bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population Pharmacokinetics and Dose Optimization of Ceftazidime and Imipenem in Patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Nguyen Thu-Minh , Ngo Thu-Hue , Truong Anh-Quan , Vu Dinh-Hoa , Le Dinh-Chi , Vu Ngan-Binh , Can Tuyet-Nga , Nguyen Hoang-Anh , Phan Thu-Phuong , Van Bambeke Françoise , Vidaillac Céline , Ngo Quy-Chau
Published: March 2021

Background: Ceftazidime and imipenem have been increasingly used to treat Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) due to their extended-spectrum covering Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study aims to describe the population pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) target attainment for ceftazidime and imipenem in patients with AECOPD. Methods: We conducted a prospective PK study at Bach Mai Hospital (Viet Nam). A total of 50 (ceftazidime) and 44 (imipenem) patients with AECOPD were enrolled. Population PK analysis was performed using Monolix 2019R1 and Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to determine the optimal dose regimen with respect to the attainment of 60% and 40% fT>MIC for ceftazidime and imipenem, respectively. A dosing algorithm was developed to identify optimal treatment doses. Results: Ceftazidime and imipenem PK was best described by a one-compartment population model with a volume of distribution and clearance of 23.7 L and 8.74 L/h for ceftazidime and 15.1 L and 7.88 L/h for imipenem, respectively. Cockcroft–Gault creatinine clearance represented a significant covariate affecting the clearance of both drugs. Increased doses with prolonged infusion were found to cover pathogens with reduced susceptibility. Conclusions: This study describes a novel and versatile three-level dosing algorithm based on patients’ renal function and characteristic of the infective pathogen to explore ceftazidime and imipenem optimal regimen for AECOPD.
pH-Responsive Release of Ruthenium Metallotherapeutics from Mesoporous Silica-Based Nanocarriers
Authors: Mladenović Minja , Morgan Ibrahim , Ilić Nebojša , Saoud Mohamad , Pergal Marija V. , Kaluđerović Goran N. , Knežević Nikola Ž.
Published: March 2021

Ruthenium complexes are attracting interest in cancer treatment due to their potent cytotoxic activity. However, as their high toxicity may also affect healthy tissues, efficient and selective drug delivery systems to tumour tissues are needed. Our study focuses on the construction of such drug delivery systems for the delivery of cytotoxic Ru(II) complexes upon exposure to a weakly acidic environment of tumours. As nanocarriers, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are utilized, whose surface is functionalized with two types of ligands, (2-thienylmethyl)hydrazine hydrochloride (H1) and (5,6-dimethylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)hydrazine (H2), which were attached to MSN through a pH-responsive hydrazone linkage. Further coordination to ruthenium(II) center yielded two types of nanomaterials MSN-H1[Ru] and MSN-H2[Ru]. Spectrophotometric measurements of the drug release kinetics at different pH (5.0, 6.0 and 7.4) confirm the enhanced release of Ru(II) complexes at lower pH values, which is further supported by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) measurements. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity effect of the released metallotherapeutics is evaluated in vitro on metastatic B16F1 melanoma cells and enhanced cancer cell-killing efficacy is demonstrated upon exposure of the nanomaterials to weakly acidic conditions. The obtained results showcase the promising capabilities of the designed MSN nanocarriers for the pH-responsive delivery of metallotherapeutics and targeted treatment of cancer.
Advances in All-Solid-State Passively Q-Switched Lasers Based on Cr4+:YAG Saturable Absorber
Authors: Tang Jingling , Bai Zhenxu , Zhang Duo , Qi Yaoyao , Ding Jie , Wang Yulei , Lu Zhiwei
Published: March 2021

All-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers have advantages that include simple structure, high peak power, and short sub-nanosecond pulse width. Potentially, these lasers can be applied in multiple settings, such as in miniature light sources, laser medical treatment, remote sensing, and precision processing. Cr4+:YAG crystal is an ideal Q-switch material for all-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers owing to its high thermal conductivity, low saturation light intensity, and high damage threshold. This study summarizes the research progress on all-solid-state passively Q-switched lasers that use Cr4+:YAG crystal as a saturable absorber and discusses further prospects for the development and application of such lasers.
Silicon-Based TM0-to-TM3 Mode-Order Converter Using On-Chip Shallowly Etched Slot Metasurface
Authors: Zhu Chenxi , Xu Yin , Kang Zhe , Hu Xin , Dong Yue , Zhang Bo , Ni Yi , Xu Peipeng
Published: March 2021

Mode-order converters drive the on-chip applications of multimode silicon photonics. Here, we propose a TM0-to-TM3 mode-order converter by leveraging a shallowly etched slot metasurface pattern atop the silicon waveguide, rather than as some previously reported TE-polarized ones. With a shallowly etched pattern on the silicon waveguide, the whole waveguide refractive index distribution and the corresponding field evolution will be changed. Through further analyses, we have found the required slot metasurface pattern for generating the TM3 mode with high conversion efficiency of 92.9% and low modal crosstalk <−19 dB in a length of 17.73 μm. Moreover, the device’s working bandwidth and the fabrication tolerance of the key structural parameters are analyzed in detail. With these features, such devices would be beneficial for the on-chip multimode applications such as mode-division multiplexing transmission.
Flexural Properties and Low-Velocity Impact Behavior of Polyamide 11/Basalt Fiber Fabric Laminates
Authors: Vitiello Libera , Russo Pietro , Papa Ilaria , Lopresto Valentina , Mocerino Davide , Filippone Giovanni
Published: March 2021

