bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Association and Prediction of Male and Female Floral Hybrid Potential Traits in Elite Spring Bread Wheat Genotypes
Authors: El Hanafi Samira , Cherkaoui Souad , Kehel Zakaria , Al-Abdallat Ayed , Tadesse Wuletaw
Published: April 2021

Hybrid wheat breeding is one of the most promising technologies for further sustainable yield increases. However, the cleistogamous nature of wheat displays a major bottleneck for a successful hybrid breeding program. Thus, an optimized breeding strategy by developing appropriate parental lines with favorable floral trait combinations is the best way to enhance the outcrossing ability. This study, therefore, aimed to dissect the genetic basis of various floral traits using genome-wide association study (GWAS) and to assess the potential of genome-wide prediction (GP) for anther extrusion (AE), visual anther extrusion (VAE), pollen mass (PM), pollen shedding (PSH), pollen viability (PV), anther length (AL), openness of the flower (OPF), duration of floret opening (DFO) and stigma length. To this end, we employed 196 ICARDA spring bread wheat lines evaluated for three years and genotyped with 10,477 polymorphic SNP. In total, 70 significant markers were identified associated to the various assessed traits at FDR ≤ 0.05 contributing a minor to large proportion of the phenotypic variance (8–26.9%), affecting the traits either positively or negatively. GWAS revealed multi-marker-based associations among AE, VAE, PM, OPF and DFO, most likely linked markers, suggesting a potential genomic region controlling the genetic association of these complex traits. Of these markers, Kukri_rep_c103359_233 and wsnp_Ex_rep_c107911_91350930 deserve particular attention. The consistently significant markers with large effect could be useful for marker-assisted selection. Genomic selection revealed medium to high prediction accuracy ranging between 52% and 92% for the assessed traits with the least and maximum value observed for stigma length and visual anther extrusion, respectively. This indicates the feasibility to implement genomic selection to predict the performance of hybrid floral traits with high reliability.
Phytostabilization of Phosphate Mine Wastes Used as a Store-and-Release Cover to Control Acid Mine Drainage in a Semiarid Climate
Authors: El Berkaoui Meryem , El Adnani Mariam , Hakkou Rachid , Ouhammou Ahmed , Bendaou Najib , Smouni Abdelaziz
Published: April 2021

The abandoned Kettara pyrrhotite mine, located near Marrakech, Morocco, is an acid mine drainage (AMD) producer site. A store-and-release cover system made of phosphate wastes was built to prevent water infiltration and the formation of AMD. This cover system should be vegetated with appropriate plants to ensure its long-term sustainability and allow its reintegration in the surrounding ecosystem. Several indigenous plant species were studied. The choice of plant species was based mainly on their tolerance to trace elements contained in the phosphate wastes, and their low capacity to translocate these metals to their aboveground parts in order to limit the risk of pollutants transfer along the food chain. The main metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr) are determined in 13 dominant plants naturally colonizing the store-and-release cover and their rhizospheric soils. The results showed that the phosphate cover contained high concentrations of Cr (138.04 mg/kg), Cu (119.86 mg/kg) and Cd (10.67 mg/kg) exceeding the regulatory thresholds values (Cr > 100 mg/kg, Cu > 100 mg/kg, Cd > 3 mg/kg). The studied plants revealed no hyper-accumulation of metals and metalloids, and lower concentrations in shoots than in roots. Six species (Plantago afra, Festuca ovina, Aizoon hispanicum, Herniaria cinerea, Echium plantagineum and Asphodelus tenuifolius) have bioconcentration factors greater than 1, and weak translocation factors, identifying them as appropriate candidates for phytostabilization of the phosphate cover.
Processing and Characterisation of Banana Leaf Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Cassava Starch Composites
Authors: Jumaidin Ridhwan , Diah Nuraliah Ahmad , Ilyas R. A. , Alamjuri Roziela Hanim , Yusof Fahmi Asyadi Md
Published: April 2021

Increasing environmental concerns have led to greater attention to the development of biodegradable materials. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of banana leaf fibre (BLF) on the thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPCS). The biocomposites were prepared by incorporating 10 to 50 wt.% BLF into the TPCS matrix. The samples were characterised for their thermal and mechanical properties. The results showed that there were significant increments in the tensile and flexural properties of the materials, with the highest strength and modulus values obtained at 40 wt.% BLF content. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of BLF had increased the thermal stability of the material, indicated by higher-onset decomposition temperature and ash content. Morphological studies through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited a homogenous distribution of fibres and matrix with good adhesion, which is crucial in improving the mechanical properties of biocomposites. This was also attributed to the strong interaction of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between TPCS and fibre, proven by the FT-IR test that observed the presence of O–H bonding in the biocomposite.
Benzoxazine Monomers and Polymers Based on 3,3′-Dichloro-4,4′-Diaminodiphenylmethane: Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Petrakova Viktoria V. , Kireev Vyacheslav V. , Onuchin Denis V. , Sarychev Igor A. , Shutov Vyacheslav V. , Kuzmich Anastasia A. , Bornosuz Natalia V. , Gorlov Mikhail V. , Pavlov Nikolay V. , Shapagin Alexey V. , Khasbiullin Ramil R. , Sirotin Igor S.
Published: April 2021

