bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poisoning-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: A Review
Authors: Yu Ching-Hsiang , Huang Lan-Chi , Su Yu-Jang
Published: August 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a debilitating, multi-etiological disease that is commonly seen in clinical practice and in the emergency department. In this review, we introduce the definition, symptoms, and causes of poisoning-related AKI; we also discuss its mechanisms, risk factors, and epidemiology, as well as elaborate on the relevant laboratory tests. Subsequently, we discuss the treatment strategies for toxin- and substance-related AKI caused by Glafenin, antimicrobial agents, lithium, contrast media, snake venom, herbicides, ethylene glycol, synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines. Finally, for a comprehensive overview of poisoning-related AKI, we review the management, prevention, and outcomes of this condition.
Multisite Musculoskeletal Pain Is Associated with Long-Term Declined Physical Quality of Life and Knee-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Alqahtani Bader A. , Alenazi Aqeel M.
Published: August 2024

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to examine the longitudinal impact of multisite musculoskeletal pain on physical and mental health-related quality of life among individuals with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective longitudinal design over 8 years of follow-up. Data from 4796 participants aged between 45 and 79 years were acquired from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Based on self-reported physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis and grade ≥2 in either knee using Kellgren and Lawrence grade at baseline, individuals at risk were classified as those who did not have knee osteoarthritis at baseline but could develop osteoarthritis throughout the study. Physical and mental components of health-related quality were assessed over an 8-year follow-up period using both knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome scores and the 12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Multisite pain was examined using a self-reported questionnaire for 20 sites. Two separate generalized estimating equations modeled with a linear regression analysis were utilized. Results: The results showed that participants with one painful site (Beta [B] = −0.92, p = 0.01), two painful sites (B = −1.94, p < 0.001), and multisite pain (≥3 painful sites) (B = −4.68, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with declined physical health-related quality of life over time when compared to those with no painful site at baseline after adjustments for covariates. However, there was no significant association with declined mental health-related quality of life over time. Conclusions: This study revealed that baseline multisite musculoskeletal pain was linked to declining physical and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score quality of life among individuals with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis. Moreover, having baseline multisite pain and two painful sites were associated with a decline in physical and knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score quality of life, while mental health-related quality of life did not show a significant association with multisite pain. Therefore, it is imperative for primary healthcare settings to prioritize the assessment of multisite musculoskeletal pain and develop interventions aimed at preserving and enhancing physical health-related quality of life in people with or at risk of osteoarthritis.
The Effects of Acute Beetroot Juice Intake on Glycemic and Blood Pressure Responses When Controlling for Medication in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study
Authors: Tyler Andrew P. , Linder Braxton A. , Ricart Karina , Behrens Christian E. , Ovalle Fernando , Patel Rakesh P. , Fisher Gordon
Published: August 2024

Physical inactivity and poor dietary choices contribute to the rise in cardiometabolic diseases in the United States. It remains critical to identify strategies that may mitigate the negative impact of these behaviors. Several studies have shown that the consumption of dietary inorganic nitrate may improve vascular health and glucose regulation in animal models and some human studies. However, the improvements in glucose regulation have yet to be corroborated in humans with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the acute effects of beetroot juice (BRJ) on glycemic and hemodynamic responses in individuals with T2D while controlling for medication. Seven participants with a clinical diagnosis of T2D were recruited into this study and were temporarily removed from blood pressure- and glucose-lowering medications. Hemodynamic measurements (pulsewave velocity) and an oral glucose tolerance test (glycemic response) were measured following consumption of either BRJ or a denitrolized placebo. Saliva and blood samples were collected at baseline and two and four hours post supplementation to measure changes in nitrate and nitrite concentrations. We detected significant improvements in total plasma glucose exposure (p = 0.022) and the SVR change score (p = 0.009) in the BRJ condition. This study demonstrated that BRJ consumption can improve oral glucose tolerance in individuals with T2D while controlling for medication; however, future larger-cohort randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm if BRJ is a viable treatment for glucose control in individuals with T2D.
Influence of Genetic Polymorphisms on Cognitive Function According to Dietary Exposure to Bisphenols in a Sample of Spanish Schoolchildren
Authors: Ramírez Viviana , González-Palacios Patricia , González-Domenech Pablo José , Jaimez-Pérez Sonia , Baca Miguel A. , Rodrigo Lourdes , Álvarez-Cubero María Jesús , Monteagudo Celia , Martínez-González Luis Javier , Rivas Ana
Published: August 2024

Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) like intellectual disability (ID) are highly heritable, but the environment plays an important role. For example, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues, have been termed neuroendocrine disruptors. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) on cognitive function in Spanish schoolchildren according to dietary bisphenol exposure. Methods: A total of 102 children aged 6–12 years old were included. Ten SNPs in genes involved in brain development, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmission (BDNF, NTRK2, HTR2A, MTHFR, OXTR, SLC6A2, and SNAP25) were genotyped. Then, dietary exposure to bisphenols (BPA plus BPS) was estimated and cognitive functions were assessed using the WISC-V Spanish form. Results: BDNF rs11030101-T and SNAP25 rs363039-A allele carriers scored better on the fluid reasoning domain, except for those inheriting the BDNF rs6265-A allele, who had lower scores. Secondly, relevant SNP–bisphenol interactions existed in verbal comprehension (NTRK2 rs10868235 (p-int = 0.043)), working memory (HTR2A rs7997012 (p-int = 0.002), MTHFR rs1801133 (p-int = 0.026), and OXTR rs53576 (p-int = 0.030)) and fluid reasoning (SLC6A2 rs998424 (p-int = 0.004)). Conclusions: Our findings provide the first proof that exploring the synergistic or additive effects between genetic variability and bisphenol exposure on cognitive function could lead to a better understanding of the multifactorial and polygenic aetiology of NDDs.
Efficacy of Eggshell Membrane in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: García-Muñoz Ana María , Abellán-Ruiz María Salud , García-Guillén Ana Isabel , Victoria-Montesinos Desirée
Published: August 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent, degenerative joint disease, with knee OA being particularly common and impactful. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of eggshell membrane (ESM) supplementation in improving joint functionality and reducing pain in individuals with knee OA. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database up to July 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met the inclusion criteria, with five included in the meta-analysis. The studies compared ESM to a placebo, evaluating outcomes based on assessment tools such as the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Results indicated that ESM significantly reduced pain and improved functionality, with notable improvements in total WOMAC score (effect size −0.34; 95% CI: −0.56 to −0.13; p < 0.001) and pain subscale (SMD −0.23; 95% CI: −0.42 to −0.04; p < 0.02). The findings support ESM as a promising adjunctive treatment for knee OA, offering a safe, natural supplement to enhance quality of life. Further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm these results and explore the long-term effects and mechanisms of ESM.
Nutrition Intervention and Microbiome Modulation in the Management of Breast Cancer
Authors: Jiang Yue , Li Yuanyuan
Published: August 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. The escalating incidence of BC underscores the necessity of multi-level treatment. BC is a complex and heterogeneous disease involving many genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Growing evidence suggests that nutrition intervention is an evolving effective prevention and treatment strategy for BC. In addition, the human microbiota, particularly the gut microbiota, is now widely recognized as a significant player contributing to health or disease status. It is also associated with the risk and development of BC. This review will focus on nutrition intervention in BC, including dietary patterns, bioactive compounds, and nutrients that affect BC prevention and therapeutic responses in both animal and human studies. Additionally, this paper examines the impacts of these nutrition interventions on modulating the composition and functionality of the gut microbiome, highlighting the microbiome-mediated mechanisms in BC. The combination treatment of nutrition factors and microbes is also discussed. Insights from this review paper emphasize the necessity of comprehensive BC management that focuses on the nutrition–microbiome axis.
Cross-Sectional Assessment of Nutritional Status, Dietary Intake, and Physical Activity Levels in Children (6–9 Years) in Valencia (Spain) Using Nutrimetry
Authors: Morales-Suárez-Varela María , Peraita-Costa Isabel , Llopis-Morales Agustín , Llopis-González Agustín
Published: August 2024

The aims of this research were to evaluate the current nutritional status, dietary intake, and level of physical activity and assess the need for intervention. This was a cross-sectional study with 2724 participating children aged 6–9 years old. Nutritional status was assessed using nutrimetry, dietary intake with a 3-day food-recall questionnaire and physical activity with an ad hoc questionnaire. The nutricode with the highest prevalence was healthy weight/normal stature, with 51.3% of the sample. For the BMI for age Z-score, those in the overweight/obesity category represented 37.5% of the sample, while the thinness category included 7.6%. Intake of calories, proteins, sugar, lipids, SFA, MUFA, and cholesterol were significantly higher than recommended. The thinness groups consumed a significantly higher amount of excess calories while the overweight/obesity groups had the lowest mean excess calorie intake. Children in the thinness category presented the highest rates at both ends of the spectrum for sedentary activities. This study showed the high prevalence of malnutrition in schoolchildren. The results for the risk of thinness and overweight/obesity according to individual nutrient intake should be carefully interpreted. Lifestyle is a fundamental aspect to consider when combating malnutrition, especially at the level of dietary and physical activity habits, to combine various methods of intervention to improve nutritional status.
Hypoxia as a Target for Combination with Transarterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zizhuo , Li Qing , Liang Bin
Published: August 2024

Hypoxia is a hallmark of solid tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hypoxia has proven to be involved in multiple tumor biological processes and associated with malignant progression and resistance to therapy. Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a well-established locoregional therapy for patients with unresectable HCC. However, TACE-induced hypoxia regulates tumor angiogenesis, energy metabolism, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and immune processes through hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), which may have adverse effects on the therapeutic efficacy of TACE. Hypoxia has emerged as a promising target for combination with TACE in the treatment of HCC. This review summarizes the impact of hypoxia on HCC tumor biology and the adverse effects of TACE-induced hypoxia on its therapeutic efficacy, highlighting the therapeutic potential of hypoxia-targeted therapy in combination with TACE for HCC.
Physiological and Transcriptome Responses of Sweet Potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] to Weak-Light Stress
Authors: Yang Jin , Qiao Huanhuan , Wu Chao , Huang Hong , Nzambimana Claude , Jiang Cheng , Wang Jichun , Tang Daobin , Zhong Weiran , Du Kang , Zhang Kai , Lyu Changwen
Published: August 2024

