process modeling developed and applied during the GENERTWIN project. The tool allows users to predict energy consumption and costs and, at the same time, evaluates the behavior of the process under certain productive changes to maximize consumption optimization, production efficiency and process flexibility.
Simulating and Contrasting the Game of Open Access in Diverse Cultural Contexts: A Social Simulation Model
Authors: Terán Oswaldo , Dávila Jacinto
Published: August 2023

Open Access is a global cause with the aim of allowing unrestricted access to all scientific research output in electronic formats. This paper presents a model for simulating the game of interests behind this cause in order to investigate ways of promoting the practice of open access. The model represents the following actors: Academics, Administrators, Funders, Publishers and Politicians. Five scenarios were developed to represent both realistic and ideal, interesting, situations. The model was developed using the SocLab platform—a formalization of the sociology of organizational action. It is based on previous descriptions of the game and expert knowledge. A structural analysis permits us to examine the properties of the sub-model behind each scenario. The results corroborate certain intuitions about the scenarios representing realistic cases, e.g., they indicate that publishers, being isolated in their interests, are subject to strong pressures from other actors, who have a circumstantial alliance. Administrators take an intermediate stance in all scenarios. The best scenarios for open access are those in which Politicians and Funders clearly support the cause by expressing mandates in that direction, backing academics. Surprisingly, the model shows that it is in the Publishers’ interest not to take an extremist position against open access.
Religious Learning Environments of Austrian Muslim Youth: An Empirical Analysis of Religious Educational Processes
Authors: Tuna Mehmet H. , Kolb Jonas , Sejdini Zekirija
Published: August 2023

In recent decades, Islamic education and the religiosity of young Muslims have received considerable attention in academic research in German-speaking countries. However, an analysis of the different learning environments of religious education and their respective significance has yet to be carried out so far. Using Austria as an example, this paper explores these different processes of religious education among Muslim adolescents. Based on qualitative guided interviews, the experiences and learning processes in the family, in the mosque, in the school, and online are depicted from the learners’ perspective. In this way, this paper assigns Muslim adolescents a constitutive role in the analysis. In this context, we discuss how the understanding of education, pedagogical approaches, and person-centredness differs in the learning environments of Muslim religious education.
Technical Analysis, Fundamental Analysis, and Ichimoku Dynamics: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Almeida Luís , Vieira Elisabete
Published: August 2023

This article aims to contribute to the academic knowledge in the field of scientific production regarding decision support tools for investments in the capital market, specifically focusing on fundamental analysis, technical analysis, and Ichimoku dynamics. Bibliometric analysis, following the three main laws (Bradford’s Law, Lotka’s Law, and Zipf’s Law), was employed to evaluate scientific production, identify publication patterns, and uncover gaps and collaboration networks over the last thirty years. To achieve these objectives, 1710 relevant academic publications on the topic were analyzed and retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database, pertaining to the last 30 years, between 1990 and 22 May 2023. The significance of this article lies in the contributions of the findings, which advance scientific knowledge by identifying gaps in the knowledge and research, particularly in the limited literature on Ichimoku; our review reveals a growing trend of research in this area. Another notable conclusion is the emergence of new research topics and areas of interest, as well as the identification of collaboration networks among authors, institutions, and countries. Moreover, the article provides valuable insights for financial professionals and investors who are interested in applying these methodologies as methods for price forecasting. The highlighted results support investment decision making, trading strategies, and portfolio management.
Anticipating the Collapse of Urban Infrastructure: A Methodology Based on Earth Observation and MT-InSAR
Authors: Rodríguez-Antuñano Ignacio , Martínez-Sánchez Joaquín , Cabaleiro Manuel , Riveiro Belén
Published: August 2023

Large-scale infrastructure monitoring and vulnerability assessment are crucial for the preservation and maintenance of built environments. To ensure the safety of urban infrastructure against natural and man-made disasters, constant monitoring is crucial. To do so, satellite Earth observation (EO) is being proposed, particularly radar-based imaging, because it allows large-scale constant monitoring since radar signals are not blocked by clouds and can be collected during both day and night. The proposed methodology for large-scale infrastructure monitoring and vulnerability assessment is based on MT-InSAR time series analysis. The homogeneity of the year-to-year displacement trend between each point and its surrounding points is evaluated to determine whether the area is a stable or vulnerable zone. To validate the methodology, four case studies of recently collapsed infrastructures are analyzed. The results indicate the potential of the proposed methodology for predicting and preventing structural collapses.
Vehicle Localization in a Completed City-Scale 3D Scene Using Aerial Images and an On-Board Stereo Camera
Authors: Zhang Haihan , Xie Chun , Toriya Hisatoshi , Shishido Hidehiko , Kitahara Itaru
Published: August 2023

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) forms the foundation of vehicle localization in autonomous driving. Utilizing high-precision 3D scene maps as prior information in vehicle localization greatly assists in the navigation of autonomous vehicles within large-scale 3D scene models. However, generating high-precision maps is complex and costly, posing challenges to commercialization. As a result, a global localization system that employs low-precision, city-scale 3D scene maps reconstructed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is proposed to optimize visual positioning for vehicles. To address the discrepancies in image information caused by differing aerial and ground perspectives, this paper introduces a wall complementarity algorithm based on the geometric structure of buildings to refine the city-scale 3D scene. A 3D-to-3D feature registration algorithm is developed to determine vehicle location by integrating the optimized city-scale 3D scene with the local scene generated by an onboard stereo camera. Through simulation experiments conducted in a computer graphics (CG) simulator, the results indicate that utilizing a completed low-precision scene model enables achieving a vehicle localization accuracy with an average error of 3.91 m, which is close to the 3.27 m error obtained using the high-precision map. This validates the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The system demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing low-precision city-scale 3D scene maps generated by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for vehicle localization in large-scale scenes.
Uncovering Dynamics of Global Mangrove Gains and Losses
Authors: Contessa Valeria , Dyson Karen , Vivar Mulas Pedro Pablo , Kindgard Adolfo , Liu Tianchi , Saah David , Tenneson Karis , Pekkarinen Anssi
Published: August 2023

Supporting successful global mangrove conservation and policy requires accurate identification of anthropogenic and biophysical drivers of mangrove extent, yet such studies are scarce. We apply a hybrid methodology, combining existing remote sensing mangrove maps with local expert knowledge of vegetation and land use dynamics. We conducted stratified random sampling in eight subregions, and local experts visually interpreted over 20,900 plots using high-resolution imagery in Collect Earth Online. Similar to previous estimates, we found 147,771 km2 (±1.4%) of mangroves globally in 2020 and that rates of mangrove loss have decreased from 2000–2010 to 2010–2020, largely driven by South and Southeast Asia. Anthropogenic drivers of loss have shifted across subregions, with oil palm cultivation emerging in South and Southeast Asia and aquaculture in South America and Western and Central Africa, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and adaptable conservation efforts. Natural expansion outpaced natural retraction in both periods. This is the first global study uncovering land use drivers of mangrove decline and recovery, only made possible by collaboration with local experts. Key breakthroughs include successfully discerning spectrally similar anthropogenic from biophysical drivers, such as aquaculture from natural retraction, and creating data collection approaches that streamline visual interpretation efforts.