To reveal the effect of chlorine substituents in the ring of aromatic amine on the synthesis process of benzoxazine monomer and on its polymerization ability, as well as to develop a fire-resistant material, a previously unreported benzoxazine monomer based on 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane was obtained in toluene and mixture toluene/isopropanol. The resulting benzoxazine monomers were thermally cured for 2 h at 180 °C, 4 h at 200 °C, 2 h at 220 °C. A comparison between the rheological, thermal and fire-resistant properties of the benzoxazines based on 3,3′-dichloro-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane and, for reference, 4,4′-diaminodimethylmethane was made. The effect of the reaction medium on the structure of the oligomeric fraction and the overall yield of the main product were studied and the toluene/ethanol mixture was found to provide the best conditions; however, in contrast to most known diamine-based benzoxazines, synthesis in the pure toluene is also possible. The synthesized monomers can be used as thermo- and fire-resistant binders for polymer composite materials, as well as hardeners for epoxy resins. Chlorine-containing polybenzoxazines require more severe conditions for polymerization but have better fire resistance.
Fabrication of Carbon Nanomaterials Using Laser Scribing on Copper Nanoparticles-Embedded Polyacrylonitrile Films and Their Application in a Gas Sensor
Authors: Ko Yong-il , Kim Min-Jae , Lee Dong-Yun , Nam Jungtae , Jang A-Rang , Lee Jeong-O , Kim Keun-Soo
Published: April 2021

Carbon nanomaterials have attracted significant research attention as core materials in various industrial sectors owing to their excellent physicochemical properties. However, because the preparation of carbon materials is generally accompanied by high-temperature heat treatment, it has disadvantages in terms of cost and process. In this study, highly sensitive carbon nanomaterials were synthesized using a local laser scribing method from a copper-embedded polyacrylonitrile (CuPAN) composite film with a short processing time and low cost. The spin-coated CuPAN was converted into a carbonization precursor through stabilization and then patterned into a carbon nanomaterial of the desired shape using a pulsed laser. In particular, the stabilization process was essential in laser-induced carbonization, and the addition of copper promoted this effect as a catalyst. The synthesized material had a porous 3D structure that was easy to detect gas, and the resistance responses were detected as −2.41 and +0.97% by exposure to NO2 and NH3, respectively. In addition, the fabricated gas sensor consists of carbon materials and quartz with excellent thermal stability; therefore, it is expected to operate as a gas sensor even in extreme environments.
Comprehensive Enhancement in Thermomechanical Performance of Melt-Extruded PEEK Filaments by Graphene Incorporation
Authors: Yaragalla Srinivasarao , Zahid Muhammad , Panda Jaya Kumar , Tsagarakis Nikolaos , Cingolani Roberto , Athanassiou Athanassia
Published: April 2021

A simple and scalable fabrication process of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs)-reinforced polyether ether ketone (PEEK) filaments with enhanced mechanical and thermal performance was successfully demonstrated in this work. The developed PEEK–GnP nanocomposite filaments by a melt-extrusion process showed excellent improvement in storage modulus at 30 °C (61%), and significant enhancement in tensile strength (34%), Young’s modulus (25%), and elongation at break (37%) when GnP content of 1.0 wt.% was used for the neat PEEK. Moreover, the GnPs addition to the PEEK enhanced the thermal stability of the polymer matrix. Improvement in mechanical and thermal properties was attributed to the improved dispersion of GnP inside PEEK, which could form a stronger/robust interface through hydrogen bonding and π–π* interactions. The obtained mechanical properties were also correlated to the mechanical reinforcement models of Guth and Halpin–Tsai. The GnP layers could form agglomerates as the GnP content increases (>1 wt.%), which would decline neat PEEK’s crystallinity and serve as stress concentration sites inside the composite, leading to a deterioration of the mechanical performance. The results demonstrate that the developed PEEK–GnP nanocomposites can be used in highly demanding engineering sectors like 3D printing of aerospace and automotive parts and structural components of humanoid robots and biomedical devices.
Study on Structure, Thermal Behavior, and Viscoelastic Properties of Nanodiamond-Reinforced Poly (vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites
Authors: Remiš Tomáš , Bělský Petr , Kovářík Tomáš , Kadlec Jaroslav , Ghafouri Azar Mina , Medlín Rostislav , Vavruňková Veronika , Deshmukh Kalim , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar
Published: April 2021

In this work, advanced polymer nanocomposites comprising of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and nanodiamonds (NDs) were developed using a single-step solution-casting method. The properties of the prepared PVA/NDs nanocomposites were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). It was revealed that the tensile strength improved dramatically with increasing ND content in the PVA matrix, suggesting a strong interaction between the NDs and the PVA. SEM, TEM, and SAXS showed that NDs were present in the form of agglomerates with an average size of ~60 nm with primary particles of diameter ~5 nm. These results showed that NDs could act as a good nanofiller for PVA in terms of improving its stability and mechanical properties.
Application of Furcellaran Nanocomposite Film as Packaging of Cheese
Authors: Pluta-Kubica Agnieszka , Jamróz Ewelina , Khachatryan Gohar , Florkiewicz Adam , Kopel Pavel
Published: April 2021

