bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the Influence of Land-Use Change on δ13C, δ15N, and Soil Nutritional Status in Coniferous, Broadleaved, and Mixed Forests in Southern China: A Field Investigation
Authors: Farooq Taimoor , Chen Xiaoyong , Shakoor Awais , Li Yong , Wang Jun , Rashid Muhammad , Kumar Uttam , Yan Wende
Published: July 2021

Natural isotopic abundance in soil and foliar can provide integrated information related to the long-term alterations of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycles in forest ecosystems. We evaluated total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and isotopic natural abundance of C (δ13C) and N (δ15N) in soil and foliar of coniferous plantation (CPF), natural broadleaved forest (NBF), and mixed forest stands at three different soil depths (i.e., 0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm). This study also explored how soil available nutrients are affected by different forest types. Lutou forest research station, located in Hunan Province, central China, was used as the study area. Results demonstrated that the topsoil layer had higher TC and TN content in the mixed forest stand, resulting in a better quality of organic materials in the topsoil layer in the mixed forest than NBF and CPF. In general, soil TC, TN, and δ15N varied significantly in different soil depths and forest types. However, the forest type did not exhibit any significant effect on δ13C. Overall, soil δ13C was significantly enriched in CPF, and δ15N values were enriched in mixed forest. Foliar C content varied significantly among forest types, whereas foliar N content was not significantly different. No big differences were observed for foliar δ15N and δ13C across forest types. However, foliar δ13C and δ15N were positively related to soil δ13C and δ15N, respectively. Foliar N, soil and foliar C:N ratio, soil moisture content (SMC), and forest type were observed as the major influential factors affecting isotopic natural abundance, whereas soil pH was not significantly correlated. In addition, forest type change and soil depth increment had a significant effect on soil nutrient availability. In general, soil nutrient availability was higher in mixed forest. Our findings implied that forest type and soil depth alter TC, TN, and soil δ15N, whereas δ13C was only driven by soil depth. Moreover, plantations led to a decline in soil available nutrient content compared with NBF and mixed forest stands.
Drought Tolerance Responses in Vegetable-Type Soybean Involve a Network of Biochemical Mechanisms at Flowering and Pod-Filling Stages
Authors: Moloi Makoena , van der Merwe Rouxlene
Published: July 2021

Severe drought stress affects the production of vegetable-type soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), which is in infancy for Africa despite its huge nutritional benefits. This study was conducted under controlled environmental conditions to establish the effects of severe drought stress on ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), and glutathione reductase (GR) activities as well as proline, total soluble sugars (TSS), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents of five vegetable-type soybean cultivars (UVE8, UVE14, UVE17, AGS354, AGS429) at flowering and pod-filling stages. Drought induced significant increases in the contents of proline (selectively at pod filling for AGS429), TSS (at both stages for AGS429, and only at pod filling for UVE14), and malondialdehyde (AGS354 at flowering; UVE17 at pod filling). UVE8 and AGS354 had the highest H2O2 levels at flowering under drought stress, while AGS429 had the lowest. However, AGS429 was the only cultivar with significantly increased H2O2 under drought stress. Furthermore, drought stress induced significant increases in APX, GPX, and GR activities at flowering for AGS429. AGS354 recorded the highest decline for all antioxidative enzymes, while UVE17 decreased for GPX only. All biochemical parameters, except H2O2, were significantly higher at pod filling than at the flowering stage. The relationship between H2O2 and total seed mass (TSMP) or total seed per plant (TSP) was significantly positive for both stages, while that of TSS (at flowering) and proline (at pod filling) were significantly related to total pods per plant (TPP). The study suggests that during drought, the tolerance responses of vegetable-type soybean, APX, GPX, and GR (especially at the flowering stage), function in concert to minimize H2O2 production and lipid peroxidation, thereby allowing H2O2 to function in the signaling events leading to the induction of drought tolerance. The induction of TSS at flowering and proline at pod filling is important in the drought tolerance response of this crop.
The Remarkable Journey of a Weed: Biology and Management of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) in Conservation Cropping Systems of Australia
Authors: Bajwa Ali Ahsan , Latif Sajid , Borger Catherine , Iqbal Nadeem , Asaduzzaman Md , Wu Hanwen , Walsh Michael
Published: July 2021

