bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning for Plant Stress Modeling: A Perspective towards Hormesis Management
Authors: Rico-Chávez Amanda Kim , Franco Jesus Alejandro , Fernandez-Jaramillo Arturo Alfonso , Contreras-Medina Luis Miguel , Guevara-González Ramón Gerardo , Hernandez-Escobedo Quetzalcoatl
Published: April 2022

Plant stress is one of the most significant factors affecting plant fitness and, consequently, food production. However, plant stress may also be profitable since it behaves hormetically; at low doses, it stimulates positive traits in crops, such as the synthesis of specialized metabolites and additional stress tolerance. The controlled exposure of crops to low doses of stressors is therefore called hormesis management, and it is a promising method to increase crop productivity and quality. Nevertheless, hormesis management has severe limitations derived from the complexity of plant physiological responses to stress. Many technological advances assist plant stress science in overcoming such limitations, which results in extensive datasets originating from the multiple layers of the plant defensive response. For that reason, artificial intelligence tools, particularly Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL), have become crucial for processing and interpreting data to accurately model plant stress responses such as genomic variation, gene and protein expression, and metabolite biosynthesis. In this review, we discuss the most recent ML and DL applications in plant stress science, focusing on their potential for improving the development of hormesis management protocols.
Comparative Proteomics Reveals the Difference in Root Cold Resistance between Vitis. riparia × V. labrusca and Cabernet Sauvignon in Response to Freezing Temperature
Authors: Chen Sijin , Su Hongyan , Xing Hua , Mao Juan , Sun Ping , Li Mengfei
Published: April 2022

Grapevines, bearing fruit containing large amounts of bioactive metabolites that offer health benefits, are widely cultivated around the world. However, the cold damage incurred when grown outside in extremely low temperatures during the overwintering stage limits the expansion of production. Although the morphological, biochemical, and molecular levels in different Vitis species exposed to different temperatures have been investigated, differential expression of proteins in roots is still limited. Here, the roots of cold-resistant (Vitis. riparia × V. labrusca, T1) and cold-sensitive varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, T3) at −4 °C, and also at −15 °C for the former (T2), were measured by iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis. Expression levels of genes encoding candidate proteins were validated by qRT-PCR, and the root activities during different treatments were determined using a triphenyl tetrazolium chloride method. The results show that the root activity of the cold-resistant variety was greater than that of the cold-sensitive variety, and it declined with the decrease in temperature. A total of 25 proteins were differentially co-expressed in T2 vs. T1 and T1 vs. T3, and these proteins were involved in stress response, bio-signaling, metabolism, energy, and translation. The relative expression levels of the 13 selected genes were consistent with their fold-change values of proteins. The signature translation patterns for the roots during spatio-temporal treatments of different varieties at different temperatures provide insight into the differential mechanisms of cold resistance of grapevine.
The Sunflower WRINKLED1 Transcription Factor Regulates Fatty Acid Biosynthesis Genes through an AW Box Binding Sequence with a Particular Base Bias
Authors: Sánchez Rosario , González-Thuillier Irene , Venegas-Calerón Mónica , Garcés Rafael , Salas Joaquín J. , Martínez-Force Enrique
Published: April 2022

Sunflower is an important oilseed crop in which the biochemical pathways leading to seed oil synthesis and accumulation have been widely studied. However, how these pathways are regulated is less well understood. The WRINKLED1 (WRI1) transcription factor is considered a key regulator in the control of triacylglycerol biosynthesis, acting through the AW box binding element (CNTNG(N)7CG). Here, we identified the sunflower WRI1 gene and characterized its activity in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. We studied its role as a co-regulator of sunflower genes involved in plastidial fatty acid synthesis. Sunflower WRI1-targets included genes encoding the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the α-CT and BCCP genes, genes encoding ACPs and the fatty acid synthase complex, together with the FATA1 gene. As such, sunflower WRI1 regulates genes involved in seed plastidial fatty acid biosynthesis in a coordinated manner, establishing a WRI1 push and pull strategy that drives oleic acid synthesis for its export into the cytosol. We also determined the base bias at the N positions in the active sunflower AW box motif. The sunflower AW box is sequence-sensitive at the non-conserved positions, enabling WRI1-binding. Moreover, sunflower WRI1 could bind to a non-canonical AW-box motif, opening the possibility of searching for new target genes.
The Influence of Elevated CO2 on Volatile Emissions, Photosynthetic Characteristics, and Pigment Content in Brassicaceae Plants Species and Varieties
Authors: Lupitu Andreea , Moisa Cristian , Gavrilaş Simona , Dochia Mihaela , Chambre Dorina , Ciutină Virgiliu , Copolovici Dana Maria , Copolovici Lucian
Published: April 2022