There is a serious need to develop and test new biodegradable packaging which could at least partially replace petroleum-based materials. Therefore, the objective of this work was to examine the influence of the recently developed furcellaran nanocomposite film with silver nanoparticles (obtained by an in situ method) on the quality properties of two cheese varieties: a rennet-curd (gouda) and an acid-curd (quark) cheese. The water content, physicochemical properties, microbiological and organoleptic quality of cheese, and migration of silver nanoparticles were examined. Both the number of Lactococcus and total bacteria count did not differ during storage of gouda regardless of the packaging applied. The number of Lactococcus decreased in analogous quark samples. The use of the film slowed down and inhibited the growth of yeast in gouda and quark, respectively. An inhibitory effect of this film on mold count was also observed; however, only regarding gouda. The level of silver migration was found to be lower in quark than in gouda. The film improved the microbiological quality of cheeses during storage. Consequently, it is worth continuing research for the improvement of this film in order to enable its use in everyday life.
Self-Organization in Dilute Aqueous Solutions of Thermoresponsive Star-Shaped Six-Arm Poly-2-Alkyl-2-Oxazines and Poly-2-Alkyl-2-Oxazolines
Authors: Kirila Tatyana , Smirnova Anna , Aseyev Vladimir , Tenkovtsev Andrey , Tenhu Heikki , Filippov Alexander
Published: April 2021

The behavior of star-shaped six-arm poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazines and poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazolines in aqueous solutions on heating was studied by light scattering, turbidimetry and microcalorimetry. The core of stars was hexaaza [26] orthoparacyclophane and the arms were poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazine, poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazine, poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, and poly-2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline. The arm structure affects the properties of polymers already at low temperatures. Molecules and aggregates were present in solutions of poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazines, while aggregates of two types were observed in the case of poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazolines. On heating below the phase separation temperature, the characteristics of the investigated solutions did not depend practically on temperature. An increase in the dehydration degree of poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazines and poly-2-alkyl-2-oxazolines led to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and aggregation was the dominant process near the phase separation temperature. It was shown that the characteristics of the phase transition in solutions of the studied polymer stars are determined primarily by the arm structure, while the influence of the molar mass is not so significant. In comparison with literature data, the role of the hydrophobic core structure in the formation of the properties of star-shaped polymers was analyzed.
TD-DFT Simulation and Experimental Studies of a Mirrorless Lasing of Poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-diphenylene-vinylene-2-methoxy-5-{2-ethylhexyloxy}-benzene)]
Authors: Aljaafreh Mamduh J. , Prasad Saradh , AlSalhi Mohamad S. , Alhandel Raya H. , Alsaigh Reem A.
Published: April 2021

In this work, we investigate the TD-DFT simulation, optical, and mirrorless laser properties of conjugated polymer (CP) Poly[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(1,4-diphenylene-vinylene-2-methoxy-5-{2-ethylhexyloxy}-benzene)], also known as (PFO-co-PPV-MEHB) or ADS125GE. TD-DFT calculations were performed for three monomer units with truncated tails using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. The calculations showed a highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) structure and a very high oscillator strength of 6.434 for the singlet-singlet transition at 374.43 nm. Experimentally, the absorption and fluorescence spectra were examined at various concentrations in verity of solvents, such as benzene, toluene, and hexane. The experimental results obtained in hexane were comparable with theoretical UV-VIS spectra calculated under vacuum. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectra peaked at approximately 509 nm for CO PFO-co-PPV-MEHB in solution and were obtained at suitable concentrations and pump energies. Additionally, the photochemical stability of this CP and coumarin (C510) were compared. Time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) studies with a sub-nanosecond resolution were performed for the CO under various pump energies. These results showed the excited state dynamics and single-pass optical gain of CO PFO-co-PPV-MEHB.
Advances in Nano-Enabled Platforms for the Treatment of Depression
Authors: Mutingwende Fadzai P. , Kondiah Pierre P. D. , Ubanako Philemon , Marimuthu Thashree , Choonara Yahya E.
Published: April 2021

Nanotechnology has aided in the advancement of drug delivery for the treatment of several neurological disorders including depression. Depression is a relatively common mental disorder which is characterized by a severe imbalance of neurotransmitters. Several current therapeutic regimens against depression display drawbacks which include low bioavailability, delayed therapeutic outcome, undesirable side effects and drug toxicity due to high doses. The blood–brain barrier limits the entry of the drugs into the brain matrix, resulting in low bioavailability and tissue damage due to drug accumulation. Due to their size and physico-chemical properties, nanotechnological drug delivery systems present a promising strategy to enhance the delivery of nanomedicines into the brain matrix, thereby improving bioavailability and limiting toxicity. Furthermore, ligand-complexed nanocarriers can improve drug specificity and antidepressant efficacy and reduce drug toxicity. Biopolymers and nanocarriers can also be employed to enhance controlled drug release and reduce the hepatic first-pass effect, hence reducing the dosing frequency. This manuscript reviews recent advances in different biopolymers, such as polysaccharides and other nanocarriers, for targeted antidepressant drug delivery to the brain. It probes nano-based strategies that can be employed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressants through the oral, intranasal, and parenteral routes of administration.
Triggerable Super Absorbent Polymers for Coating Debonding Applications
Authors: Kartsonakis Ioannis A. , Goulis Panagiotis , Charitidis Costas A.
Published: April 2021