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.), traditionally utilised as a pasture species, has become the most problematic and difficult-to-control weed across grain production regions in Australia. Annual ryegrass has been favoured by the adoption of conservation tillage systems due to its genetic diversity, prolific seed production, widespread dispersal, flexible germination requirements and competitive growth habit. The widespread evolution of herbicide resistance in annual ryegrass has made its management within these systems extremely difficult. The negative impacts of this weed on grain production systems result in annual revenue losses exceeding $93 million (AUD) for Australian grain growers. No single method of management provides effective and enduring control hence the need of integrated weed management programs is widely accepted and practiced in Australian cropping. Although annual ryegrass is an extensively researched weed, a comprehensive review of the biology and management of this weed in conservation cropping systems has not been conducted. This review presents an up-to-date account of knowledge on the biology, ecology and management of annual ryegrass in an Australian context. This comprehensive account provides pragmatic information for further research and suitable management of annual ryegrass.
Improving Restoration Efficiency by Modeling Optimal Sowing Periods: A Case Study of Two Native Plants and Restoration of a Site
Authors: Jung Young-Ho , Kim JunHyeok , Park Chung-Youl , Park Hee-Seung , Park YoSup
Published: July 2021

Efficient ecological restoration techniques are urgently required to minimize seed consumption and labor requirements. Here, we determined the optimal sowing period for two native species, Agastache rugosa (Korean mint) and Astilbe rubra (False goat’s beard), toward their use for ecological restoration of Mt. Gariwang, a site damaged by the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics’ activities. We investigated the effects of daily mean temperature (DMT) and daily temperature range (DTR) on seed germination percentage, which decreased for both species with decreasing DTR and was optimal at a DMT of 25 °C and 17.5 °C for A. rugosa and A. rubra, respectively. We developed a single multiple regression equation that evaluated the effects of DMT and DTR simultaneously and determined the temperature scores when the germination percentage reached 85%. We applied the developed multiple regression equation by analyzing the temperature data of the restoration site. In addition, precipitation data analysis was added to set the optimal sowing period. As a result, the optimal sowing period for the two species was determined from May 21 to the end of May. This makes it possible to minimize seed consumption and labor requirements when sowing seeds. The model developed herein will be useful not only to guide the ecological restoration of Mt. Gariwang, but also for other regions using site-specific temperature data.
The Application of the Essential Oils of Thymus vulgaris L. and Crithmum maritimum L. as Biocidal on Two Tholu Bommalu Indian Leather Puppets
Authors: D’Agostino Giulia , Giambra Belinda , Palla Franco , Bruno Maurizio , Badalamenti Natale
Published: July 2021

The chemical profile of the Thymus vulgaris (Lamiaceae) essential oil (EO) was investigated in order to evaluate its biological properties against microorganisms affecting two Tholu Bommalu, typical Indian leather puppets stored at the International Puppets Museum “Antonio Pasqualino” of Palermo, Italy. A GC–MS analysis, using both polar and apolar columns, was used to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of the Thymus vulgaris and Crithmum maritimum essential oils in vapor phase to disinfect heritage leather puppets. Pieces of leather artifacts that were affected by different bacterial colonies were exposed to EO under vacuum and static evaporation conditions. The results presented showed that the vaporization of essential oil was an efficient method in the disinfection of natural skins, eradicating microorganism in short times. T. vulgaris EO in the 50% solution showed excellent inhibitory activity against isolated bacteria with both methods, but the obtained results suggest that the vacuum method allowed for faster exposition of the artifacts to the biocide. Furthermore, the biocidal properties of the essential oil of a Sicilian accession of Crithmum maritimum (Apiaceae) aerial parts were compared and investigated. The results of the latter essential oil showed a poor activity against the isolated micro-organisms.
Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Hot Water Extract Reverses High-Fat Diet-Induced Lipid Metabolism of White and Brown Adipose Tissues in Obese Mice
Authors: Choi Ra-Yeong , Lee Mi-Kyung
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether an anti-obesity effect of a Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. hot water extract (PW) was involved in the lipid metabolism of white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6N obese mice. Mice freely received a normal diet (NCD) or an HFD for 12 weeks; HFD-fed mice were orally given PW (100 or 300 mg/kg) or garcinia cambogia (GC, 200 mg/kg) once a day. After 12 weeks, PW (300 mg/kg) or GC significantly alleviated adiposity by reducing body weight, WAT weights, and food efficiency ratio. PW (300 mg/kg) improved hyperinsulinemia and enhanced insulin sensitivity. In addition, PW (300 mg/kg) significantly down-regulated expression of carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) genes in WAT compared with the untreated HFD group. HFD increased BAT gene levels such as adrenoceptor beta 3 (ADRB3), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), PPARγ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), PPARα, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) compared with the NCD group; however, PW or GC effectively reversed those levels. These findings suggest that the anti-obesity activity of PW was mediated via suppression of lipogenesis in WAT, leading to the normalization of lipid metabolism in BAT.
Reclaiming to Brackish Wetlands in the Alberta Oil Sands: Comparison of Responses to Sodium Concentrations by Carex atherodes and Carex aquatilis
Authors: Glaeser Lilyan C. , House Melissa , Vitt Dale H.
Published: July 2021