Climate change will determine a sharp increase in carbon dioxide in the following years. To study the influence of elevated carbon dioxide on plants, we grew 13 different species and varieties from the Brassicaceae family at three carbon dioxide concentrations: 400, 800, and 1200 ppmv. The photosynthetic parameters (assimilation rate and stomatal conductance to water vapor) increase for all species. The emission of monoterpenes increases for plants grown at elevated carbon dioxide while the total polyphenols and flavonoids content decrease. The chlorophyll content is affected only for some species (such as Lipidium sativum), while the β-carotene concentrations in the leaves were not affected by carbon dioxide.
Genome-Wide Identification, Expression Pattern and Sequence Variation Analysis of SnRK Family Genes in Barley
Authors: Xiong Jiangyan , Chen Danyi , Su Tingting , Shen Qiufang , Wu Dezhi , Zhang Guoping
Published: April 2022

Sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1)-related protein kinase (SnRK) is a large family of protein kinases that play a significant role in plant stress responses. Although intensive studies have been conducted on SnRK members in some crops, little is known about the SnRK in barley. Using phylogenetic and conserved motif analyses, we discovered 46 SnRK members scattered across barley’s 7 chromosomes and classified them into 3 sub-families. The gene structures of HvSnRKs showed the divergence among three subfamilies. Gene duplication and synteny analyses on the genomes of barley and rice revealed the evolutionary features of HvSnRKs. The promoter regions of HvSnRK family genes contained many ABRE, MBS and LTR elements responding to abiotic stresses, and their expression patterns varied with different plant tissues and abiotic stresses. HvSnRKs could interact with the components of ABA signaling pathway to respond to abiotic stress. Moreover, the haplotypes of HvSnRK2.5 closely associated with drought tolerance were detected in a barley core collection. The current results could be helpful for further exploration of the HvSnRK genes responding to abiotic stress tolerance in barley.
Concentration Prediction of Polymer Insulation Aging Indicator-Alcohols in Oil Based on Genetic Algorithm-Optimized Support Vector Machines
Authors: Wu Shuyue , Zhang Heng , Wang Yuxuan , Luo Yiwen , He Jiaxuan , Yu Xiaotang , Zhang Yiyi , Liu Jiefeng , Shuang Feng
Published: April 2022

The predictive model of aging indicator based on intelligent algorithms has become an auxiliary method for the aging condition of transformer polymer insulation. However, most of the current research on the concentration prediction of aging products focuses on dissolved gases in oil, and the concentration prediction of alcohols in oil is ignored. As new types of aging indicators, alcohols (methanol, ethanol) are becoming prevalent in the aging evaluation of transformer polymer insulation. To address this, this study proposes a prediction model for the concentration of alcohols based on a genetic-algorithm-optimized support vector machine (GA-SVM). Firstly, accelerated thermal aging experiments on oil-paper insulation are conducted, and the concentration of alcohols is measured. Then, the data of the past 4 days of aging are used as the input feature of SVM, and the GA algorithm is utilized to optimize the kernel function parameter and penalty factor of SVM. Moreover, the concentrations of methanol and ethanol are predicted, after which the prediction accuracy of other algorithms and GA-SVM are compared. Finally, an industrial software program for predicting the concentration of methanol and ethanol is established. The results show that the mean square errors (MSE) of methanol and ethanol concentration predictions of the model proposed in this paper are 0.008 and 0.003, respectively. The prediction model proposed in this paper can track changes in methanol and ethanol concentrations well, providing a theoretical basis for the field of alcohol concentration prediction in transformer oil.
Mechanical Response and Failure Mechanisms of Natural Bamboo Fiber Reinforced Poly-Benzoxazine Composite Subjected to Split-Hopkinson Tensile Bar Loading
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wang Fangxin , Yang Bin , Li Lin , Gao Li , Sun Yongyang , Guo Fuzheng
Published: April 2022

In this study, chopped natural bamboo fibers were successfully added in the benzoxazine matrix by the hot-pressing method to fabricate environmentally friendly bio-composite. The mechanical behaviors and failure mechanisms of neat benzoxazine matrix and its bamboo fiber composite under different tensile strain rates (quasi-static, 35/s and 110/s) were comparatively investigated using SHTB device (split-Hopkinson tensile bar), high-speed camera, DIC method (digital image correlation), and SEM observation (scanning electron microscopy). The results showed the composite exhibited 30.02% and 25.21% higher strength than that of neat benzoxazine under strain rates of 35/s and 110/s, respectively. However, under quasi-static tensile loading, the tensile strength of the composite was not higher than that of neat benzoxazine. The SEM and high-speed camera images showed the bamboo fibers displayed different reinforcing mechanisms under different strain rates. The chopped bamboo fibers could strengthen the composite effectively under dynamic tensile loadings. However, under quasi-static loading, the tensile strength of the composite was largely determined by the potential defects (such as small bubbles, pores, and fiber agglomerations) in the composite.
A Computational Procedure for Atomistic Modelling of Polyphosphazenes towards Better Capturing Molecular-Level Structuring and Thermo-Mechanical Properties
Authors: Chen Kay , Demir Baris
Published: April 2022