This study aims to examine how core–shell super absorbent polymers (SAPs) can be effective in relation to recycling processes by using them as triggerable materials in coating binders. Super absorbent polymers are partially cross-linked, three-dimensional polymer networks that can absorb and retain water. Coatings based on an acrylic binder, including SAPs, were applied onto plastic substrates of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/polycarbonate. The incorporation of 1 wt.% and 5 wt.% SAPs into the coatings resulted in the debonding of the coatings from the substrates under a steam treatment. The trigger mechanism for the core–shell hydrophilic SAPs relies on the different abilities of the core and shell materials to be swollen. Therefore, under the influence of steam, SAPs can enhance their shape due to water absorption and the breaking of the inorganic shell. This results in the reduction of the attachment between the primer layer and both the top coating and the substrate, thus enabling the detachment of the top coating from the corresponding substrate. The obtained results from this study can be considered as potential formulations for plastic recycling applications in industries.
The Effect of DBD Plasma Activation Time on the Dyeability of Woven Polyester Fabric with Disperse Dye
Authors: Kim Thu Nguyen Thi , Vu Thi Hong Khanh , Vu Thi Nguyen , Vu Manh Hai
Published: April 2021

This study consists of two parts. In the first, the woven polyester fabric, after washing to remove lubricant oils, was treated with the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma at the short plasma exposure time (from 15 to 90 s). The effect of the plasma exposure time on the activation of the polyester fabric was assessed by the wicking height of the samples. The results show that the wicking height in the warp direction of the plasma-treated samples improved but was virtually unchanged in the weft direction. Meanwhile, although the tensile strength in the warp direction of the fabric was virtually unaffected despite the plasma treatment time up to 90 s, in the weft direction it increased slightly with the plasma treatment time. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images and the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) spectra of the samples before and after the plasma treatment were used to explain the nature of these phenomena. Based on the results of the first part, in the second part, two levels of the plasma treatment time (30 and 60 s) were selected to study their effect on the polyester fabric dyeability with disperse dyes. The color strength (K/S) values of the dyed samples were used to evaluate the dyeability of the fabric. The SEM images of the dyed samples also showed the difference in the dyeability between the plasma-treated and untreated samples. A new feature of this study is the DBD plasma treatment condition for polyester fabrics. The first is the use of DBD plasma in air (no addition of gas). Second is the very short plasma treatment time (only 15 to 90 s); this condition will be very favorable for the deployment on an industrial scale.
Charge Carrier Mobility Improvement in Diketopyrrolopyrrole Block-Copolymers by Shear Coating
Authors: Ditte Kristina , Kiriy Nataliya , Perez Jonathan , Hambsch Mike , Mannsfeld Stefan C. B. , Krupskaya Yulia , Maragani Ramesh , Voit Brigitte , Lissel Franziska
Published: April 2021

Shear coating is a promising deposition method for upscaling device fabrication and enabling high throughput, and is furthermore suitable for translating to roll-to-roll processing. Although common polymer semiconductors (PSCs) are solution processible, they are still prone to mechanical failure upon stretching, limiting applications in e.g., electronic skin and health monitoring. Progress made towards mechanically compliant PSCs, e.g., the incorporation of soft segments into the polymer backbone, could not only allow such applications, but also benefit advanced fabrication methods, like roll-to-roll printing on flexible substrates, to produce the targeted devices. Tri-block copolymers (TBCs), consisting of an inner rigid semiconducting poly-diketo-pyrrolopyrrole-thienothiophene (PDPP-TT) block flanked by two soft elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chains, maintain good charge transport properties, while being mechanically soft and flexible. Potentially aiming at the fabrication of TBC-based wearable electronics by means of cost-efficient and scalable deposition methods (e.g., blade-coating), a tolerance of the electrical performance of the TBCs to the shear speed was investigated. Herein, we demonstrate that such TBCs can be deposited at high shear speeds (film formation up to a speed of 10 mm s−1). While such high speeds result in increased film thickness, no degradation of the electrical performance was observed, as was frequently reported for polymer−based OFETs. Instead, high shear speeds even led to a small improvement in the electrical performance: mobility increased from 0.06 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 0.5 mm s−1 to 0.16 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 7 mm s−1 for the TBC with 24 wt% PDMS, and for the TBC containing 37 wt% PDMS from 0.05 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 0.5 mm s−1 to 0.13 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 7 mm s−1. Interestingly, the improvement of mobility is not accompanied by any significant changes in morphology.
A Review on Properties and Application of Bio-Based Poly(Butylene Succinate)
Authors: Rafiqah S. Ayu , Khalina Abdan , Harmaen Ahmad Saffian , Tawakkal Intan Amin , Zaman Khairul , Asim M. , Nurrazi M.N. , Lee Ching Hao
Published: April 2021