The variation in sodium concentrations in waters of natural fens and marshes on the western Canadian landscape provides a background for choosing the appropriate plants for wetland reclamation. Broad tolerances to salinity are especially important for reclamation trials on saline-rich ‘in-pits’ that were left from open-pit oil sands mining. One such species, Carex aquatilis, has been identified as a key species in early reclamation attempts; however, at the Sandhill Wetland on the Syncrude Canada oil sands lease, this species has aggressively colonized, dominating parts of the wetland and limiting species diversity. A second species, also widespread on natural lake shores and marshes, is Carex atherodes, with field observations suggesting a broad tolerance to salinity. Here, we examine the responses of this species to a series of sodium concentrations and compare these to those of C. aquatilis. In particular, we addressed three questions: (1) How do structural attributes of C. atherodes respond to a series of Na+ concentration treatments? (2) Are different structural responses related to the functional attributes of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and/or transpiration rate? (3) How do these responses compare to those of C. aquatilis? We implemented a phytotron experiment to test the responses of these two species to either five or six concentrations of sodium, ranging from 20 to 3000 mg Na+ L−1. In general, structural responses of C. atherodes did not differ between 50 and 789 mg Na+ L−1, while performances of all attributes were reduced at 1407 mg L−1. Physiological attributes had high variation, but also had reduced performances at similar treatment levels. In comparison, a clear threshold was present for structural attributes in Carex aquatilis between 1650 and 2148 mg Na+ L−1, while physiological attributes were reduced between 1035 to 1650 mg Na+ L−1. These responses from C. aquatilis were similar to those previously reported. Na+ concentrations in porewater at the Sandhill Wetland in 2019 reached as high as 1200 mg Na+ L−1, with natural subsaline and sodic sites ranging much higher. Although all of the plants in the treatments remained viable at the end of the experiment, these results indicate that Na+ concentrations above 1500–2000 mg Na+ L−1 may inhibit the growth of these two species and decrease their competitive abilities.
Floral Scent Evolution in the Genus Jaborosa (Solanaceae): Influence of Ecological and Environmental Factors
Authors: Moré Marcela , Soteras Florencia , Ibañez Ana C. , Dötterl Stefan , Cocucci Andrea A. , Raguso Robert A.
Published: July 2021

Floral scent is a key communication channel between plants and pollinators. However, the contributions of environment and phylogeny to floral scent composition remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized interspecific variation of floral scent composition in the genus Jaborosa Juss. (Solanaceae) and, using an ecological niche modelling approach (ENM), we assessed the environmental variables that exerted the strongest influence on floral scent variation, taking into account pollination mode and phylogenetic relationships. Our results indicate that two major evolutionary themes have emerged: (i) a ‘warm Lowland Subtropical nectar-rewarding clade’ with large white hawkmoth pollinated flowers that emit fragrances dominated by oxygenated aromatic or sesquiterpenoid volatiles, and (ii) a ‘cool-temperate brood-deceptive clade’ of largely fly-pollinated species found at high altitudes (Andes) or latitudes (Patagonian Steppe) that emit foul odors including cresol, indole and sulfuric volatiles. The joint consideration of floral scent profiles, pollination mode, and geoclimatic context helped us to disentangle the factors that shaped floral scent evolution across “pollinator climates” (geographic differences in pollinator abundance or preference). Our findings suggest that the ability of plants in the genus Jaborosa to colonize newly formed habitats during Andean orogeny was associated with striking transitions in flower scent composition that trigger specific odor-driven behaviors in nocturnal hawkmoths and saprophilous fly pollinators.
Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum Infusion Promotes Fat Oxidation in Hepatocytes and Stimulates Energy Expenditure and Fat Oxidation after Acute Ingestion in Humans: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kenig Saša , Kramberger Katja , Petelin Ana , Bandelj Dunja , Baruca Arbeiter Alenka , Miklavčič Višnjevec Ana , Peeters Kelly , Mohorko Nina , Šik Novak Karin , Jenko Pražnikar Zala
Published: July 2021