Environmentally friendly composite plates intended for load-bearing applications were prepared and systematically characterized in terms of mechanical performances and morphological features. Sample plates combining two extrusion grades of bio-polyamide 11, one of which is plasticized, and two basalt fiber fabrics (plain weave and twill architectures) were obtained by film stacking and hot pressing, and their mechanical properties were investigated by quasi-static flexural and low-velocity impact tests. The comparative analysis of the results, also interpreted by the bending damage analysis, through optical microscope observations, and impact damage analysis through visual inspection and indentation measurements demonstrate that, besides interfacial adhesion issues, the mechanical performance of the laminates need to be optimized through a careful selection of the constituents in the light of the final application. In particular, if the goal is a gain in impact strength, the use of the plasticized matrix is beneficial, but it brings about a loss in stiffness and strength that can be partially compensated by properly selecting a more performing fiber fabric architecture. The latter must also be easily permeated by the matrix to enhance the efficiency of stress transfer from the matrix. Overall, our results can be exploited for the development of bio-composites for particularly demanding applications.
Macroporous Polymer Monoliths in Thin Layer Format
Authors: Korzhikova-Vlakh Evgenia , Antipchik Mariia , Tennikova Tatiana
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, macroporous polymer monoliths represent widely used stationary phases for a number of dynamic interphase mass exchange processes such as high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, electrochromatography, solid-phase extraction, and flow-through solid-state biocatalysis. This review represents the first summary in the field of current achievements on the preparation of macroporous polymer monolithic layers, as well as their application as solid phases for thin-layer chromatography and different kinds of microarray.
Molecular Mobility in Oriented and Unoriented Membranes Based on Poly[2-(Aziridin-1-yl)ethanol]
Authors: Teruel-Juanes Roberto , Bogdanowicz Krzysztof Artur , Badia Jose D. , Sáenz de Juano-Arbona Victor Sáenz de , Graf Robert , Reina Jose A. , Giamberini Marta , Ribes-Greus Amparo
Published: March 2021

Unoriented and oriented membranes based on dendronized polymers and copolymers obtained by chemical modification of poly[2-(aziridin-1-yl) ethanol] (PAZE) with the dendron 3,4,5-tris[4-(n-dodecan-1-yloxy)benzyloxy]benzoate were considered. DSC, XRD, CP-MAS NMR and DETA, contribute to characterize the tendency to crystallize, the molecular mobility of the benzyloxy substituent, the dendritic liquid crystalline group and the clearing transition. The orientation of the mesogenic chain somewhat hindered this molecular motion, especially in the full substituted PAZE. The fragility, free volume and thermal expansion coefficients of these membranes near the glass transition are related to the orientation and the addition of the dendritic groups. PAZE-based membranes combine both order and mobility on a supramolecular and macroscopic level, controlled by the dendritic group and the thermal orientation, and open the possibility of preparing membranes with proper channel mobility that promotes selective ionic transport.
Gum Arabic/Gelatin and Water-Soluble Soy Polysaccharides/Gelatin Blend Films as Carriers of Astaxanthin—A Comparative Study of the Kinetics of Release and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Łupina Katarzyna , Kowalczyk Dariusz , Kazimierczak Waldemar
Published: March 2021

Polymer blending and incorporation of active substances offer a possibility of generation of novel packaging materials with interesting features. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants. Hence, in this study, water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was incorporated into 75/25 gum arabic/gelatin (GAR75/GEL25) and water-soluble soy polysaccharides/gelatin (WSSP75/GEL25) blend films in different concentrations (0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%). Microscope images showed good compatibility between the polysaccharides and GEL. Basing on time required for 50% release, the WSSP-based film exhibited an approximately four-fold slower release rate (t50% = 65.16–142.80 min) than the GAR-based film (t50% = 14.64–34.02 min). This result was mainly ascribed to the slower dissolution of the WSSP-based carrier. The faster release rate of the GAR-based films resulted in stronger antioxidant activity (quarter-scavenging time (t25%ABTS) = 0.22–7.51 min) in comparison to the WSSP-based films (t25%ABTS = 0.91–12.94 min). The increase in the AST concentration was accompanied by gradually reduced solubility and the release rate. It is possible that the increasing number of starch granules (from the AST formulation) acted as a dissolution blocking agent. In general, the WSSP75/GEL25 film displayed the most linear (the Zero-order similar) release profile. So, this carrier has potential for release of AST at a quasi-constant speed.
Performance Evaluation of Cellulose Nanofiber with Residual Hemicellulose as a Nanofiller in Polypropylene-Based Nanocomposite
Authors: Norrrahim Mohd Nor Faiz , Ariffin Hidayah , Yasim-Anuar Tengku Arisyah Tengku , Hassan Mohd Ali , Ibrahim Nor Azowa , Yunus Wan Md Zin Wan , Nishida Haruo
Published: March 2021