Researchers and companies have increasingly been drawn to biodegradable polymers and composites because of their environmental resilience, eco-friendliness, and suitability for a range of applications. For various uses, biodegradable fabrics use biodegradable polymers or natural fibers as reinforcement. Many approaches have been taken to achieve better compatibility for tailored and improved material properties. In this article, PBS (polybutylene succinate) was chosen as the main topic due to its excellent properties and intensive interest among industrial and researchers. PBS is an environmentally safe biopolymer that has some special properties, such as good clarity and processability, a shiny look, and flexibility, but it also has some drawbacks, such as brittleness. PBS-based natural fiber composites are completely biodegradable and have strong physical properties. Several research studies on PBS-based composites have been published, including physical, mechanical, and thermal assessments of the properties and its ability to replace petroleum-based materials, but no systematic analysis of up-to-date research evidence is currently available in the literature. The aim of this analysis is to highlight recent developments in PBS research and production, as well as its natural fiber composites. The current research efforts focus on the synthesis, copolymers and biodegradability for its properties, trends, challenges and prospects in the field of PBS and its composites also reviewed in this paper.
Degradation of Styrenic Plastics during Recycling: Accommodation of PP within ABS after WEEE Plastics Imperfect Sorting
Authors: Signoret Charles , Girard Pierre , Guen Agathe Le , Caro-Bretelle Anne-Sophie , Lopez-Cuesta José-Marie , Ienny Patrick , Perrin Didier
Published: April 2021

With the development of dark polymers for industrial sorting technologies, economically profitable recycling of plastics from Waste Electrical and Electronical Equipment (WEEE) can be envisaged even in the presence of residual impurities. In ABS extracted from WEEE, PP is expected to be the more detrimental because of its important lack of compatibility. Hence, PP was incorporated to ABS at different rates (2 to 8 wt%) with a twin-screw extruder. PP was shown to exhibit a nodular morphology with an average diameter around 1–2 µm. Tensile properties were importantly diminished beyond 4 wt% but impact resistance was decreased even at 2 wt%. Both properties were strongly reduced as function of the contamination rate. Various potential compatibilizers for the ABS + 4 wt% PP system were evaluated: PPH-g-MA, PPC-g-MA, ABS-g-MA, TPE-g-MA, SEBS and PP-g-SAN. SEBS was found the most promising, leading to diminution of nodule sizes and also acting as an impact modifier. Finally, a Design Of Experiments using the Response Surface Methodology (DOE-RSM) was applied to visualize the impacts and interactions of extrusion temperature and screw speed on impact resistance of compatibilized and uncompatibilized ABS + 4 wt% PP systems. Resilience improvements were obtained for the uncompatibilized system and interactions between extrusion parameters and compatibilizers were noticed.
Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application
Authors: Lu Yangpeng , Jia Yanan , Xue Zihan , Li Nannan , Liu Junyu , Chen Haixia
Published: April 2021

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is a kind of medicine and health food widely used by folk in China, Russia, Korea, and some occidental countries. Among the extracts from Inonotus obliquus, Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) is supposed to be one of the major bioactive components in Inonotus obliquus, which possesses antitumor, antioxidant, anti-virus, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. In this review, the current advancements on extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of IOPS were summarized. This review can provide significant insight into the IOPS bioactivities as their in vitro and in vivo data were summarized, and some possible mechanisms were listed. Furthermore, applications of IOPS were reviewed and discussed; IOPS might be a potential candidate for the treatment of cancers and type 2 diabetes. Besides, new perspectives for the future work of IOPS were also proposed.
Organophosphorus Polyurethane Ionomers as Water Vapor Permeable and Pervaporation Membranes
Authors: Davletbaeva Ilsiya M. , Sazonov Oleg O. , Zakirov Ilyas N. , Gumerov Askhat M. , Klinov Alexander V. , Fazlyev Azat R. , Malygin Alexander V.
Published: April 2021

Organophosphorus polyurethane ionomers (AEPA-PU) based on aminoethers of ortho-phosphoric acid (AEPA) were obtained and studied as pervaporation membrane materials for separating isopropanol/water mixtures. The regularities of the change in the water vapor permeability of AEPA-PU were also investigated. It has been established that an increase of solute content in the composition of the urethane-forming system and the content of ionogenic groups in AEPA leads to a noticeable increase in the vapor permeability of the resulting film materials. An increase in water vapor permeability values is accompanied by a significant increase in the pervaporation characteristics of AEPU-PU. It was shown that the conditions promoting clustering of phosphate anions cause an increase in the values of the vapor permeability coefficient of AEPA-PU obtained using polyoxypropylene glycol. However, the hydrophobicity of the polypropylene glycol surrounding the clusters makes it difficult for water to move through the polymer matrix. Due to the hydrophilicity of polyoxyethylene glycol, the highest values of water vapor permeability and pervaporation characteristics are achieved for AEPA-PU synthesized using PEG.
Long-Term Effect of Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Irradiation in Water and Isotonic Aqueous Solutions as Studied by Photoluminescence from Polymer Membrane
Authors: Bunkin Nikolai F. , Bolotskova Polina N. , Bondarchuk Elena V. , Gryaznov Valery G. , Gudkov Sergey V. , Kozlov Valeriy A. , Okuneva Maria A. , Ovchinnikov Oleg V. , Smoliy Oleg P. , Turkanov Igor F.
Published: April 2021