Helichrysum italicum is an aromatic plant with promising pharmacological activities. Bioactive compounds found in plants represent an important alternative treatment for weight loss and an infusion of H. italicum contains compounds which could have such effect. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate its acute effects on resting energy expenditure (REE) and possible differences in substrate oxidation in a pilot study. A dried, ground plant material of H. italicum ssp. italicum was infused with hot water and chemically characterized with HPLC-MS analysis. Sensory evaluation of herbal tea was performed. A randomized, crossover, controlled pilot study was then conducted on eleven healthy male subjects. The REE and substrate oxidation were measured by indirect calorimetry at baseline and 30 and 120 min after ingestion of infusion or hot water. The expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was examined in H. italicum infusion-treated hepatocytes. Several phenolic classes were identified in the infusion, caffeoylquinic acids were the most abundant, followed by pyrones and flavonols. A single ingestion of H. italicum infusion significantly increased REE by 4% and fat oxidation by 12% compared to hot water ingestion. A significant 2-fold up-regulation of β-oxidation-related genes in HepG2 cells, exposed to H. italicum infusion, was detected. This pilot study suggests that H. italicum infusion possesses bioactive substances with potential application in obesity prevention, which could, with additional studies, become an economically interesting novel application of the plant. Clinical trial registration number: NCT04818905
Fabrication of Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Intrinsic Flame-Retardant Polyurethane Elastomer Containing 4-(Phenylethynyl) Di(Ethylene Glycol) Phthalate
Authors: Xie Meina , Jia Daikun , Hu Jin , He Jiyu , Li Xiangmei , Yang Rongjie
Published: July 2021

In this study, the aromatic acetylene compound 4-(phenylethynyl) di(ethylene glycol) phthalate (PEPE) was used as a chain extender, partially replacing 1,4-butanediol. To synthesize an intrinsic flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) with an aromatic acetylene structure, PEPE was synthesized by a two-step polymerization. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of TPU were studied. The microstructure of TPU char was investigated by scanning electron microscopy to analyze the flame-retardant mechanism. The tensile strength of TPU containing 1.35 wt% PEPE was 39.2 MPa, which was almost twice as much as neat TPU, showed a dramatic decrease in the peak heat release rate and total heat release, and declined by 46.2% and 24.5%, respectively. After the flame-retardant TPU burned, a cross-linked network foaming char structure was formed. The results showed that PEPE improved the mechanical properties of TPU and conferred good stability that promoted the formation of charcoal and reduced heat release during the combustion of TPU.
Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials II: Some Additional Contributions to the Topic
Authors: García-Martínez Jesús-María , Collar Emilia P.
Published: July 2021

By following the successful editorial pathway of the recently published former Special Issue dedicated to Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Materials [...]
Synergetic Effect of Different Carrier Dynamics in Pm6:Y6:ITIC-M Ternary Cascade Energy Level System
Authors: Li Zicha , Song Dandan , Xu Zheng , Qiao Bo , Zhao Suling , Wageh S. , Al-Ghamdi Ahmed A , Huo Xiaomin
Published: July 2021

Although reported ternary polymer solar cells have higher power conversion efficiency than binary polymers, the mechanism of exciton separation and charge transport in this complex ternary system is still unclear. Herein, based on PM6:Y6:ITIC-M ternary solar cells, we combine the technique of luminescence spectroscopy, including electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence (PL) with photovoltaic measurements, to understand clearly the detailed roles of ITIC-M as the third component in the contribution of device performance. The results show that ITIC-M can form the alloy-like composite with Y6 but leave individual Y6 acceptor to conduct charge transfer with PM6 donor, which improves Voc but decreases Jsc because of poor charge transfer capacity of ITIC-M. Meanwhile, the energy transfer from PM6 to ITIC-M exists in the active layers; small IE suppresses exciton dissociation. Deteriorating performance of solar cells demonstrates that, except for complementary absorption spectrum and suitable energy levels in PM6:Y6:ITIC-M system, the synergetic effects of carrier dynamics among different organic materials play an important role in influencing the performance of ternary solar cells.
Clay-Based Polymer Nanocomposites: Essential Work of Fracture
Authors: Franco-Urquiza Edgar Adrian
Published: July 2021