Residual hemicellulose could enhance cellulose nanofiber (CNF) processing as it impedes the agglomeration of the nanocellulose fibrils and contributes to complete nanofibrillation within a shorter period of time. Its effect on CNF performance as a reinforcement material is unclear, and hence this study seeks to evaluate the performance of CNF in the presence of amorphous hemicellulose as a reinforcement material in a polypropylene (PP) nanocomposite. Two types of CNF were prepared: SHS-CNF, which contained about 11% hemicellulose, and KOH-CNF, with complete hemicellulose removal. Mechanical properties of the PP/SHS-CNF and PP/KOH-CNF showed an almost similar increment in tensile strength (31% and 32%) and flexural strength (28% and 29%) when 3 wt.% of CNF was incorporated in PP, indicating that hemicellulose in SHS-CNF did not affect the mechanical properties of the PP nanocomposite. The crystallinity of both PP/SHS-CNF and PP/KOH-CNF nanocomposites showed an almost similar value at 55–56%. A slight decrement in thermal stability was seen, whereby the decomposition temperature at 10% weight loss (Td10%) of PP/SHS-CNF was 6 °C lower at 381 °C compared to 387 °C for PP/KOH-CNF, which can be explained by the degradation of thermally unstable hemicellulose. The results from this study showed that the presence of some portion of hemicellulose in CNF did not affect the CNF properties, suggesting that complete hemicellulose removal may not be necessary for the preparation of CNF to be used as a reinforcement material in nanocomposites. This will lead to less harsh pretreatment for CNF preparation and, hence, a more sustainable nanocomposite can be produced.
Optical Properties and Conductivity of PVA–H3PO4 (Polyvinyl Alcohol–Phosphoric Acid) Film Blend Irradiated by γ-Rays
Authors: Susilawati Susilawati , Prayogi Saiful , Arif Muhamad F. , Ismail Noor Maizura , Bilad Muhammad Roil , Asy’ari Muhammad
Published: March 2021

This study assesses the optical properties and conductivity of PVA–H3PO4 (polyvinyl alcohol–phosphoric acid) polymer film blend irradiated by gamma (γ) rays. The PVA–H3PO4 polymer film blend was prepared by the solvent-casting method at H3PO4 concentrations of 75 v% and 85 v%, and then irradiated up to 25 kGy using γ-rays from the Cobalt-60 isotope source. The optical absorption spectrum was measured using an ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer over a wavelength range of 200 to 700 nm. It was found that the absorption peaks are in three regions, namely two peaks in the ultraviolet region (310 and 350 nm) and one peak in the visible region (550 nm). The presence of an absorption peak after being exposed to hυ energy indicates a transition of electrons from HOMO to LUMO within the polymer chain. The study of optical absorption shows that the energy band gap (energy gap) depends on the radiation dose and the concentration of H3PO4 in the polymer film blend. The optical absorption, absorption edge, and energy gap decrease with increasing H3PO4 concentration and radiation dose. The interaction between PVA and H3PO4 blend led to an increase in the conductivity of the resulting polymer blend film.
Rapid Prototyping of a Nanoparticle Concentrator Using a Hydrogel Molding Method
Authors: Hirama Hirotada , Otahara Ryutaro , Mogi Katsuo , Hayase Masanori , Torii Toru , Mekaru Harutaka
Published: March 2021

Nanoparticle (NP) concentration is crucial for liquid biopsies and analysis, and various NP concentrators (NPCs) have been developed. Methods using ion concentration polarization (ICP), an electrochemical phenomenon based on NPCs consisting of microchannels, have attracted attention because samples can be non-invasively concentrated using devices with simple structures. The fabrication of such NPCs is limited by the need for lithography, requiring special equipment and time. To overcome this, we reported a rapid prototyping method for NPCs by extending the previously developed hydrogel molding method, a microchannel fabrication method using hydrogel as a mold. With this, we fabricated NPCs with both straight and branched channels, typical NPC configurations. The generation of ICP was verified, and an NP concentration test was performed using dispersions of negatively and positively charged NPs. In the straight-channel NPC, negatively and positively charged NPs were concentrated >50-fold and >25-fold the original concentration, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of NP concentration via ICP in a straight-channel NPC. Using a branched-channel NPC, maximum concentration rates of 2.0-fold and 1.7-fold were obtained with negatively and positively charged NPs, respectively, similar to those obtained with NPCs fabricated through conventional lithography. This rapid prototyping method is expected to promote the development of NPCs for liquid biopsy and analysis.
Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers from Biomass and Biomass Blends—Current Trends
Authors: Moulefera Imane , Trabelsi Marah , Mamun Al , Sabantina Lilia
Published: March 2021