In the relay intercropping system of maize/sweet potato, the growth of the sweet potatoes is seriously limited by weak light stress in the early stage due to shade from maize plants. However, it is not clear how the weak light affects sweet potatoes and causes tuberous root loss. By setting two light intensity levels (weak light = 30% transmittance of normal light), this study evaluated the responses of two sweet potato cultivars with different tolerances to weak light in a field-based experiment and examined the divergence of gene expression related to light and photosynthesis in a pot-based experiment. The results showed that under weak light, the anatomic structure of functional leaves changed, and the leaf thickness decreased by 39.98% and 17.32% for Yuhongxinshu-4 and Wanshu-7, respectively. The ratio of S/R increased, and root length, root superficial area, and root volume all decreased. The photosynthetic enzyme rubisco was weakened, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) declined as well. The level of gene expression in Wanshu-7 was higher than that of Yuhongxinshu-4. The KEGG analysis showed that differentially expressed genes from the two cultivars under weak-light stress used the same enrichment pathway, mainly via glutathione metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis. After full light levels were restored, the differentially expressed genes were all enriched in pathways such as photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigment synthesis, and carbon metabolism. These findings indicated that weak light changed the plant morphology, photosynthetic physiology and gene expression levels of sweet potatoes, which eventually caused losses in the tuberous root yield. The more light-sensitive cultivar (Wanshu-7) had stronger reactions to weak light. This study provides a theoretical basis and strategy for breeding low-light-tolerant varieties and improving relay intercropping production in sweet potatoes.
Isolation of the Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus terreus from a Halophyte (Tetraena qatarensis) and Assessment of Its Potential in Tomato Seedling Protection
Authors: Alhaddad Fedae , Ahmed Talaat , Jaoua Samir , Al-Ghouti Mohammad A. , Al-Thani Roda , Abu-Dieyeh Mohammed
Published: August 2024

Living in diverse environmentally harsh conditions, the plant exhibits a unique survival mechanism. As a result, the endophytes residing within the plant produce specific compounds that promote the plant’s growth and defend it against pathogens. Plants and algae symbiotically harbor endophytes, i.e., microbes and microorganisms living within them. The objective of this study is to isolate endophytic fungi, specifically strains of Aspergillus terreus, from the leaves of the salt-tolerant plant Tetraena qatarensis and to explore the salt tolerance, antagonistic activity, and growth promotion properties. Strain C A. terreus (ON117337.1) was screened for salt tolerance and antagonistic effects. Regarding salt tolerance, the isolate demonstrated the ability to thrive in a concentration of up to 10% NaCl. A. terreus showed inhibitory activity against four fungal phytopathogens, namely Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Botrytis cinerea. The GC-MS investigation of the fungal (strain C Aspergillus terreus) extract showed the presence of about 66 compounds (secondary metabolites). Secondary metabolites (SMs) are produced, like Hexadecanoic acid, which aids in controlling phytopathogens. Also produced is lovastatin, which is used to treat hypercholesterolemia. Strain C, which showed salinity tolerance and the highest inhibitory activity, was further analyzed for its effect on tomato seed germination under pathogen stress from Fusarium oxysporum. The greenhouse experiment indicated that the fungi increased the length of tomato seedlings and the plant biomass. Therefore, the selected endophytes derived from Tetraena qatarensis were scrutinized for their potential as biocontrol agents, aiming to thwart fungal pathogens and stimulate plant growth. The in vitro and in vivo assessments of strain C (Aspergillus terreus) against Fusarium oxysporum in this investigation indicate the promising role of endophytes as effective biological control agents. Investigating novel bio-products offers a sustainable approach to agriculture, gradually reducing dependence on chemical fungicides.
Invasive Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia (Asteraceae) Is Halotolerant and Has High Potential for Dispersal by Endozoochory
Authors: Sánchez-García Raúl , Green Andy J. , Tomasson Lina , Hortas Francisco , Ortiz Maria A.
Published: August 2024