This work details the general structure of the clays used as a reinforcement phase in polymer nanocomposites. Clays are formed by the molecular arrangement of atomic planes described through diagrams to improve their visualization. The molecular knowledge of clays can facilitate the selection of the polymer matrix and achieve a suitable process to obtain clay-based polymer nanocomposite systems. This work highlights the development of polymer nanocomposites using the melt intercalation method. The essential work of fracture (EWF) technique has been used to characterize the fracture behavior of materials that show ductility and where complete yielding of the ligament region occurs before the crack propagation. In this sense, the EWF technique characterizes the post-yielding fracture mechanics, determining two parameters: the specific essential work of fracture (we), related to the surface where the actual fracture process occurs, and the specific non-essential work of fracture (wp), related to the plastic work carried out in the outer zone of the fracture zone. The EWF technique has been used successfully in nano-reinforced polymers to study the influence of different variables on fracture behavior. In this work, the fundamentals of the EWF technique are described, and some examples of its application are compiled, presenting a summary of the most relevant contributions in recent years.
Hygromechanical Performance of Polyamide Specimens Made with Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Spina Roberto , Cavalcante Bruno
Published: July 2021

The material performance of polyamide (PA) samples made with fused filament fabrication (FFF) was analyzed. The authors implemented a well-structured framework to identify the filaments main properties before processing them and characterizing the printed samples. Unfilled and glass-fiber reinforced PA were investigated, focusing on moisture absorption and its effects on dimensional stability and mechanical performance. The properties were collected using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, whereas the specimens were characterized by employing compression tests. This framework allowed for the moisture determination, as well as the influence of the moisture absorption. A significant impact was detected for the glass-fiber reinforced PA, with a decrease in the dimensional and mechanical performance. The novelty of this study was to define a well-structured framework for testing the moisture influence of FFF components.
Recent Advances in Microneedle Platforms for Transdermal Drug Delivery Technologies
Authors: Mdanda Sipho , Ubanako Philemon , Kondiah Pierre P. D. , Kumar Pradeep , Choonara Yahya E.
Published: July 2021

In many clinical applications, the transdermal route is used as an alternative approach to avoid the significant limitations associated with oral drug delivery. There is a long history for drug delivery through the skin utilizing transdermal microneedle arrays. Microneedles are reported to be versatile and very efficient devices. This technique has spurred both industrial and scientific curiosity, due to its outstanding characteristics such as painless penetration, affordability, excellent medicinal efficiency, and relative protection. Microneedles possess outstanding properties for diverse biomedical uses such as the delivery of very large substances with ionic and hydrophilic physicochemical properties. Importantly, microneedles are applicable in numerous biomedical fields such as therapy, diagnosis, and vaccine administration. Microneedles are emerging tools that have shown profound potential for biomedical applications. Transdermal microneedle technologies are likely to become a preferred route of therapeutic substances administration in the future since they are effective, painless, and affordable. In this review, we summarize recent advances in microneedles for therapeutic applications. We explore their constituent materials and fabrication methods that improve the delivery of critical therapeutic substances through the skin. We further discuss the practicality of advanced microneedles used as drug delivery tools.
Hybrid Silica-Based Fillers in Nanocomposites: Influence of Isotropic/Isotropic and Isotropic/Anisotropic Fillers on Mechanical Properties of Styrene-Butadiene (SBR)-Based Rubber
Authors: Staropoli Mariapaola , Rogé Vincent , Moretto Enzo , Didierjean Joffrey , Michel Marc , Duez Benoit , Steiner Pascal , Thielen Georges , Lenoble Damien , Thomann Jean-Sébastien
Published: July 2021