Poly(phosphazenes)(PZ) are versatile polymers due to their tunable properties that can be tailored for specific applications. Despite extensive experimental research, not all properties are tested, and the list of PZs studied via molecular simulations is limited. Further, a general procedure to generate and test PZ systems is lacking. We present an in situ polymerization procedure developed to make, test, and tune the thermo-mechanical properties of four PZs—poly(dichlorophosphazene)(PZ-DC), poly[bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)]phosphazene (PZ-TFE), poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy-5,6-diazidohexanoxy) phosphazene (PZ-Azido), and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy-5,6-dinitratohexanoxy)phosphazene (PZ-Nitrato) via molecular dynamics simulations. The predicted thermo-mechanical properties (i.e., density and glass transition temperature) agreed with experimental values when a direct comparison of PZ systems was possible. This demonstrates the reproducibility and reliability of our procedure which will help understand the behaviour of PZs at the molecular scale.
Treating Gingival Recessions Using Coronally Advanced Flap or Tunnel Techniques with Autografts or Polymeric Substitutes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Toledano-Osorio Manuel , Muñoz-Soto Esther , Toledano Manuel , Vallecillo-Rivas Marta , Vallecillo Cristina , Ramos-García Pablo , Osorio Raquel
Published: April 2022

Gingival recessions are a prevalent oral mucosa alteration. To solve this pathology, palatal mucosa or polymeric soft tissue substitutes are used when performing coronal advanced flap (CAF) or tunnel (TUN) surgical techniques. To evaluate which is the most successful approach, a literature review and meta-analysis were conducted. For the electronic search the National Library of Medicine, the Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, EMBASE and WOS were used. Pooled data for the percentage of root coverage was collected and weighted means were calculated. Heterogeneity was determined using the Higgins (I2) statistic and a random-effects model was applied. Thirteen studies were included in the systematic review (12 randomized and 1 controlled clinical trials) in which both techniques (394 patients) were compared with a follow-up of 4 to 12 months. Galbraith and Baujat plots were used to control for the presence of potential outliers. After performing the meta-analysis (11 studies), the mean root coverage was similar when using the TUN or CAF techniques (p = 0.49). The only differences between the two were found for single recessions, where CAF offered a higher percentage of root coverage (mean difference = 4.98%; p = 0.006). There were no differences when applying an autograft or a polymeric substitute with either of the two tested surgical techniques (p = 0.445).
Polymer-Dispersed Cholesteric Liquid Crystal under Homeotropic Anchoring: Electrically Induced Structures with λ1/2-Disclination
Authors: Gardymova Anna P. , Krakhalev Mikhail N. , Rudyak Vladimir Yu. , Barbashov Vadim A. , Zyryanov Victor Ya.
Published: April 2022

Orientational structures of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal under homeotropic anchoring and their transformations under the action of an electric field are studied. The switching of cholesteric droplets between different topological states are experimentally and theoretically demonstrated. Structures with λ+1/2-disclination are found and considered. These structures are formed during the transformation of a twisted toroidal configuration induced by a decrease in the electric field when a relative chiral parameter N0>6.3. The transformation of the initial structure with a bipolar distribution of the helix axis into a twisted toroidal configuration and then into a structure with λ+1/2-disclination is investigated in detail. The behavior of these structures under the influence of an external electric field, as well as the appearance of structures with λ−1/2-disclination, are studied. Obtained results are promising for the development of optical materials with programmable properties.
Oil-Based Mud Waste as a Filler Material in LDPE Composites: Evaluation of Mechanical Properties
Authors: Siddique Shohel , Novak Adam , Guliyev Emin , Yates Kyari , Leung Pak Sing , Njuguna James
Published: April 2022

Traditionally, the drilling waste generated in oil and gas exploration operations, including spent drilling fluid, is disposed of or treated by several methods, including burial pits, landfill sites and various thermal treatments. This study investigates drilling waste valorisation and its use as filler in polymer composites. The effect of the poor particle/polymer interfacial adhesion bonding of the suspended clay in oil-based mud (OBM) slurry and the LDPE matrix is believed to be the main reason behind the poor thermo-mechanical and mechanical properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/OBM slurry nanocomposites. The thermo-mechanical and mechanical performances of LDPE)/OBM slurry nanocomposites without the clay surface treatment and without using compatibilizer are evaluated and discussed. In our previous studies, it has been observed that adding thermally treated reclaimed clay from OBM waste in powder form improves both the thermal and mechanical properties of LDPE nanocomposites. However, incorporating OBM clay in slurry form in the LDPE matrix can decrease the thermal stability remarkably, which was reported recently, and thereby has increased the interest to identify the mechanical response of the composite material after adding this filler. The results show the severe deterioration of the tensile and flexural properties of the LDPE/OBM slurry composites compared to those properties of the LDPE/MMT nanocomposites in this study. It is hypothesised, based on the observation of the different test results in this study, that this deterioration in the mechanical properties of the materials was associated with the poor Van der Waals force between the polymer molecules/clay platelets and the applied force. The decohesion between the matrix and OBM slurry nanoparticles under stress conditions generated stress concentration through the void area between the matrix and nanoparticles, resulting in sample failure. Interfacial adhesion bonding appears to be a key factor influencing the mechanical properties of the manufactured nanocomposite materials.
Research Development in Silica Aerogel Incorporated Cementitious Composites—A Review
Authors: Ślosarczyk Agnieszka , Vashchuk Andrii , Klapiszewski Łukasz
Published: April 2022