In recent years, ecological issues have led to the search for new green materials from biomass as precursors for producing carbon materials (CNFs). Such green materials are more attractive than traditional petroleum-based materials, which are environmentally harmful and non-biodegradable. Biomass could be ideal precursors for nanofibers since they stem from renewable sources and are low-cost. Recently, many authors have focused intensively on nanofibers’ production from biomass using microwave-assisted pyrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, ultrasonication method, but only a few on electrospinning methods. Moreover, still few studies deal with the production of electrospun carbon nanofibers from biomass. This review focuses on the new developments and trends of electrospun carbon nanofibers from biomass and aims to fill this research gap. The review is focusing on recollecting the most recent investigations about the preparation of carbon nanofiber from biomass and biopolymers as precursors using electrospinning as the manufacturing method, and the most important applications, such as energy storage that include fuel cells, electrochemical batteries and supercapacitors, as well as wastewater treatment, CO2 capture, and medicine.
The Use of Laminates of Commercially Available Fabrics for Anti-Stab Body-Armor
Authors: Khuyen Nguyen Quang , Han Phan Vu Duc , Nguyen Ngoc Tuan , Le Quoc Bao , Harjo Madis , Anbarjafari Gholamreza , Kiefer Rudolf , Tamm Tarmo
Published: March 2021

Modern personal protective armor has been generally based on the Kevlar fabrics, with the main goal to offer defense against bullets. In addition to the high cost and poor processability, Kevlar has the disadvantage of limited stab-proofing capability. On the other hand, a large number of crimes involving deadly injures represent knife attacks. Our goal in this work was to investigate composites based on traditional commercially available fabrics of linen and silk, using different adhesives-polymers for forming laminates. The silk composites also contained different amounts of in-woven polyester. Three different water-based adhesives of polyurethane, urea formaldehyde and polyvinyl alcohol were considered. It was found, that besides the strength of the fabrics themselves, the adhesives polymers played a crucial role in the obtained performance of the laminates. The laminates were characterized in their mechanical properties, as well as with scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy.
A Review of Polysiloxanes in Terms of Their Application in Explosives
Authors: Zalewski Karol , Chyłek Zbigniew , Trzciński Waldemar A.
Published: March 2021

Polysiloxanes are reviewed for their properties depending on the functionalization of a silicon–oxygen backbone chain. Next, the properties were referred to the requirements that polymers used in plastic/polymer-bonded explosive (PBX)-type explosives must meet. Finally, the current state and prospects for the implementation of polysiloxanes in plastic/polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) formulations are presented.
Tung Oil-Based Production of High 3-Hydroxyhexanoate-Containing Terpolymer Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyvalerate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) Using Engineered Ralstonia eutropha
Authors: Lee Hye Soo , Lee Sun Mi , Park Sol Lee , Choi Tae-Rim , Song Hun-Suk , Kim Hyun-Joong , Bhatia Shashi Kant , Gurav Ranjit , Kim Yun-Gon , Kim June-Hyung , Choi Kwon-Young , Yang Yung-Hun
Published: March 2021

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are attractive new bioplastics for the replacement of plastics derived from fossil fuels. With their biodegradable properties, they have also recently been applied to the medical field. As poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) produced by wild-type Ralstonia eutropha has limitations with regard to its physical properties, it is advantageous to synthesize co- or terpolymers with medium-chain-length monomers. In this study, tung oil, which has antioxidant activity due to its 80% α-eleostearic acid content, was used as a carbon source and terpolymer P(53 mol% 3-hydroxybytyrate-co-2 mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate-co-45 mol% 3-hydroxyhexanoate) with a high proportion of 3-hydroxyhexanoate was produced in R. eutropha Re2133/pCB81. To avail the benefits of α-eleostearic acid in the tung oil-based medium, we performed partial harvesting of PHA by using a mild water wash to recover PHA and residual tung oil on the PHA film. This resulted in a film coated with residual tung oil, showing antioxidant activity. Here, we report the first application of tung oil as a substrate for PHA production, introducing a high proportion of hydroxyhexanoate monomer into the terpolymer. Additionally, the residual tung oil was used as an antioxidant coating, resulting in the production of bioactive PHA, expanding the applicability to the medical field.
Maximizing the Antioxidant Capacity of Padina pavonica by Choosing the Right Drying and Extraction Methods
Authors: Čagalj Martina , Skroza Danijela , Tabanelli Giulia , Özogul Fatih , Šimat Vida
Published: March 2021

Marine algae are becoming an interesting source of biologically active compounds with a promising application as nutraceuticals, functional food ingredients, and therapeutic agents. The effect of drying (freeze-drying, oven-drying, and shade-drying) and extraction methods (shaking at room temperature, shaking in an incubator at 60 °C, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)) on the total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), and total tannins content (TTC), as well as antioxidant capacity of the water/ethanol extracts from Padina pavonica were investigated. The TPC, TFC, and TTC values of P. pavonica were in the range from 0.44 ± 0.03 to 4.32 ± 0.15 gallic acid equivalents in mg/g (mg GAE/g) dry algae, from 0.31 ± 0.01 to 2.87 ± 0.01 mg QE/g dry algae, and from 0.32 ± 0.02 to 10.41 ± 0.62 mg CE/g dry algae, respectively. The highest TPC was found in the freeze-dried sample in 50% ethanol, extracted by MAE (200 W, 60 °C, and 5 min). In all cases, freeze-dried samples extracted with ethanol (both 50% and 70%) had the higher antioxidant activity, while MAE as a green option reduces the extraction time without the loss of antioxidant activity in P. pavonica.
Special Issue on “Bioenergy Systems, Material Management, and Sustainability”
Authors: Lima Fernando V. , Ruiz-Mercado Gerardo J.
Published: March 2021