The swelling of a polymer membrane NafionTM in deionized water and isotonic NaCl and Ringer’s solutions was studied by photoluminescent spectroscopy. According to our previous studies, the surface of this membrane could be considered as a model for a cellular surface. Liquid samples, in which the membrane was soaked, were subjected to preliminary electromagnetic treatment, which consisted of irradiating these samples with electric rectangular pulses of 1 µs duration using platinum electrodes immersed in the liquid. We used a series of pulses with a repetition rate of 11–125 Hz; the pulse amplitudes were equal to 100 and 500 mV. It turned out that at certain pulse repetition rates and their amplitudes, the characteristic swelling time of the polymer membrane significantly differs from the swelling time in untreated (reference) samples. At the same time, there is no effect for certain frequencies/pulse amplitudes. The time interval between electromagnetic treatment and measurements was about 20 min. Thus, in our experiments the effects associated with the long-term relaxation of liquids on the electromagnetic processing are manifested. The effect of long-term relaxation could be associated with a slight change in the geometric characteristics of bubston clusters during electromagnetic treatment.
Hydrogel Based on Tricarboxi-Cellulose and Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Used as Biosorbent for Cobalt Ions Retention
Authors: Nica Iulia , Zaharia Carmen , Suteu Daniela
Published: April 2021

A biomaterial based on poly(vinyl alcohol) reticulated with tricarboxi-cellulose obtained by TEMPO oxidation (OxC25) was used as a new biosorbent for Co(II) ions retention from aqueous solutions. The biosorption process of Co(II) ions was studied while mainly considering the operational factors that can influence it (i.e., biosorbent concentration, pH of the aqueous media, temperature and contact time of the phases). The maximum adsorption capacity was 181.82 mg/g, with the biosorption well fitted by the Langmuir model. The kinetic modeling of the biosorption process was based on certain models: Lagergreen (pseudo first order model), Ho (pseudo second order model), Elovich (heterogeneous biosorbent model), Webber–Morris (intraparticle diffusion model) and McKay (film diffusion model). The corresponding kinetic model suggests that this biosorption process followed a pseudo-second order kinetic model and was developed in two controlled steps beginning with film diffusion and followed by intraparticles diffusion.
Synthesis and Characterization of Macroinitiators Based on Polyorganophosphazenes for the Ring Opening Polymerization of N-Carboxyanhydrides
Authors: Zashikhina Natalia , Vasileva Marina , Perevedentseva Olga , Tarasenko Irina , Tennikova Tatiana , Korzhikova-Vlakh Evgenia
Published: April 2021

Among the various biocompatible amphiphilic copolymers, biodegradable ones are the most promising for the preparation of drug delivery systems since they are destroyed under physiological conditions, that, as a rule, reduce toxicity and provide controlled release of the drug. Hybrid graft-copolymers consisting of the main inorganic polyphosphazene chain and polypeptide side chains are of considerable interest for the development of delivery systems with a controlled degradation rate, since the main and side chains will have different degradation mechanisms (chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively). Variable particle degradation rate, controlled by the adjusting the composition of substituents, will allow selective delivery in vivo and controlled drug release. The present work proposes the preparation of biodegradable macroinitiators based on polyorganophosphazenes for the synthesis of hybrid copolymers. Synthesis of novel biodegradable macroinitiators based on polyorganophosphazenes was performed via macromolecular substitution of a polydichlorophosphazene chain with the sodium alcoholates, amines and amino acids. The composition of copolymers obtained was calculated using NMR. These polyorganophosphazenes bearing primary amino groups can be considered as convenient macroinitiators for the polymerization of NCA of α-amino acids in order to prepare hybrid copolymers polyphosphazene-graft-polypeptide. The developed macroinitiators were amphiphilic and self-assembled in the aqueous media into nanoparticles. Furthermore, the ability to encapsulate and release a model substance was demonstrated. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of synthesized polymers was evaluated using two cell lines.
Thermal Hysteresis Control in Fe49Rh51 Alloy through Annealing Process
Authors: Rodionov Vladimir , Amirov Abdulkarim , Annaorazov Murad , Lähderanta Erkki , Granovsky Alexander , Aliev Akhmed , Rodionova Valeria
Published: April 2021

We report the results of studies of the magnetic and transport properties of Fe49Rh51 alloy prepared by different sequences of quenching and the annealing process. The temperature dependences of the relative initial magnetic permeability and resistivity are analyzed. An optimal regime consisting of annealing at 1300 K for 440 min and quenching from 1300 K to 275 K is found to observe the desired narrow antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic transition in Fe49Rh51 alloy under cyclic conditions. This has the potential to increase the efficiency of cooling devices based on the magnetocaloric effect of magnetic materials with a first-order field-induced phase transition.
Numerical Analysis on Enhancing Spray Performance of SCR Mixer Device and Heat Transfer Performance Based on Field Synergy Principle
Authors: Ye Jiedong , Lv Junshuai , Tan Dongli , Ai Zhiqiang , Feng Zhiqiang
Published: April 2021