This paper presents an analysis of research results for silica aerogel cement composites over the past twenty years. Recently, two trends in the development of these composites have been noted, towards structural applications and towards ultralight composites for coatings and renders. Ongoing research shows that important aspects of cementitious composites with good mechanical performance are the proper selection of aggregates and improved adhesion at the silica aerogel–cement binder interface, which will guarantee high compressive strength with the lowest possible thermal conductivity. The best physicomechanical performance of aerogel cement composites with low thermal conductivity below 0.03 W/(m·K) was obtained when cenospheres and aerogel were used in a weight percentage of 5%. In turn, the prerequisites for using aerogel cement composites as coatings for energy-efficient building façades are the use of large amounts of silica aerogel as a substitute for lightweight aggregates or the selection of an optimal composition of lightweight aggregates and aerogel, ensuring the lowest possible thermal conductivity coefficient. Other important standpoints are water transport and moisture protection of the silica aerogel-based coatings. Therefore, in recent years, more and more elements of the hygrothermal performance, porosity and durability of silica aerogel cement composites have been developed. The article also points out the weaknesses of the application of silica aerogel in the cement matrix, the most important of which are the lack of adhesion at the boundary of the aerogel–cement binder, the increased porosity of the composite, the high water absorption capacity and the significant decrease in compressive strength with large volumes of silica aerogel. Solving these issues will certainly contribute to the wider applicability of these materials in the construction industry.
Basalt Fiber Hybridization Effects on High-Performance Sisal-Reinforced Biocomposites
Authors: Zuccarello Bernardo , Bongiorno Francesco , Militello Carmelo
Published: April 2022

The increasing attention given to environmental protection, largely through specific regulations on environmental impact and the recycling of materials, has led to a considerable interest of researchers in biocomposites, materials consisting of bio-based or green polymer matrixes reinforced by natural fibers. Among the various reinforcing natural fibers, sisal fibers are particularly promising for their good mechanical properties, low specific weight and wide availability on the current market. As proven in literature by various authors, the hybridization of biocomposites by synthetical fibers or different natural fibers can lead to an interesting improvement of the mechanical properties or, in turn, of the strength against environmental agents. Consequently, this can lead to a significant enlargement of their practical applications, in particular from quite common non-structural applications (dashboards, fillings, soundproofing, etc.) towards semi-structural (panels, etc.) and structural applications (structural elements of civil construction and/or machine components). Hybridizations with natural fibers or with ecofriendly basalt fibers are the most interesting ones, since they permit the improvement of the biocomposite’s performance without an appreciable increment on environmental impact, as occurs instead for synthetic fiber hybridizations that are also widely proposed in the literature. In order to further increase the mechanical performance and, above all, to reduce the aging effects on high-performance sisal-reinforced biocomposites due to environmental agents, the hybridization of such biocomposites with basalt fibers are studied with tensile, compression and delamination tests performed by varying the exposition to environmental agents. In brief, the experimental analysis has shown that hybridization can lead to further enhancements of mechanical performance (strength and stiffness) that increase with basalt volume fraction and can lead to appreciable reductions in the aging effects on mechanical performance by simple hybridization of the surface laminae. Therefore, such a hybridization can be advantageously used in all practical outdoor applications in which high-performance sisal biocomposites can be exposed to significant environmental agents (temperature, humidity, UV).
Evaluating the Residual Stress and Its Effect on the Quasi-Static Stress in Polyethylene Pipes
Authors: Tan Na , Lin Liyang , Deng Tao , Dong Yongwu
Published: April 2022

Residual stress is generated during the production process. It can significantly affect the mechanical performance of pressurized polymer pipes. In this paper, six polyethylene (PE) pipes, including three high-density PEs (HDPE) and three medium-density PEs (MDPE) provided by different suppliers, were tested using a one-slit-ring method to measure the residual stress distribution along the hoop direction. Finite element (FE) simulation and mechanical testing were also employed in an iteration process to obtain the mechanical parameters of the six PE pipes. For the same PE pipe code from different suppliers, the results show that the magnitude of the residual hoop stress can be very different, resulting in different mechanical behaviors. In addition, the results are proposed to explain the scenario that was reported previously, i.e., the different critical quasi-static stress (the time-independent stress) levels of the PE pipes with the same pipe code. Since the quasi-static stress is expected to dominate the long-term behavior of the PE pipes, it is of great importance to carefully consider the effect of the residual stress on the determination of the quasi-static stress.
Novel Diffusion Mechanism of Polymers Pinned to an Attractive Impurity
Authors: Guerra João C. O. , Cadilhe Antonio
Published: April 2022