The growing worldwide demand for energy and resources, combined with the stringent environmental challenges and regulations, means that the efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable use of energy and material sources, including bio-based, has become increasingly important [...]
Decentralized Fault Detection and Fault-Tolerant Control for Nonlinear Interconnected Systems
Authors: Zhou Shun , Bai Jianjun , Wu Feng
Published: March 2021

The nonlinear interconnected system is a complex and important system in daily production and life in general. Due to the interconnection influence between subsystems and external disturbance factors, the system is prone to failure. For this kind of system, a decentralized fault detection and fault tolerant control method is proposed here. Compared with the traditional control scheme, this paper designs a subsystem communication protocol to reduce the information exchange between subsystems. Based on this communication protocol, a fault detection scheme is then designed. Due to the existence of a fault detection threshold in this scheme, the system can detect the fault in time without missing it or having a false alarm. Under the assumed condition, the adaptive control rate is obtained by establishing the adaptive approximation model to approximate the upper bound of the fault, and the subsystem adaptively adjusts the control rate according to the fault condition, so that the system can quickly recover to stability. Finally, a simulation program is used to verify the proposed method.
Fractionating of Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) Essential Oil by Vacuum Fractional Distillation
Authors: Do Dinh Nhat , Nguyen Dinh Phuc , Phung Viet-Duc , Le Xuan-Tien , Le Tuan Minh , Do Van Manh , Minh Bui Quang , Luu Xuan Cuong
Published: March 2021

Lemongrass essential oil has many compounds appropriate for application in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products. Of these, citral is a high-value compound of interest to industry. This work aims to evaluate the use of vacuum fractional distillation to separate lemongrass essential oil compounds, producing essential oil fractions containing high citral content. The effect of process parameters, namely vacuum pressure, type column, and energy input, on the fractionation time, content, and recovery of citral in the fractions, was investigated. The fractionation of lemongrass oils successfully provided five fractions, i.e., fraction 1 (F1), fraction 2 (F2), fraction 3 (F3), fraction 4 (F4), and fraction 5 (F5). GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) spectra showed that the main compound contained in F1 and F2 fractions was β-myrcene (>70%). Meanwhile, F4 and F5 were the two main fractions for citral recovery. The optimal conditions of the fractional distillation system included a column height of 400 mm, power input of 165 W, and pressure of 15 mmHg. These conditions correspond to the highest total citral content of 95%, with a recovery of 80% at the F4 and F5 fractions. Therefore, fractional vacuum distillation may be an effective method to upgrade lemongrass essential oil.
Membrane Disruption Properties of Essential Oils—A Double-Edged Sword?
Authors: Yap Polly Soo Xi , Yusoff Khatijah , Lim Swee-Hua Erin , Chong Chou-Min , Lai Kok-Song
Published: March 2021

The emerging literature has suggested essential oils (EOs) as new possible weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance due to their inherent antimicrobial properties. However, the potential pharmaceutical use of EOs is confronted by several limitations, including being non-specific in terms of drug targeting, possessing a high cytotoxicity as well as posing a high risk for causing skin irritation. Furthermore, some EOs have been demonstrated to adversely affect the cellular lipid profiles and permeability of the cell membrane, which may result in undesirable outcomes for the cells. Nevertheless, owing to their naturally complex compositions, EOs still hold undiscovered potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, as an alternative to existing antibiotics. To address the issue of overuse in antibiotics for crops which have led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance globally, EOs have also been proposed as potential biopesticides. Since the perceived advantages of antimicrobial attributes in EOs remain largely unexplored, this review aims to provide a discourse into its current practical usefulness in the agricultural setting. Finally, updated bioengineering techniques with emphasis of the biopesticide potential of EOs as a means to alleviate antimicrobial resistance will be included.
A Comprehensive Review of HCN-Derived Polymers
Authors: Ruiz-Bermejo Marta , de la Fuente José Luis , Pérez-Fernández Cristina , Mateo-Martí Eva
Published: March 2021