The improvement of mechanical properties of polymer-based nanocomposites is usually obtained through a strong polymer–silica interaction. Most often, precipitated silica nanoparticles are used as filler. In this work, we study the synergetic effect occurring between dual silica-based fillers in a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)/polybutadiene (PBD) rubber matrix. Precipitated Highly Dispersed Silica (HDS) nanoparticles (10 nm) have been associated with spherical Stöber silica nanoparticles (250 nm) and anisotropic nano-Sepiolite. By imaging filler at nano scale through Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy, we have shown that anisotropic fillers align only in presence of a critical amount of HDS. The dynamic mechanical analysis of rubber compounds confirms that this alignment leads to a stiffer nanocomposite when compared to Sepiolite alone. On the contrary, spherical 250 nm nanoparticles inhibit percolation network and reduce the nanocomposite stiffness.
Assessment of Bond Integrity, Durability, and Degree of Conversion of a Calcium Fluoride Reinforced Dentin Adhesive
Authors: AlRefeai Mohammad H. , AlHamdan Eman M. , Al-Saleh Samar , Farooq Imran , Abrar Eisha , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: July 2021

Our study aimed to synthesize and compare the mechanical properties and dentin interaction of two adhesives; experimental adhesive (EA) and EA containing 5 wt.% calcium fluoride (CaF2) nano-crystals (CaF2 adhesive-CAFA). CaF2 nano-crystals were synthesized by reacting two solutions (containing calcium and fluoride) in a glass chamber using a heated air system. The EA was produced using a mix of monomers, photo-initiators, camphorquinone, and electron initiators. The synthesized CaF2 nano-crystals were centrifuged to guarantee that inside the adhesive there is homogenized dispersion of the filler particles. Their integration in the EA yielded two groups; Gp-1: EA (without CaF2, control) and Gp-2: (5 wt.% CaF2 containing adhesive, CAFA). Sixty teeth were prepared and set to form bonded specimens using the two adhesives. The CaF2 nano-crystals were irregularly shaped with an average particle size of 30–200 nm. The highest μTBS values were obtained for CAFA-non-thermocycled (NTC) samples (32.63 ± 3.15), followed by EA-NTC (31.80 ± 3.75) specimens. On thermocycling (TC), both adhesive groups presented lower μTBS values (CAFA-TC: 29.47 ± 3.33 and EA-TC: 24.04 ± 3.69). Hybrid layer (HL) formation and resin tags of varying depths were perceived for both adhesive groups. The EDX analysis demonstrated the presence of carbon (C), silica (Si), calcium (Ca), and fluoride (F) for CAFA group. Micro-Raman spectroscopy revealed distinct peaks for CaF2 nano-crystals. The CAFA group presented the greatest DC. The addition of CaF2 nano-crystals in the adhesive caused improved bond μTBS and DC. The incorporation also demonstrated suitable dentin interaction, depicted by appropriate HL and resin tag development.
Impact of Dietary Potassium Nitrate on the Life Span of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Liubertas Tomas , Poderys Jonas , Vilma Zigmantaite , Capkauskiene Sandrija , Viskelis Pranas
Published: July 2021

The recently defined and yet rather new topic of healthy aging is attracting more attention worldwide. As the world population is getting older, it is rapidly becoming essential to develop and maintain functional abilities at older age and develop mechanisms to protect the senior population from chronic diseases. One of the most effective components, as well as processes associated with aging, is the recently discovered and Nobel prize-awarded—nitric oxide (NO) (as a signaling molecule), which, followed by later discoveries, showed to have a positive metabolic, immunological, and anti-inflammatory effect. Nitrates are one of the most debated topics of the last decade in the scientific community due to their pathways involved in the production of nitric oxide. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of different potassium nitrate concentrate supplementation on Drosophila melanogaster longevity imitating a human carbohydrate-based diet with relationship to possible cause of oxidative stress. Influence of 0.5–3% potassium nitrate medium on the lifespan and motor function in different groups consisting of 100 fruit fly females in each was analyzed. In this assay, female fly species supplemented with potassium nitrate diet showed life span increase by 18.6% and 5.1% with 1% and 2% KNO3, respectively, with a positive impact on locomotor function. In conclusion, we found that low concentration of potassium nitrate medium increased lifespan and locomotor function in Drosophila melanogaster.
Control and Modification of Nanostructured Materials by Electron Beam Irradiation
Authors: Tanaka Shun-Ichiro
Published: July 2021