Actual substrates unavoidably possess, to some extent, defects and dirt, which motivate understanding the impact due to their presence. The presence of a substrate naturally breaks symmetries. Additionally, it effectively reduces spatial dimensionality, which favors fluctuation-dominated behavior, but it also provides a multitude of possible interactions. We show evidence of novel behavior in the case of polymer mass transport at a crystalline substrate when a single attractive impurity is present. Specifically, we introduce a model system describing how an attractive impurity pins adsorbed polymers on a substrate. We propose a novel mechanism to explain the size scaling dependence of the diffusion coefficient as D∼N−3/2 for polymers with N monomers. Additionally, the size dependence of the diffusion coefficient scales can be described as D∼N−δ, with δ=1.51 as determined from extensive simulations.
Antioxidant and Anti–Aging Activity of Freeze–Dried Alcohol–Water Extracts from Common Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) in Elastomer Vulcanizates
Authors: Masłowski Marcin , Aleksieiev Andrii , Miedzianowska Justyna , Efenberger-Szmechtyk Magdalena , Strzelec Krzysztof
Published: April 2022

The research article aimed to examine the antioxidant nature of freeze–dried extracts from Urtica dioica L. and Mentha piperita L. and to present a deep characterization of their influence on the properties of natural rubber–based vulcanizates before and after simulated aging processes. Natural extracts were prepared in three solvent systems at selected volume ratios: water (100), methanol–water (50/50), ethanol–water (50/50), which were further lyophilized and used as additive to natural rubber mixtures. Freeze–dried materials were investigated by UV–VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) were also examined. Prepared samples were subjected to accelerated simulated degradation processes by using ultraviolet and thermo-oxidative aging. Vulcanizates resistance to degradation effects was determined by the study of cross-linking density (equilibrium swelling method), mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break) and color change in comparison with the results of the reference samples. The research showed that analyzed extracts are characterized by a high content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity, thus have a protective influence on elastomer vulcanizates against damaging effects of aging processes, which consequently extends the lifetime of materials.
An Eco-Friendly Polymer Composite Fertilizer for Soil Fixation, Slope Stability, and Erosion Control
Authors: Li Tao , Dai Fengli , He Yufeng , Xu Daqian , Wang Rongmin
Published: April 2022

In the Loess Plateau region, the poor structure and properties of loess slopes will cause many types of geological disasters such as landslides, mudflow, land collapse, soil erosion, and ground cracking. In this paper, an eco-friendly polymer composite fertilizer (PCF) based on corn straw wastes (CS) and geopolymer synthesized from loess was studied. The characterization by FT-IR of the PCF confirmed that graft copolymer is formed, while morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy showed that geopolymer and urea were embedded in the polymer porous network. The effects of PCF contents on the compressive strength of loess were investigated. The PCF was characterized in terms of surface curing test, temperature and freeze-thaw aging property, water and wind erosion resistance, and remediation soil acidity and alkalinity property, which indicates that PCF can improve loess slope fixation and stability by physical and chemical effects. Moreover, the loess slope planting experiment showed that PCF can significantly increase the germination rate of vegetation from 31% to 68% and promote the survival rate of slope vegetation from 45.2% to 67.7% to enhance biological protection for loess slopes. The PCF meets the demands of building and roadbed slope protection and water-soil conservation in arid and semi-arid regions, which opens a new application field for multifunctional polymer composite fertilizers with low cost and environmental remediation.
Improving Properties of an Experimental Universal Adhesive by Adding a Multifunctional Dendrimer (G-IEMA): Bond Strength and Nanoleakage Evaluation
Authors: Vasconcelos e Cruz Joana , Delgado António H. S. , Félix Samuel , Brito José , Gonçalves Luísa , Polido Mário
Published: April 2022

A vast number of adhesive formulations exist currently. However, available adhesives still have several drawbacks such as increased hydrophilicity, polymerization deficiency, potential cytotoxicity and limited monomer interdiffusion within dentin. To improve material properties, a Bisphenol A-free adhesive containing a novel dendrimer G(2)-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (G-IEMA) in replacement of Bis-GMA was made and tested. Sound human molars were sectioned to expose mid-coronal dentin, which was bonded using four adhesives—Futurabond, Scotchbond Universal and experimentals EM1 and EM2. The experimental adhesive EM2 contained G-IEMA, while EM1 had Bis-GMA. Groups were further allocated to two different adhesive strategies: etch-and-rinse (20 s etching) or self-etch. Immediate (24 h) microtensile bond strength to dentin (n = 5) was tested using a universal testing machine (1 mm/min, 5 kN; Shimadzu AGS-X Autograph, Tokyo, Japan), while the ultrastructure of the interface (n = 2) was assessed using scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Nanoleakage expression was evaluated using silver nitrate penetration and posterior SEM-EDS analysis (n = 3). Linear mixed models/Generalized models were used for inferential statistics (5% significance level). Bond strength results did not depend on the adhesive choice, although differences were found between strategies (p < 0.001). Regarding nanoleakage, when applied in an etch-and-rinse mode, experimental adhesives scored lower nanoleakage means than Futurabond and Scotchbond Universal. The novel adhesive shows interesting interfacial properties, with favorable nanoleakage results and a bond strength to dentin that matches current commercial adhesives.
Valuation of Climate Performance of a Low-Tech Greenhouse in Costa Rica
Authors: Rojas-Rishor Adriana , Flores-Velazquez Jorge , Villagran Edwin , Aguilar-Rodríguez Cruz Ernesto
Published: April 2022