HCN-derived polymers are a heterogeneous group of complex substances synthesized from pure HCN; from its salts; from its oligomers, specifically its trimer and tetramer, amino-nalono-nitrile (AMN) and diamino-maleo-nitrile (DAMN), respectively; or from its hydrolysis products, such as formamide, under a wide range of experimental conditions. The characteristics and properties of HCN-derived polymers depend directly on the synthetic conditions used for their production and, by extension, their potential applications. These puzzling systems have been known mainly in the fields of prebiotic chemistry and in studies on the origins of life and astrobiology since the first prebiotic production of adenine by Oró in the early years of the 1960s. However, the first reference regarding their possible role in prebiotic chemistry was mentioned in the 19th century by Pflüger. Currently, HCN-derived polymers are considered keys in the formation of the first and primeval protometabolic and informational systems, and they may be among the most readily formed organic macromolecules in the solar system. In addition, HCN-derived polymers have attracted a growing interest in materials science due to their potential biomedical applications as coatings and adhesives; they have also been proposed as valuable models for multifunctional materials with emergent properties such as semi-conductivity, ferroelectricity, catalysis and photocatalysis, and heterogeneous organo-synthesis. However, the real structures and the formation pathways of these fascinating substances have not yet been fully elucidated; several models based on either computational approaches or spectroscopic and analytical techniques have endeavored to shed light on their complete nature. In this review, a comprehensive perspective of HCN-derived polymers is presented, taking into account all the aspects indicated above.
Alterations in Religious Rituals Due to COVID-19 Could Be Related to Intragroup Negativity: A Case of Changes in Receiving Holy Communion in the Roman Catholic Community in Poland
Authors: Moroń Marcin , Biolik-Moroń Magdalena , Matuszewski Krzysztof
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various domains of everyday life, including important religious rituals. In the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, the reception of Holy Communion was substantially altered. The suggestion of the Polish Episcopal Conference and diocesan bishops was to receive Holy Communion on the hand during the pandemic, while receiving on the tongue had been the default form before the pandemic. The present studies investigated whether alterations in the form of receiving Holy Communion during the pandemic resulted in intragroup negativity. A total of 376 Polish Roman Catholics participated in two online studies. The most ambivalent emotions toward their religious community were experienced by the followers who recognized reception of Holy Communion on the hand only. Intergroup bias occurred within the “hand only” and the “mouth only” groups and consisted in out-group favoritism (within the “hand only”) and out-group derogation (“mouth only”) in their perception of religious orientation. Intergroup empathy bias occurred in the “hand only” and “spiritual reception” groups, which reported less empathy toward those of the out-group (“mouth only”) infected with SARS-CoV-2. The highest legitimacy of the Church authority was agreed upon by the supporters of both forms of receiving Holy Communion.
An Assessment of Water Sources for Heritage Listed Organic Mound Springs in NW Australia Using Airborne Geophysical (Electromagnetics and Magnetics) and Satellite Remote Sensing Methods
Authors: Rutherford Jasmine , Ibrahimi Tania , Munday Tim , Markey Adrienne , Viezzoli Andrea , Rapiti Arianna , Paterson Rod
Published: March 2021

Discrete phreatophytic vegetation associated with organic mound springs is present in several places in the semi-arid Walyarta Conservation Park (Park) in northern Western Australia. The mound springs are heritage listed, having significant cultural and environmental significance. Increased industrial (mining and agriculture) development in the region, coupled with a growing demand for groundwater to support these developments, requires an enhanced understanding of how the springs operate and the source of water that sustains their presence. The springs are broadly believed to be situated on geological faults and receive groundwater from artesian sources. However, their association with deeper geological structures and aquifer systems, the focus of this study, is not well understood. This study employed regional- and finer-scale airborne geophysical data, including electromagnetics (AEM) and magnetics, to constrain the sub-basin-scale hydrogeology of the West Canning Basin in Western Australia and to detail tectonic deformation, sedimentological and hydrological processes. The AEM data were inverted using 1- and 2D methods to better define structural discontinuities in the Park, and the results identified the location of faults and other geological structures that were coincident with spring locations. A complementary analysis of spatiotemporal patterns of green vegetation was undertaken using remote sensing data. A model for the extent of green vegetation (in percent), calculated using a constrained linear spectral unmixing algorithm and applied to a select Landsat Thematic Mapper ™ image archive, showed the persistence of green vegetation aligned with interpreted fault systems through extended dry periods. These geophysical and remotely sensed datasets demonstrate that in the Park, the sedimentary aquifers and landscapes are highly compartmentalized and that this constrains aquifer distribution, groundwater quality and the location of wetlands and phreatophytic vegetation. Integrating key information from these datasets allows for the construction of a three-dimensional model that predicts the nature and extent of the critical zone which sustains perennial groundwater discharge within mound springs, drainages and wetlands and provides a framework to assess discharge rates, mixing and, ultimately, sensitivity to changed water availability.
High-Spectral Resolution Remote Sensing of Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics
Authors: van Wesemael Bas , Chabrillat Sabine , Wilken Florian
Published: March 2021

Soil organic matter (SOM) is essential for preserving a healthy soil that provides good soil structure and high fertility and water -holding capacity [...]
Unsupervised Multistep Deformable Registration of Remote Sensing Imagery Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Papadomanolaki Maria , Christodoulidis Stergios , Karantzalos Konstantinos , Vakalopoulou Maria
Published: March 2021

Image registration is among the most popular and important problems of remote sensing. In this paper we propose a fully unsupervised, deep learning based multistep deformable registration scheme for aligning pairs of satellite imagery. The presented method is based on the expression power of deep fully convolutional networks, regressing directly the spatial gradients of the deformation and employing a 2D transformer layer to efficiently warp one image to the other, in an end-to-end fashion. The displacements are calculated with an iterative way, utilizing different time steps to refine and regress them. Our formulation can be integrated into any kind of fully convolutional architecture, providing at the same time fast inference performances. The developed methodology has been evaluated in two different datasets depicting urban and periurban areas; i.e., the very high-resolution dataset of the East Prefecture of Attica, Greece, as well as the high resolution ISPRS Ikonos dataset. Quantitative and qualitative results demonstrated the high potentials of our method.
Earth Observation-Based Detectability of the Effects of Land Management Programmes to Counter Land Degradation: A Case Study from the Highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau
Authors: Barvels Esther , Fensholt Rasmus
Published: March 2021