Buttonweed (Cotula coronopifolia) is native to South Africa but invasive in wetlands in Europe, North America, and Australasia, where it excludes native plants. Despite being dry-fruited, field studies suggest migratory waterbirds can disperse its seeds via gut passage (endozoochory), aiding its expansion. To explore the potential for endozoochory in different regions and habitats, we collected seeds from six populations in Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Germination was tested under different salinity levels (0, 5, 10, 15 g/L) and simulated gut passage treatments: scarification, acidification, or both. No germination occurred at 15 g/L. Higher salinity reduced and delayed germination, but full gut passage treatment (i.e., both scarification and acidification) increased germinability and accelerated germination. Scarification or acid treatment alone resulted in intermediate germination patterns. There were significant salinity × population and gut passage × population interactions on germinability. The acceleration effect of gut passage on germination was stronger at 5–10 g/L than at 0 g/L. This study highlights how migratory birds can facilitate the spread of alien plants introduced by humans. Endozoochory by waterbirds is an understudied mechanism for the long-distance dispersal of dry-fruited alien plants. Further research on C. coronopifolia, including population genetics, is necessary to understand dispersal mechanisms and facilitate management strategies.
Methionine Synthase 2 Represses Stem Cell Maintenance of Arabidopsis thaliana in Response to Salt Stress
Authors: Qiu Jiaqi , Chen Minghuang , Lu Feng , Chen Xiaofen , Cai Zheqi , Huang Tao
Published: August 2024

Salt stress represses the growth and development of plants that mainly depend on the continual propagation and differentiation of stem cells. WUSCHEL (WUS)/WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX) family proteins determine stem cell fate in plants under ever-changing environments. It is not yet known how plant stem cell homeostasis is regulated under salt stress. Methionine synthase catalyzes the formation of methionine by methylating homocysteine in the one-carbon metabolism pathway. In this work, we investigated the role of Arabidopsis METHIONINE SYNTHASE 2 (AtMS2) in stem cell homeostasis under salt stress. The results showed that AtMS2 represses the stem cell maintenance of Arabidopsis in response to salt stress. Under normal growth conditions, AtMS2 is mainly localized in the cytoplasm. However, under salt stress, it exhibits significant accumulation in the nucleus. AtMS2 interacts with the WUS/WOX protein, and, together, they repress WUS/WOX expression by binding to its promoter. The mutation in AtMS2 resulted in enhanced salt tolerance. Therefore, AtMS2 might act as a key negative regulator to repress the stem cell maintenance and growth of Arabidopsis under salt stress.
Effects of Low-Temperature Stress on Physiological Characteristics and Microstructure of Stems and Leaves of Pinus massoniana L.
Authors: Chen Hu , Liang Xingxing , Yang Zhangqi
Published: August 2024

Pinus massoniana L. is one of the most important conifer species in southern China and is the mainstay of the forest ecosystem and timber production, yet low temperatures limit its growth and geographical distribution. This study used 30-day-old seedlings from families of varying cold-tolerance to examine the morphological traits of needles and stems, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, protective enzymes, and changes in starch and lignin under different low-temperature stresses in an artificial climate chamber. The results showed that the seedlings of Pinus massoniana exhibited changes in phenotypic morphology and tissue structure under low-temperature stress. Physiological and biochemical indexes such as protective enzymes, osmoregulatory substances, starch, and lignin responded to low-temperature stress. The cold-tolerant family increased soluble sugars, starch grain, and lignin content as well as peroxidase activity, and decreased malondialdehyde content by increasing the levels of actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), electron transport rate (ETR), and photochemical quenching (qP) to improve the cold tolerance ability. This study provides a reference for the selection and breeding of cold-tolerant genetic resources of Pinus massoniana and the mechanism of cold-tolerance, as well as the analysis of the mechanism of adaptation of Pinus massoniana in different climatic regions of China.
Furostanol Saponins and Ecdysteroids from Plants of the Genus Helleborus as Phagostimulants and Predator Deterrents for Larvae of Two Monophadnus Sawfly Species
Authors: Prieto Jose M. , Barker Alison M. , Schaffner Urs , Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle , Braca Alessandra , Boevé Jean-Luc
Published: August 2024

Sawfly species of the genus Monophadnus are specialised on Ranunculaceae plants from which the larvae can sequester furostanol saponins into the haemolymph, mainly (25R)-26-[(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-22α-methoxyfurost-5-en-3β-yl-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-[6-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (compound 1). In this work, TLC, GC-MS, and HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analyses together with feeding, repeated simulated attacks, and ant deterrence bioassays were conducted to extend the chemoecological knowledge about two sawfly species specialised on H. foetidus L. (Monophadnus species A) and H. viridis L. (Monophadnus species B). Larvae of Monophadnus species B were mostly feeding on the squares treated with the n-butanol fraction from H. foetidus, compound 1 being its primary non-nutritional stimulant. In contrast, all H. viridis fractions stimulated feeding, with n-hexane marginally more active. β-sitosterol within n-hexane was determined as the nutritional stimulant. Quantitative analyses demonstrated that leaves of H. viridis but not H. foetidus contain the ecdysteroids 20-hydroxyecdysone and polypodine B. Moreover, the haemolymph of Monophadnus species B larvae reared on H. viridis contained the glycosides of polypodine B and 20-hydroxyecdysone at a concentration of 2.5 to 6.8 µmol/g fresh weight of haemolymph. This concentration is several thousand times higher than the concentration range of the aglycones in their host plant (3.63 × 10−4 to 2.23 × 10−4 µmol total ecdysteroids/g fresh weight of leaves), suggesting bioaccumulation. The larvae of both species fed on H. foetidus do not show any traces of ecdysteroids in their haemolymph, indicating a facultative role of these compounds in their defence as well as their inability to endogenously synthesise these compounds. The haemolymph containing ecdysteroids was a significant feeding deterrent against Myrmica rubra L. ant workers (one of their natural predators) at 0.8 mg/mL. The larvae kept effective deterrent levels of glycosylated ecdysteroids (≅175 mM) between simulated attacks on days 1 and 2, but the levels clearly decreased on day 3 (≅75 mM). Most larvae (89%) survived a first attack but only 23% a consecutive second one. As a conclusion, we report for the first time that two Monophadnus species feeding on H. viridis sequester phytoecdysteroids into the larval haemolymph in the form of glycosides. In addition, compound 1 possesses defensive and phagostimulant activities, and we present evidence for a combined effect of furostanol saponins and ecdysteroids as repellents against ants.
Cymbopogon citratus Allelochemical Volatiles as Potential Biopesticides against the Pinewood Nematode
Authors: Faria Jorge M. S. , Barbosa Pedro
Published: August 2024