The expansion of protected agriculture has technological, climatic, and topographic limitations. The agricultural regions of Costa Rica use the greenhouse concept and adapt it to its conditions. The objective of this work was to describe the variation in temperature and humidity in a greenhouse ventilated passively and on land with a more than 45% slope. To evaluate the environment inside the greenhouse, temperature and humidity variations were measured with a weather station installed outside of the greenhouse to measure the external environment. Inside the greenhouse, 17 sensors were placed to measure the temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH). During data recording inside the greenhouse, tomato crops were in the fruit formation stage, and pepper was less than one week old. Six scenarios were tested to determine the air temperature and humidity dynamic under different climatic conditions. An evaluation of the greenhouse environment was carried out employing an analysis of variance of temperature and RH to establish if there are significant differences in the direction of the slope of the cross-section. The uniformity of temperature and RH do not present stratifications derived from wind currents that can affect the effective production of these crops.
Biodegradation Kinetics of Phenol and 4-Chlorophenol in the Presence of Sodium Salicylate in Batch and Chemostat Systems
Authors: Lin Yen-Hui , Ho Bing-Han
Published: April 2022

The biodegradation of phenol, sodium salicylate (SA), and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) by Pseudomonas putida (P. putida) was evaluated by batch and chemostat experiments in single and binary substrate systems. The Haldane kinetics model for cell growth was chosen to describe the batch kinetic behavior to determine kinetic parameters in the single or binary substrates system. In the single phenol and SA system, the kinetic constants of μm,P = 0.423 h−1, μm,A = 0.247 h−1, KS,P = 48.1 mg/L, KS,A = 71.7 mg/L, KI,P = 272.5 mg/L, and KI,A = 3178.2 mg/L were evaluated. Experimental results indicate that SA was degraded more rapidly by P. putida cells compared to phenol because SA has a much larger KI value than phenol, which makes the cells less sensitive to substrate inhibition even though the μm,P value is larger compared to μm,A. The ratio of inhibition of phenol degradation due to the presence of SA (IA1) to the inhibition of SA degradation due to the presence of phenol (IA2) is 2.3, indicating that SA has a higher uncompetitive inhibition on phenol biodegradation compared to that of phenol on SA biodegradation in the binary substrate system. In the ternary substrate system, the time required for the complete degradation of SA and phenol was 14 and 11.5 d and an approximately 90% removal efficiency for 4-CP was achieved within 14 d. In the chemostat system, the removal rates of phenol and SA were 96.6 and 97.0%, while those of SA and 4-CP were 91.4% and 95.2%, respectively. The model prediction agreed satisfactorily with the experimental results of the chemostat system.
Kinetics of Reductive Dissolution of a Magnetite Specimen Using Oxalic Acid
Authors: Kim Hye Rim , Park Jae Kwan , Lee Su In , Oh Wonzin , Kim Jeongju , Kim Chorong , Lee Byung-Chul
Published: April 2022

The removal of radionuclides from the primary coolant system of nuclear power plants occurs with the dissolution of corrosion metal oxide layers deposited with the radionuclides. Kinetic dissolution experiments were conducted with a synthetic magnetite specimen in the form of a thin plate using an aqueous solution of oxalic acid as a reducing agent. The effects of acid concentration and temperature were investigated on the kinetics of the reductive dissolution of a magnetite specimen. In particular, the kinetic experiments were performed in a wide temperature range from low (57 °C) to high (120 °C), above the normal boiling point of water. The dissolution of magnetite increased with increasing acid concentration and temperature. The acid concentration dependence of the dissolution reaction rate of Fe at a given temperature was correlated with the nth power of the oxalic acid concentration. Additionally, the temperature dependence of the dissolution reaction rate of Fe at a fixed oxalic acid concentration was studied with an Arrhenius-type equation.
Recent Progresses in the Preparation of Chlorinated Molecules: Electrocatalysis and Photoredox Catalysis in the Spotlight
Authors: Parisotto Stefano , Azzi Emanuele , Lanfranco Alberto , Renzi Polyssena , Deagostino Annamaria
Published: April 2022