The NH3 uniformity and conversion rate produced by the urea–water solution spray system is an essential factor affecting de-NOx efficiency. In this work, a three-dimensional simulation model was developed with the CFD software and was employed to investigate the effects of two typical injection methods (wall injection and center injection) and three distribution strategies (pre-mixer, post-mixer, pre-mixer, and post-mixer) of two typical mixers on the urea conversion rate and uniformity. The field synergy principle was employed to analyze the heat transfer of different mixer flow fields. The results show that the single mixer has instability in optimizing different injection positions due to different injection methods and injection positions. The dual-mixer is stable in the optimization of the flow field under different conditions. The conclusion of the field synergy theory of the single mixer accords with the simulation result. The Fc of the dual-mixer cases is low, but the NH3 conversion and uniformity index rate are also improved due to the increase in the residence time of UWS.
Father André Scrima on Interdenominational Dialogue and Interreligious Openness
Authors: Boicu Dragoş
Published: April 2021

Living and teaching among different cultures, Father André Scrima found a favourable environment that challenged him to understand the complex dynamic of the relationship with the ‘alien’, the ‘other’. He developed a fresh theological position and proposed a responsible openness to otherness. Through his entire diplomatic and didactic activity, and especially through the ideas he promoted in his courses, he tried to set in motion an approach to interfaith and interreligious dialogue that was as humble as possible, but creative and free. The purpose of this paper is to present, as authentically as possible, a part of his outstanding thinking on the matter of interdenominational dialogue and interreligious openness.
Coronavirus-Driven Digitalization of In-Person Communities. Analysis of the Catholic Church Online Response in Spain during the Pandemic
Authors: Sabaté Gauxachs Alba , Albalad Aiguabella José María , Diez Bosch Miriam
Published: April 2021

COVID-19 has driven several global offline communities to go online. Restrictions to the free movement of people in response to the coronavirus pandemic triggered a profound rethinking of jobs, products and services, and among them, the activities of religious communities, which are well consolidated in the offline sphere. In Spain, since the lockdown established by the government in March 2020, the Catholic Church has reinvented its activity, as all the churches and other places of worship have been closed. This constituted a considerable challenge, considering the history and dynamics of the institution. This paper aims to analyze how Catholicism, as one of the most consolidated offline communities, reworked its communication, going online in a matter of days. With this objective, researchers surveyed each and every one of the 70 Spanish dioceses, taking them as representatives of the global Catholic community in the country. Their responses are complemented with an in-depth interview with the Director of Communications at the Spanish Conference of Bishops. The results highlight the huge and unprecedented step towards the digitalization of the community through consistent, creative and efficient action. New methods, platforms and languages have been implemented, even broadening community membership. Despite an offline essence that is still detected in some decisions, this pandemic has brought a new communicative paradigm to the Spanish Catholic community. Digitalization has been consolidated whilst preserving the best aspects of direct contact and action.
Introduction to the Special Issue “Islamic and Muslim Studies in Australia”
Authors: Rane Halim
Published: April 2021

The field we call Islamic studies has a long history that could be said to date from the 8th and 9th centuries in the Middle East when Muslim scholars, including Quran exegetes, hadith compilers, jurists and historians, began to systematically write about the teachings of Islam [...]
From Land Cover Map to Land Use Map: A Combined Pixel-Based and Object-Based Approach Using Multi-Temporal Landsat Data, a Random Forest Classifier, and Decision Rules
Authors: Bui Dang Hung , Mucsi László
Published: April 2021

It is essential to produce land cover maps and land use maps separately for different purposes. This study was conducted to generate such maps in Binh Duong province, Vietnam, using a novel combination of pixel-based and object-based classification techniques and geographic information system (GIS) analysis on multi-temporal Landsat images. Firstly, the connection between land cover and land use was identified; thereafter, the land cover map and land use function regions were extracted with a random forest classifier. Finally, a land use map was generated by combining the land cover map and the land use function regions in a set of decision rules. The results showed that land cover and land use were linked by spectral, spatial, and temporal characteristics, and this helped effectively convert the land cover map into a land use map. The final land cover map attained an overall accuracy (OA) = 93.86%, with producer’s accuracy (PA) and user’s accuracy (UA) of its classes ranging from 73.91% to 100%. Meanwhile, the final land use map achieved OA = 93.45%, and the UA and PA ranged from 84% to 100%. The study demonstrated that it is possible to create high-accuracy maps based entirely on free multi-temporal satellite imagery that promote the reproducibility and proactivity of the research as well as cost-efficiency and time savings.
Horizon Line Detection in Historical Terrestrial Images in Mountainous Terrain Based on the Region Covariance
Authors: Mikolka-Flöry Sebastian , Pfeifer Norbert
Published: April 2021