Traditional pesticides are based on toxic compounds that can reduce biodiversity, degrade the environment, and contribute to less healthy living. Plant allelochemicals can provide more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives. Essential oils (EOs) are complex mixtures of plant secondary metabolites that show strong biological activities. In the present study, the EOs of Cymbopogon citratus were screened for activity against the pinewood nematode (PWN), the causal agent of pine wilt disease. To understand their nematicidal properties, EOs were fractioned into hydrocarbon molecules and oxygen-containing compounds, and their main compounds were acquired and tested separately against the PWN. The EO oxygen-containing molecules fraction was highly active against the PWN (EC50 = 0.279 µL/mL), with citral and geraniol showing higher activities (EC50 = 0.266 and 0.341 µL/mL, respectively) than emamectin benzoate (EC50 = 0.364 µL/mL), a traditional nematicide used against the PWN. These compounds were additionally reported to be less toxic to non-target organisms (fish, invertebrates, and algae) and safer to human health (with higher reported toxicity thresholds) and predicted to exert fewer environmental impacts than traditional nematicides. Resorting to approved natural compounds can quickly leverage the development of sustainable alternatives to traditional nematicides.
Cell Wall Profiling of the Resurrection Plants Craterostigma plantagineum and Lindernia brevidens and Their Desiccation-Sensitive Relative, Lindernia subracemosa
Authors: Moore John P. , Kuhlman Brock , Hansen Jeanett , Gomez Leonardo , JØrgensen Bodil , Bartels Dorothea
Published: August 2024

Vegetative desiccation tolerance has evolved within the genera Craterostigma and Lindernia. A centre of endemism and diversification for these plants appears to occur in ancient tropical montane rainforests of east Africa in Kenya and Tanzania. Lindernia subracemosa, a desiccation-sensitive relative of Craterostigma plantagineum, occurs in these rainforests and experiences adequate rainfall and thus does not require desiccation tolerance. However, sharing this inselberg habitat, another species, Lindernia brevidens, does retain vegetative desiccation tolerance and is also related to the resurrection plant C. plantagineum found in South Africa. Leaf material was collected from all three species at different stages of hydration: fully hydrated (ca. 90% relative water content), half-dry (ca. 45% relative water content) and fully desiccated (ca. 5% relative water content). Cell wall monosaccharide datasets were collected from all three species. Comprehensive microarray polymer profiling (CoMPP) was performed using ca. 27 plant cell-wall-specific antibodies and carbohydrate-binding module probes. Some differences in pectin, xyloglucan and extension epitopes were observed between the selected species. Overall, cell wall compositions were similar, suggesting that wall modifications in response to vegetative desiccation involve subtle cell wall remodelling that is not reflected by the compositional analysis and that the plants and their walls are constitutively protected against desiccation.
Biochar Improves Yield by Reducing Saline–Alkaline Stress, Enhancing Filling Rate of Rice in Soda Saline–Alkaline Paddy Fields
Authors: Che Weikang , Li Xuebin , Piao Junlong , Zhang Yue , Miao Shihao , Wang Hongyue , Xie Liming , Jin Feng
Published: August 2024