In Ethiopia land degradation through soil erosion is of major concern. Land degradation mainly results from heavy rainfall events and droughts and is associated with a loss of vegetation and a reduction in soil fertility. To counteract land degradation in Ethiopia, initiatives such as the Sustainable Land Management Programme (SLMP) have been implemented. As vegetation condition is a key indicator of land degradation, this study used satellite remote sensing spatiotemporal trend analysis to examine patterns of vegetation between 2002 and 2018 in degraded land areas and studied the associated climate-related and human-induced factors, potentially through interventions of the SLMP. Due to the heterogeneity of the landscapes of the highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau and the small spatial scale at which human-induced changes take place, this study explored the value of using 30 m resolution Landsat data as the basis for time series analysis. The analysis combined Landsat derived Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data with Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) derived rainfall estimates and used Theil-Sen regression, Mann-Kendall trend test and LandTrendr to detect changes in NDVI, rainfall and rain-use efficiency. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to relate changes in vegetation directly to SLMP infrastructure. The key findings of the study are a general trend shift from browning between 2002 and 2010 to greening between 2011 and 2018 along with an overall greening trend between 2002 and 2018. Significant improvements in vegetation condition due to human interventions were found only at a small scale, mainly on degraded hillside locations, along streams or in areas affected by gully erosion. Visual inspections (based on Google Earth) and OLS regression results provide evidence that these can partly be attributed to SLMP interventions. Even from the use of detailed Landsat time series analysis, this study underlines the challenge and limitations to remotely sensed detection of changes in vegetation condition caused by land management interventions aiming at countering land degradation.
Testing and Validating the Suitability of Geospatially Informed Proxies on Land Tenure in North Korea for Korean (Re-)Unification
Authors: Lee Cheonjae , de Vries Walter Timo de
Published: March 2021

The role of remote sensing data in detecting, estimating, and monitoring socioeconomic status (SES) such as quality of life dimensions and sustainable development prospects has received increased attention. Geospatial data has emerged as powerful source of information for enabling both socio-technical assessment and socio-legal analysis in land administration domain. In the context of Korean (re-)unification, there is a notable paucity of evidence how to identify unknowns in North Korea. The main challenge is the lack of complete and adequate information when it comes to clarifying unknown land tenure relations and land governance arrangements. Deriving informative land tenure relations from geospatial data in line with socio-economic land attributes is currently the most innovative approach. In-close and in-depth investigations of validating the suitability of a set of geospatially informed proxies combining multiple values were taken into consideration, as were the forms of knowledge co-production. Thus, the primary aim is to provide empirical evidence of whether proposed proxies are scientifically valid, policy-relevant, and socially robust. We revealed differences in the distributions of agreements relating to land ownership and land transfer rights identification among scientists, bureaucrats, and stakeholders. Moreover, we were able to measure intrinsic, contextual, representational, and accessibility attributes of information quality regarding the associations between earth observation (EO) data and land tenure relations in North Korea from a number of different viewpoints. This paper offers valuable insights into new techniques for validating suitability of EO data proxies in the land administration domain off the reliance on conventional practices formed and customized to the specific artefacts and guidelines of the remote sensing community.
Clinical Update of the Latest Evidence for CardioMEMS Pulmonary Artery Pressure Monitoring in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Promising System for Remote Heart Failure Care
Authors: Brugts Jasper J. , Radhoe Sumant P. , Aydin Dilan , Theuns Dominic A. , Veenis Jesse F.
Published: March 2021

The CardioMEMS pulmonary artery (PA) monitoring system placed in the left lower lobe pulmonary artery is capable of measuring pulmonary artery pressure remotely as a surrogate of intracardiac filling pressures and volume status. The technique is safe and reliable. By using remote PA monitoring for proactive medical interventions, there is a growing body of clinical evidence for a substantial, robust reduction in HF hospitalizations in various populations (clinical trial setting, post-marketing studies and real-world experiences). This review summarizes the clinical evidence, outlines future perspectives, and aims for remote patient care in heart failure using CardioMEMS.
Community Belonging and Values-Based Leadership as the Antidote to Bullying and Incivility
Authors: Page M. Beth , Bishop Kathy , Etmanski Catherine
Published: March 2021

This article examines the role of community as an antidote to bullying and incivility. The question we ask our readers to consider is: Does cultivating a culture of belonging for all acknowledge a most basic human need that members of organizations seek to meet during their day-to-day work lives? Belonging can serve as an antidote to feeling othered, which sows the seeds of separateness, isolation, absence of community, bullying, and incivility. Examples of othering behavior operate along a continuum that normalizes bullying, incivility and can escalate to include racism, sexism, classism, and a range of other non-inclusive behaviors. This conceptual article draws on our collective experience as educators in leadership. With humility, we rely on our efforts to amplify values-based leadership, community belonging, and ways of knowing from long ago wisdom. We seek to cultivate communities of belonging among leaders in education and ultimately in organizations and communities that exist beyond the classroom. We advocate belonging as an antidote to othering behaviors that can include bullying and incivility and draw on literature to support our approach.
Contactless Determination of Electric Field in Metal–Insulator–Semiconductor Interfaces by Using Constant DC-Reflectivity Photoreflectance
Authors: Kobayashi Eiichi , Satta Koya , Inoue Ryoga , Suzuki Ken , Makino Takayuki
Published: March 2021