Horizon line detection is an important prerequisite for numerous tasks including the automatic estimation of the unknown camera parameters for images taken in mountainous terrain. In contrast to modern images, historical photographs contain no color information and have reduced image quality. In particular, missing color information in combination with high alpine terrain, partly covered with snow or glaciers, poses a challenge for automatic horizon detection. Therefore, a robust and accurate approach for horizon line detection in historical monochrome images in mountainous terrain was developed. For the detection of potential horizon pixels, an edge detector is learned based on the region covariance as texture descriptor. In combination with shortest path search the horizon in monochrome images is accurately detected. We evaluated our approach on 250 selected historical monochrome images in average dating back to 1950. In 85% of the images the horizon was detected with an error less than 10 pixels. In order to further evaluate the performance, an additional dataset consisting of modern color images was used. Our method, using only grayscale information, achieves comparable results with methods based on color information. In comparison with other methods using only grayscale information, accuracy of the detected horizons is significantly improved. Furthermore, the influence of color, choice of neighborhood for the shortest path calculation, and patch size for the calculation of the region covariance were investigated. The results show that both the availability of color information and increasing the patch size for the calculation of the region covariance improve the accuracy of the detected horizons.
Assessing the Impact of Light/Shallow Precipitation Retrievals from Satellite-Based Observations Using Surface Radar and Micro Rain Radar Observations
Authors: Kidd Chris , Graham Edward , Smyth Tim , Gill Michael
Published: April 2021

The accurate representation of precipitation across the Earth’s surface is crucial to furthering our knowledge and understanding of the Earth System and its component processes. Precipitation poses a number of challenges, particularly due to the variability of precipitation over time and space and whether it falls as snow or rain. While conventional measures of precipitation are reasonably good at the location of their measurement, their distribution across the Earth’s surface is uneven with some regions having no surface measurements. Spaceborne sensors have the capability of providing regular observations across the Earth’s surface that can provide estimates of precipitation. However, the estimation of precipitation from satellite observations is not necessarily straightforward. Visible and/or infrared techniques rely upon imprecise cloud-top to surface precipitation relationships, while the sensitivity of passive microwave techniques to different precipitation types is not consistent. Active microwave (radar) observations provide the most direct satellite measurements of precipitation but cannot provide estimates close to the surface and are generally not sufficiently sensitive to resolve light precipitation. This is particularly problematic at mid to high latitudes, where light and/or shallow precipitation dominates. This paper compares measurements made by ground-based weather radars, Micro Rain Radars and the spaceborne Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar to study both light precipitation intensity and shallow precipitation occurrence and to assess their impact on satellites retrievals of precipitation at the mid to high latitudes.
RADOLAN_API: An Hourly Soil Moisture Data Set Based on Weather Radar, Soil Properties and Reanalysis Temperature Data
Authors: Ramsauer Thomas , Weiß Thomas , Löw Alexander , Marzahn Philip
Published: April 2021

Soil moisture is a key variable in the terrestrial water and energy system. This study presents an hourly index that provides soil moisture estimates on a high spatial and temporal resolution (1 km × 1 km). The long established Antecedent Precipitation Index (API) is extended with soil characteristic and temperature dependent loss functions. The Soilgrids and ERA5 data sets are used to provide the controlling variables. Precipitation as main driver is provided by the German weather radar data set RADOLAN. Empiric variables in the equations are fitted in a optimization effort using 23 in-situ soil moisture measurement stations from the Terrestial Environmental Observatories (TERENO) and a separately conducted field campaign. The volumetric soil moisture estimation results show error values of 3.45 Vol% mean ubRMSD between RADOLAN_API and station data with a high temporal accordance especially of soil moisture upsurge. Further potential of the improved API algorithm is shown with a per-station calibration of applied empirical variables. In addition, the RADOLAN_API data set was spatially compared to the ESA CCI soil moisture product where it altogether demonstrates good agreement. The resulting data set is provided as open access data.
Detection and Quantification of Irrigation Water Amounts at 500 m Using Sentinel-1 Surface Soil Moisture
Authors: Zappa Luca , Schlaffer Stefan , Bauer-Marschallinger Bernhard , Nendel Claas , Zimmerman Beate , Dorigo Wouter
Published: April 2021

Detailed information about irrigation timing and water use at a high spatial resolution is critical for monitoring and improving agricultural water use efficiency. However, neither statistical surveys nor remote sensing-based approaches can currently accommodate this need. To address this gap, we propose a novel approach based on the TU Wien Sentinel-1 Surface Soil Moisture product, characterized by a spatial sampling of 500 m and a revisit time of 1.5–4 days over Europe. Spatiotemporal patterns of soil moisture are used to identify individual irrigation events and estimate irrigation water amounts. To retrieve the latter, we include formulations of evapotranspiration and drainage losses to account for vertical fluxes, which may significantly influence sub-daily soil moisture variations. The proposed approach was evaluated against field-scale irrigation data reported by farmers at three sites in Germany with heterogeneous field sizes, crop patterns, irrigation systems and management. Our results show that most field-scale irrigation events can be detected using soil moisture information (mean F-score = 0.77). Irrigation estimates, in terms of temporal dynamics as well as spatial patterns, were in agreement with reference data (mean Pearson correlation = 0.64) regardless of field-specific characteristics (e.g., crop type). Hence, the proposed approach has the potential to be applied over large regions with varying cropping systems.