Among halogenated molecules, those containing chlorine atoms are fundamental in many areas such as pharmaceuticals, polymers, agrochemicals and natural metabolites. Despite the fact that many reactions have been developed to install chlorine on organic molecules, most of them rely on toxic and hazardous chlorinating reagents as well as harsh conditions. In an attempt to move towards more sustainable approaches, photoredox catalysis and electrocatalysis have emerged as powerful alternatives to traditional methods. In this review, we collect the most recent and significant examples of visible-light- or current-mediated chlorination published in the last five years.
Recovery and Use of Recycled Carbon Fibers from Composites Based on Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins
Authors: Kulikova Yuliya , Sliusar Natalia , Korotaev Vladimir , Babich Olga , Larina Viktoria , Ivanova Svetlana
Published: April 2022

The technical feasibility of the recycling of specific polymeric composite materials was evaluated. Two types of carbon composites, both with phenol-formaldehyde resin but with different reinforcement, were studied. It was discovered that the solvolysis with the oxidizing agents used in an acidic environment allowed for the achievement of a high-efficiency fiber extraction. The extracted secondary carbon fibers had a high degree of purity (95–99.5% of resin was removed). Fiber thickness slightly decreased during the process (on average, by 20%). The use of chopped secondary fibers (3–9 mm fiber length) for concrete reinforcement produced a positive effect. Hence, the compressive and bending strength of the concrete blocks were accordingly 1.5% and 16% higher in comparison with the control sample. The use of secondary carbon fabric for the production of composite materials a good result: the effective tensile strength of CFRP samples reinforced with recovered fabric is only lower by 4.5% in comparison with virgin fabric.
Nietzsche and Levinas against Innocence
Authors: Barber Michael
Published: April 2022

There cannot perhaps be two more polarly opposed philosophers than Friedrich Nietzsche and Emmanuel Levinas, and yet when it comes to instituting moral ideals or establishing moral principles, they both paradoxically converge in suspecting them as pretenses to a false innocence. They do, however, differ concerning why such innocence is dangerous. Nietzsche sees innocence as a disguise covering violence, power, and an attempt at domination, crippling the self and destroying human relationships. For Levinas, innocence is claimed as a method of exempting oneself from responsibility. Each philosopher recommends ways of evading the pitfalls of innocence. Contrasts will be drawn between the two authors, inquiring how they might benefit from the other’s critique of such pretenses to moral innocence and critically evaluating their strategies for escaping the dangers of such pretenses.
Buddhist Praxis toward Global Healing—Cultivating Clarity, Wisdom, and Kinship
Authors: Habito Ruben
Published: April 2022

Our twenty-first century global society is in critical condition, with intertwined symptoms including ecological deterioration verging on ecosystem collapse; polarization of the human community across racial, ethnic, religious, ideological, and other lines, triggering violent conflicts on different levels; and gross inequality in economic status and opportunity, with many needlessly losing their lives due to hunger and malnutrition, and impoverished multitudes consigned to living in dehumanizing conditions. Taking the Four Noble Truths of the Buddha as a therapeutic approach to our dis-eased human condition, we examine symptoms of our Earth community’s severely disjointed condition, tracing their root causes to the three poisons of greed, ill will, and delusion, as manifested in the personal and in the collective, structural/institutional levels of our being. Eradication of these causes would usher in a wholesome and sustainable way of life for us all. The Buddha’s Eightfold Path is taken up as a strategic approach to global healing, transposing guidelines for personal spiritual practice into the socio-ecological dimension. This essay is offered not only for Buddhists but for all people of good will, of different religious backgrounds or none, who seek to live in a wholesome, sustainable, and awakened way together in one Earth community.
Egypt’s Salafi Awakening in the 1970s: Revisiting the History of a Crucial Decade for Egyptian Islamic Activism
Authors: Lacroix Stéphane
Published: April 2022

This article aims at revisiting the history of Egyptian Islamic activism during the important decade of the 1970s, by reintroducing a crucial element that is absent from the existing academic literature: the role played by Salafi ideas in the religious socialization of 1970s Egyptian Islamic activists. Far from only being the product of Saudi Arabia’s intense petrodollar-funded proselytization efforts, these Salafi ideas had already gained a foothold in Egypt in the first half of the 20th century, when they started being promoted by organizations such as Ansar al-Sunna al-Muhammadiyya, which saw itself as a rival to the Muslim Brotherhood. Reintroducing this element helps complexify a historiographical narrative of the 1970s that has been mostly centered around the Muslim Brotherhood and the posthumous role played by the ideas of radical thinker Sayyid Qutb (1906–1966), and it is key to a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the subsequent evolutions of Egyptian Islamic activism.
‘It Was Magical’: Intersections of Pilgrimage, Nature, Gender and Enchantment as a Potential Bridge to Environmental Action in the Anthropocene
Authors: Maddrell Avril
Published: April 2022