Soda saline–alkaline stress significantly impedes the rice grain filling process and ultimately impacts rice yield. Biochar has been shown to mitigate the negative impacts of saline–alkaline stress on plants. However, the exact mechanism by which biochar influences the rice grain-filling rate in soda saline–alkaline soil is still not fully understood. A two-year field experiment was conducted with two nitrogen fertilizer levels (0 and 225 kg ha−1) and five biochar application rates [0% (B0), 0.5% (B1), 1.5% (B2), 3.0% (B3), and 4.5% (B4) biochar, w/w]. The results demonstrated that biochar had a significant impact on reducing the Na+ concentration and Na+/K+ ratio in rice grown in soda saline–alkaline lands, while also improving its stress physiological conditions. B1, B2, B3, and B4 showed a notable increase in the average grain-filling rate by 5.76%, 6.59%, 9.80%, and 10.79%, respectively, compared to B0; the time to reach the maximum grain-filling rate and the maximum grain weight saw increases ranging from 6.02% to 12.47% and from 7.85% to 14.68%, respectively. Meanwhile, biochar, particularly when used in conjunction with nitrogen fertilizer, notably enhanced the activities of sucrose synthase (SuSase), ADPG pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch synthase (StSase), and starch branching enzyme (SBE) of rice grains in soda saline–alkaline lands. Furthermore, rice yield increased by 11.95–42.74% in the B1, B2, B3, and B4 treatments compared to the B0 treatment. These findings showed that biochar improves yield by regulating ionic balance, physiological indicators, starch synthesis key enzyme activities, and the grain-filling rate in soda saline–alkaline paddy fields.
Progress, Challenges, and Strategies for China’s Natural Gas Industry Under Carbon-Neutrality Goals
Authors: Tang Hongfeng , Yu Yuanjiang , Sun Qinping
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the Chinese government has introduced a series of energy-saving, emission-reducing, and environmentally protective policies. These policies have gradually decreased the proportion of high carbon-emitting energy consumption, such as coal, in China’s energy structure. The proportion of natural gas consumption as a clean energy source has been increasing year by year. In the future, with the deepening decarbonization of the energy structure, the applied scope of natural gas utilization will expand, increasing demand. Therefore, this study first evaluated the development of China’s natural gas industry from the perspectives of development evolution, technological applications, and industry achievements. Secondly, based on the current situation of conventional and unconventional natural gas development, both resources and technological potential were analyzed. By taking several typical projects in the natural gas industry as examples, medium- and long-term prospects for natural gas development were planned and predicted. Building on this analysis, we employed the SWOT method to examine the development prospects of China’s natural gas industry and propose development goals. Finally, based on top-level design considerations and previous research analysis, suggestions and measures were proposed for technology implementation, regional layout, industrial chain collaboration, and support policies. These recommendations aim to provide planning support and management references for the development of China’s natural gas industry.
Polarization Characteristics of Massive HVI Debris Clouds Using an Improved Monte Carlo Ray Tracing Method for Remote Sensing Applications
Authors: Liu Guangsen , Rao Peng , Li Yao , Sun Wen
Published: August 2024

As a signature phenomenon of massive hypervelocity impacts (HVIs) in space, debris clouds provide critical optical information for satellite remote sensing and the assessment of large-scale impacts. However, studies of the optical scattering properties of debris clouds remain limited, and existing vector radiative transfer (VRT) methods struggle to accurately simulate the optical characteristics of these complex scatterers. To address this gap, this paper presents an improved Monte Carlo VRT program (PGS–MC) for multicomponent polydisperse scatterers to precisely evaluate the radiation and polarization characteristics of complex scatterers. Based on the Monte Carlo ray tracing (MCRT) method, our program introduces a particle grouping strategy (PGS) to further emphasize the importance of accounting for optical property discrepancies between different materials and particle sizes, thus significantly improving the fidelity of VRT simulations. Moreover, our program, developed using the compute unified device architecture (CUDA), can be run parallelly on graphics processing units (GPUs), which effectively reduces the computational time. The validation results indicated that the developed PGS–MC program can accurately and efficiently simulate the polarization of complex 3D scatterers. A further investigation showed that the polarization characteristics of debris clouds are highly sensitive to parameters such as the angle between the incident and detection directions, number density, particle size distribution, debris material, and wavelength. In addition, the polarization imaging of debris clouds offers distinct advantages over intensity imaging. This study offers guidance for analyzing the VRT properties of massive HVI debris clouds. Additionally, it provides a practical tool and concrete ideas for modeling the polarization characteristics of various complex scatterers, such as aircraft contrails and clouds, etc.
Leveraging Visual Language Model and Generative Diffusion Model for Zero-Shot SAR Target Recognition
Authors: Wang Junyu , Sun Hao , Tang Tao , Sun Yuli , He Qishan , Lei Lin , Ji Kefeng
Published: August 2024

Simulated data play an important role in SAR target recognition, particularly under zero-shot learning (ZSL) conditions caused by the lack of training samples. The traditional SAR simulation method is based on manually constructing target 3D models for electromagnetic simulation, which is costly and limited by the target’s prior knowledge base. Also, the unavoidable discrepancy between simulated SAR and measured SAR makes the traditional simulation method more limited for target recognition. This paper proposes an innovative SAR simulation method based on a visual language model and generative diffusion model by extracting target semantic information from optical remote sensing images and transforming it into a 3D model for SAR simulation to address the challenge of SAR target recognition under ZSL conditions. Additionally, to reduce the domain shift between the simulated domain and the measured domain, we propose a domain adaptation method based on dynamic weight domain loss and classification loss. The effectiveness of semantic information-based 3D models has been validated on the MSTAR dataset and the feasibility of the proposed framework has been validated on the self-built civilian vehicle dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the first proposed SAR simulation method based on a visual language model and generative diffusion model can effectively improve target recognition performance under ZSL conditions.
Livestock Detection and Counting in Kenyan Rangelands Using Aerial Imagery and Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Ocholla Ian A. , Pellikka Petri , Karanja Faith , Vuorinne Ilja , Väisänen Tuomas , Boitt Mark , Heiskanen Janne
Published: August 2024