We applied photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopy for contactless determination of the electric field strength at buried interfaces in metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures. The PR is an all-optical version of an electromodulated reflectance spectroscopy. The tradeoff of this adoption is that this requires an additional feedback system to eliminate background problems induced by scattered pump light and/or photoluminescence. A microcomputer-based feedback system has been developed for this elimination. Despite the very tiny signal intensity, we successfully attained a sufficiently good signal–noise ratio to determine the electric field strength in oxide-based MIS interfaces that exhibits a large, unwanted photoluminescence signal. The field strength was evaluated to be ca. 0.25 kV/cm.
Farmers’ Preference, Yield, and GGE-Biplot Analysis-Based Evaluation of Four Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Varieties Grown in Multiple Environments
Authors: Mahmud Abdullah Al , Hassan Mohamed M. , Alam Md Jahangir , Molla Md Samim Hossain , Ali Md Akkas , Mohanta Haridas Chandra , Alam Md Shahidul , Islam Md Aminul , Talukder Md Alamin Hossain , Ferdous Md Zannatul , Amin Md Ruhul , Hossain Md Faruque , Anwar Md Mazharul , Islam Md Shahidul , Dessoky Eldessoky S. , Hossain Akbar
Published: March 2021

The study aimed to select high-yielding, farmers-preferred quality sweet potato varieties that are suitable to grow in various environmental conditions in Bangladesh. In this context, four popular sweet potato varieties (viz., ‘BARI Mistialu-8′, ‘BARI Mistialu-12′, ‘BARI Mistialu-14′, and ‘BARI Mistialu-15′) were used in the study. These varieties were released by Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). In the first season (2018–2019), these varieties were evaluated at nine locations, and in the second season (2019–2020), the same varieties were tested further, but only in three locations. The trial was set up in a randomized complete block design and repeated three times. After two years of observation, it was found that the fresh root yield was varied significantly due to the environment (E), genotypes (G), and their (G × E) interaction (p ≤ 0.01) by using genotype and genotype x environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The E and G × E interaction effects were found to the greater than the genotypes effect solely. In the first year, three varieties, namely ‘BARI Mistialu-8′, ‘BARI Mistialu-12′ and ‘BARI Mistialu-14′, were identified as balanced and comparatively higher in yield in nine locations. These three varieties also showed a similar trend with respect to root yield in tested three locations in the second year. Among the four varieties, ‘BARI Mistialu-12′ was found to be the highest root yielder, followed by ‘BARI Mistialu-8′ and ‘BARI Mistialu-14′. Across the locations, these varieties showed 57.89%, 61.50% and 44.30% higher yield than the local check cultivar. Therefore, these three varieties may be recommended as the best varieties of sweet potato throughout the country.
Modeling and Prediction of Land Use Land Cover Change Dynamics Based on Land Change Modeler (LCM) in Nashe Watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Leta Megersa Kebede , Demissie Tamene Adugna , Tränckner Jens
Published: March 2021

Change of land use land cover (LULC) has been known globally as an essential driver of environmental change. Assessment of LULC change is the most precise method to comprehend the past land use, types of changes to be estimated, the forces and developments behind the changes. The aim of the study was to assess the temporal and spatial LULC dynamics of the past and to predict the future using Landsat images and LCM (Land Change Modeler) by considering the drivers of LULC dynamics. The research was conducted in Nashe watershed (Ethiopia) which is the main tributary of the Upper Blue Nile basin. The total watershed area is 94,578 ha. The Landsat imagery from 2019, 2005, and 1990 was used for evaluating and predicting the spatiotemporal distributions of LULC changes. The future LULC image prediction has been generated depending on the historical trends of LULC changes for the years 2035 and 2050. LCM integrated in TerrSet Geospatial Monitoring and Modeling System assimilated with MLP and CA-Markov chain have been used for monitoring, assessment of change, and future projections. Markov chain was used to generate transition probability matrices between LULC classes and cellular automata were used to predict the LULC map. Validation of the predicted LULC map of 2019 was conducted successfully with the actual LULC map. The validation accuracy was determined using the Kappa statistics and agreement/disagreement marks. The results of the historical LULC depicted that forest land, grass land, and range land are the most affected types of land use. The agricultural land in 1990 was 41,587.21 ha which increased to 57,868.95 ha in 2019 with an average growth rate of 39.15%. The forest land, range land, and grass land declined annually with rates of 48.38%, 19.58%, and 26.23%, respectively. The predicted LULC map shows that the forest cover will further degrade from 16.94% in 2019 to 8.07% in 2050, while agricultural land would be expanded to 69,021.20 ha and 69,264.44 ha in 2035 and 2050 from 57,868.95 ha in 2019. The findings of this investigation indicate an expected rapid change in LULC for the coming years. Converting the forest area, range land, and grass land into other land uses, especially to agricultural land, is the main LULC change in the future. Measures should be implemented to achieve rational use of agricultural land and the forest conversion needs to be well managed.