Centring on embodiment, gendered eco-spiritual responses to nature, enchantment and environmental crises in the Anthropocene, this paper explores engagement with nature as a spiritual experience and resource through ‘Celtic’ Christian prayer walks in the Isle of Man. Web-based and printed materials for the walks are analysed for references to nature and environmental responsibility, and the complexities of personal, gendered and theological relation to nature and the environment are explored through participants’ accounts. The analysis is attentive to participants professing Christian faith and institutional affiliation as well as those without affiliation or faith, and to their gendered experience. Themes identified include nature-inspired ‘Celtic’ spirituality; personal relation to the non-human (the divine, nature and nature-as-divine); the landscape as a liminal ‘thin place’; and social and environmental responsibility. The paper concludes by signalling the potential for bridging between pilgrimage-centred enchantment and eco-spirituality in order to mobilise engagement with and for the environment in the Anthropocene, including environmental conservation activities, lobbying or protest. Whilst eschewing gendered stereotypes, empirical findings evidence gendered patterns of engagement and responses to different expressions of spirituality. Attention to these differences could facilitate the engaging and mobilising of different cohorts of pilgrims with environmental agendas, inspiring personal and collective environmental action.
Indonesian Islamic Students’ Fear of Demographic Changes: The Nexus of Arabic Education, Religiosity, and Political Preferences
Authors: Nawas Kamaluddin Abu , Masri Abdul Rasyid , Syariati Alim
Published: April 2022

Demographic changes have sparked several debates on the interconnected identities of citizens, with some transitions observed in previous studies to be smooth as indicated by the continuous emergence of conflicts. The fear of within-boundary demographic changes also drives potential tensions among native people. Therefore, this study posited that the basic knowledge of the Arabic language has the ability to contribute to the formation of religiosity, political preference, and fear of demographic changes. This was determined quantitatively by distributing questionnaires to 496 students of Islamic state universities, and the findings confirmed nearly all the direct relationships aside from religiosity and political preference. This also shows the complex formation of fear due to demographic changes. The possession of the Arabic language is observed to be causing an increase in discomfort while being religious decreases it. Additionally, further discussions and implications are presented.
Disappointment in Early Pentecostalism: Toward a Historical Methodology
Authors: Ramsey Ryan
Published: April 2022

Early Pentecostal historiography displays an ethos of disappointment. As charted through historians and scholars of Pentecostalism such as Robert Mapes Anderson, Grant Wacker, and Heather Curtis, it is clear that disappointment served as an impetus for the movement’s founding and a key factor in its continual development. Nevertheless, because of limited and/or hagiographical sources, individuals’ disappointments are often missing in primary literature. Following historian of emotion Jan Plamper yet utilizing philosopher Charles Taylor, this essay develops a means for examining historical emotions in instances where emotionally-charged language is lacking. The essay utilizes the proposed methodology to reexamine early Pentecostal leader William Seymour, revealing the possibilities for exploring the role of unexpressed yet present disappointment in future historical work in and beyond early Pentecostalism.
Kawasaki Disease: Management Challenges during COVID-19 Pandemic with an Upsurge in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Authors: Hendriks Gillian , Chandran Suresh
Published: April 2022

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness, principally affecting children under 5 years, due to a systemic vasculitis of obscure etiology. In 2017, the American Heart Association published the diagnostic criteria for KD in their scientific statement. Following the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there has been an upsurge in the reports of KD as well as a novel multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Clinical manifestations of MIS-C are similar to KD and toxic-shock syndrome, making the clinical diagnosis challenging. Studies have shown promising results to differentiate KD from MIS-C using epidemiological, clinical, hematological, and immunological characteristics. Serological evidence may be negative in these patients at presentation, as MIS-C is a late manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. However, diagnosis and management challenges currently exist due to a gap in knowledge of these conditions. Further research is warranted to identify diagnostic tools to differentiate KD and MIS-C and optimize the therapeutic strategy, reducing morbidity and mortality related to these phenotypically similar diseases. This review aims to highlight the best available evidence for managing children with KD and MIS-C in the background of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Creative Accounting Determinants and Financial Reporting Quality: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Abed Ibtihal A. , Hussin Nazimah , Ali Mostafa A. , Haddad Hossam , Shehadeh Maha , Hasan Elina F.
Published: April 2022

Creative accounting is considered to be a 21st-century phenomenon that has received increased attention after the worldwide economic crisis and budget deficits, particularly the prevention and detection of accounting manipulation. Creative accounting is a practice that influences financial indicators by using accounting knowledge and rules that do not explicitly violate accounting policies, rules, and laws. The main purpose for implementing creative accounting is to show the financial position desired by the company management; stakeholders are informed of what the management wants them to perceive. Creative accounting can be used to manipulate financial information from its correct and accurate form by exploiting existing rules or, in many cases, ignoring one or more rules. Therefore, the methodology of the present work contributes to the existing literature by systematically reviewing the impacts of creative accounting determinants on financial reporting quality, especially in the banking sector. In this review, we describe and critically analyze previous relevant works to identify and assess the relationship between the constructs addressed in the study. In conclusion, this study offers insight for academia, researchers, and practitioners on determining creative accounting practices and their influences on fraudulent financial reporting between 2015 and 2020. Lastly, the present study contributes to the existing information by conducting new research on creative accounting determinants to enhance the quality of financial reporting and, therefore, help professionals to improve practices within the profession.