Accurate livestock counts are essential for effective pastureland management. High spatial resolution remote sensing, coupled with deep learning, has shown promising results in livestock detection. However, challenges persist, particularly when the targets are small and in a heterogeneous environment, such as those in African rangelands. This study evaluated nine state-of-the-art object detection models, four variants each from YOLOv5 and YOLOv8, and Faster R-CNN, for detecting cattle in 10 cm resolution aerial RGB imagery in Kenya. The experiment involved 1039 images with 9641 labels for training from sites with varying land cover characteristics. The trained models were evaluated on 277 images and 2642 labels in the test dataset, and their performance was compared using Precision, Recall, and Average Precision (AP0.5–0.95). The results indicated that reduced spatial resolution, dense shrub cover, and shadows diminish the model’s ability to distinguish cattle from the background. The YOLOv8m architecture achieved the best AP0.5–0.95 accuracy of 39.6% with Precision and Recall of 91.0% and 83.4%, respectively. Despite its superior performance, YOLOv8m had the highest counting error of −8%. By contrast, YOLOv5m with AP0.5–0.95 of 39.3% attained the most accurate cattle count with RMSE of 1.3 and R2 of 0.98 for variable cattle herd densities. These results highlight that a model with high AP0.5–0.95 detection accuracy may struggle with counting cattle accurately. Nevertheless, these findings suggest the potential to upscale aerial-imagery-trained object detection models to satellite imagery for conducting cattle censuses over large areas. In addition, accurate cattle counts will support sustainable pastureland management by ensuring stock numbers do not exceed the forage available for grazing, thereby mitigating overgrazing.
AerialFormer: Multi-Resolution Transformer for Aerial Image Segmentation
Authors: Hanyu Taisei , Yamazaki Kashu , Tran Minh , McCann Roy A. , Liao Haitao , Rainwater Chase , Adkins Meredith , Cothren Jackson , Le Ngan
Published: August 2024

When performing remote sensing image segmentation, practitioners often encounter various challenges, such as a strong imbalance in the foreground–background, the presence of tiny objects, high object density, intra-class heterogeneity, and inter-class homogeneity. To overcome these challenges, this paper introduces AerialFormer, a hybrid model that strategically combines the strengths of Transformers and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). AerialFormer features a CNN Stem module integrated to preserve low-level and high-resolution features, enhancing the model’s capability to process details of aerial imagery. The proposed AerialFormer is designed with a hierarchical structure, in which a Transformer encoder generates multi-scale features and a multi-dilated CNN (MDC) decoder aggregates the information from the multi-scale inputs. As a result, information is taken into account in both local and global contexts, so that powerful representations and high-resolution segmentation can be achieved. The proposed AerialFormer was benchmarked on three benchmark datasets, including iSAID, LoveDA, and Potsdam. Comprehensive experiments and extensive ablation studies show that the proposed AerialFormer remarkably outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Construction of a Fine Extraction Process for Seismic Methane Anomalies Based on Remote Sensing: The Case of the 6 February 2023, Türkiye–Syria Earthquake
Authors: Huang Yalan , Cui Jing , Zhima Zeren , Jiang Dawei , Wang Xu , Wang Lin
Published: August 2024

Identifying seismic CH4 anomalies via remote sensing has been verified as a legitimate method. However, there are still some problems, such as unknown reliability due to the complex characteristics of seismic anomalies. In this study, a multi-dimensional and multi-scale methane seismic anomaly extraction process for remote sensing was constructed with the Robust Satellite Technique (RST) based on the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) CH4 data and then applied to the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake. This study obtained the two-dimensional temporal–spatial distribution of methane anomalies and temporal variation in the anomaly index. Based on this, the three-dimensional profile structure of the 8-day methane anomaly was extracted to determine the reliability of the anomaly. Finally, based on the daily methane anomaly, combined with atmospheric circulation and backward trajectory analysis as auxiliary tools, the influence of air mass migration was excluded to enhance the accuracy of CH4 anomaly determination. The results show that the three-dimensional anomalous structure is consistent with the geological characteristics of tectonic activities, and it appears as a “pyramid” or “inverted pyramid” type in a three-dimensional space. The anomalies caused by air mass migration can be eliminated by combining them with synoptic-scale circulation motion. The time series calculated at the epicenter or a certain point in a region may not accurately reflect the influence of regional or specific tectonic activity in the atmosphere. Thus, the optimal determination of the range and magnitude of atmospheric anomalies caused by tectonic activities is a difficult task for future research.
Application of Artificial Intelligence and Remote Sensing for Landslide Detection and Prediction: Systematic Review
Authors: Akosah Stephen , Gratchev Ivan , Kim Dong-Hyun , Ohn Syng-Yup
Published: August 2024

This paper systematically reviews remote sensing technology and learning algorithms in exploring landslides. The work is categorized into four key components: (1) literature search characteristics, (2) geographical distribution and research publication trends, (3) progress of remote sensing and learning algorithms, and (4) application of remote sensing techniques and learning models for landslide susceptibility mapping, detections, prediction, inventory and deformation monitoring, assessment, and extraction and management. The literature selections were based on keyword searches using title/abstract and keywords from Web of Science and Scopus. A total of 186 research articles published between 2011 and 2024 were critically reviewed to provide answers to research questions related to the recent advances in the use of remote sensing technologies combined with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) algorithms. The review revealed that these methods have high efficiency in landslide detection, prediction, monitoring, and hazard mapping. A few current issues were also identified and discussed.
Doppler Positioning with LEO Mega-Constellation: Equation Properties and Improved Algorithm
Authors: Xu Zichen , Li Zongnan , Liu Xiaohui , Ji Zhimin , Wu Qianqian , Liu Hao , Wen Chao
Published: August 2024

Doppler positioning, as an early form of positioning, has regained significant research interest in the context of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.Given the LEO mega-constellation scenario, the objective function of Doppler positioning manifests significant nonlinearity, leading to ill-conditioning challenges for prevalent algorithms like iterative least squares (LS) estimation, especially in cases where inappropriate initial values are selected. In this study, we investigate the causes of ill-posed problems from two perspectives. Firstly, we analyze the linearization errors of the Doppler observation equations in relation to satellite orbital altitude and initial value errors, revealing instances where traditional algorithms may fail to converge. Secondly, from an optimization theory perspective, we demonstrate the occurrence of convergence to locally non-unique solutions for Doppler positioning. Subsequently, to address these ill-conditioning issues, we introduce Tikhonov regularization terms in the objective function to constrain algorithm divergence, with a fitted model for the regularization coefficient. Finally, we conduct comprehensive simulation experiments in both dynamic and static scenarios to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm. On the one hand, when the initial values are set to 0, our algorithm achieves high-precision positioning, whereas the iterative LS fails to converge. On the other hand, in certain simulation scenarios, the iterative LS converges to locally non-unique solutions, resulting in positioning errors exceeding 50 km in the north and east directions, several hundred kilometers in the vertical direction, and velocity errors surpassing 120 m/s. In contrast, our algorithm demonstrates typical errors of a position error of 6.8462 m, velocity error of 0.0137 m/s, and clock drift error of 8.3746 × 10−6 s/s. This work provides an effective solution to the sensitivity issue of initial points in Doppler positioning and can serve as a reference for the algorithm design of Doppler positioning receivers with LEO mega-constellations.
Hybrid Bright-Dark-Field Microscopic Fringe Projection System for Cu Pillar Height Measurement in Wafer-Level Package
Authors: Wang Dezhao , Zhou Weihu , Zhang Zili , Meng Fanchang
Published: August 2024

Cu pillars serve as interconnecting structures for 3D chip stacking in heterogeneous integration, whose height uniformity directly impacts chip yield. Compared to typical methods such as white-light interferometry and confocal microscopy for measuring Cu pillars, microscopic fringe projection profilometry (MFPP) offers obvious advantages in throughput, which has great application value in on-line bump height measurement in wafer-level packages. However, Cu pillars with large curvature and smooth surfaces pose challenges for signal detection. To enable the MFPP system to measure both the top region of the Cu pillar and the substrate, which are necessary for bump height measurement, we utilized rigorous surface scattering theory to solve the bidirectional reflective distribution function of the Cu pillar surface. Subsequently, leveraging the scattering distribution properties, we propose a hybrid bright-dark-field MFPP system concept capable of detecting weakly scattered signals from the top of the Cu pillar and reflected signals from the substrate. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed MFPP system can measure the height of Cu pillars with an effective field of view of 15.2 mm × 8.9 mm and a maximum measurement error of less than 0.65 μm.
Validation of an mHealth System for Monitoring Fundamental Physiological Parameters in the Clinical Setting
Authors: Martins Filipe , Fragoso Elsa , Plácido da Silva Hugo , Dias Miguel Sales , Rosário Luís Brás
Published: August 2024

The aim of this work was to validate the measurements of three physiological parameters, namely, body temperature, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation, captured with an out-of-the-lab device using measurements taken with clinically proven devices. The out-of-the-lab specialized device was integrated into a customized mHealth application, e-CoVig, developed within the AIM Health project. To perform the analysis, single consecutive measurements of the three vital parameters obtained with e-CoVig and with the standard devices from patients in an intensive care unit were collected, preprocessed, and then analyzed through classical agreement analysis, where we used Lin’s concordance coefficient to assess the agreement correlation and Bland–Altman plots with exact confidence intervals for the limits of agreement to analyze the paired data readings. The existence of possible systematic errors was also addressed, where we found the presence of additive errors, which were corrected, and weak proportional biases. We obtained the mean overall agreement between the measurements taken with the novel e-CoVig device and the reference devices for the measured quantities. Although some limitations in this study were encountered, we present more advanced methods for their further assessment.