I have proposed a bottom-up technology utilising irradiation with active beams, such as electrons and ions, to achieve nanostructures with a size of 3–40 nm. This can be used as a nanotechnology that provides the desired structures, materials, and phases at desired positions. Electron beam irradiation of metastable θ-Al2O3, more than 1019 e/cm2s in a transmission electron microscope (TEM), enables the production of oxide-free Al nanoparticles, which can be manipulated to undergo migration, bonding, rotation, revolution, and embedding. The manipulations are facilitated by momentum transfer from electrons to nanoparticles, which takes advantage of the spiral trajectory of the electron beam in the magnetic field of the TEM pole piece. Furthermore, onion-like fullerenes and intercalated structures on amorphous carbon films are induced through catalytic reactions. δ-, θ-Al2O3 ball/wire hybrid nanostructures were obtained in a short time using an electron irradiation flashing mode that switches between 1019 and 1022 e/cm2s. Various α-Al2O3 nanostructures, such as encapsulated nanoballs or nanorods, are also produced. In addition, the preparation or control of Pt, W, and Cu nanoparticles can be achieved by electron beam irradiation with a higher intensity.
The Hidden God, Second-Person Knowledge, and the Incarnation
Authors: Dobrzeniecki Marek
Published: July 2021

The paper considers premises of the hiddenness argument with an emphasis on its usage of the concept of a personal God. The paper’s assumption is that a recent literature on second-person experiences could be useful for theists in their efforts to defend their position against Schellenberg’s argument. Stump’s analyses of a second-person knowledge indicate that what is required in order to establish an interpersonal relationship is a personal presence of the persons in question, and therefore they falsify the thesis that a minimalist requirement for a relationship between a man and God has to be belief in his existence. Recent works by developmental psychologists not only verify a hypothesis that a second-person knowledge is not reducible to knowledge-that, but also suggest that one needs a shared form of life in order to establish an interpersonal relationship. These two insights allow the author to formulate his own response to the hiddenness argument: only when God’s presence is non-explicit—for example, when God is hidden in a human nature—can a finite person enter into a personal relationship with him. It is the fulfilment of the requirement of being personally present that is the justifying reason for God to permit non-resistant non-belief.
The Cosmopolitan World of the Quran and Late Antique Humanism
Authors: Lawson Todd
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate how two distinct but deeply related literary genres, which had become especially prominent in the 7th century Nile-to-Oxus region, have left an enduring impression on the form and contents of the Quran. By saying this, it is not intended to suggest that the Quran was “influenced” by this or that extraneous or extra-textual phenomenon. Rather, it is suggested that, along the lines of the Quran’s own theory of revelation, it speaks through Muḥammad, “the language of his people” (Q14:4). Stated another away, the Quran employs themes and structures from both epic and apocalypse that would have been familiar to its audience in order to reveal and make clear its most cherished sacred truths, among which are: the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion and the Oneness of Humanity. Epic and apocalypse, then, emerge as features of the cultural and imaginative language of the intended audience of the Quran, just as Arabic is its “linguistic” language.
How Does the Sense of Closeness to God Affect Attitudes toward Refugees in Turkey? Multiculturalism and Social Contact as Mediators and National Belonging as Moderator
Authors: Koçak Orhan
Published: July 2021

Turkey has been the country hosting the highest number of refugees globally with the immigration of Syrians after the civil war in Syria. There have been no major problems between Turks and Syrians in the past ten years. Although Syrians have a financial burden of 71 billion USD to the Turkish state, Turkish society has not reacted significantly due to common religious, cultural, and humanitarian values. This study was conducted with 1743 individuals of different age groups, and it tried to understand the effect of Turkish society’s spirituality in attitudes and behaviors towards Syrian refugees. This relationship was investigated with regard to whether the multiculturalism and contact frequency acted as mediators and national belonging acted as moderator. Gender, age, education, family income, marital status, and whether participants have Syrian neighbors were used as control variables. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the spirituality of the Turkish people was associated with their attitudes towards Syrian refugees, with the mediator effect being multiculturalism and social contact and the moderator effect being national belonging in this relationship.
CFD Simulation of an Internally Cooled Biomass Fixed-Bed Combustion Plant
Authors: Álvarez-Bermúdez César , Chapela Sergio , Varela Luis G. , Gómez Miguel Ángel
Published: July 2021

The reduction of bed temperature in fixed-bed biomass combustion is an effective measure to lower pollutant emissions. Air staging and bed cooling solutions are active strategies to decrease the fuel bed temperature. This work presents a CFD study of a biomass fixed-bed combustion plant that is equipped with an internal cooling bed system. Eight different cases are calculated to analyze the effect of the total airflow, air staging ratios and bed cooling system on biomass combustion. The findings are validated against experimental data from the literature. The results show good accordance between the numerical results and the experimental data. The primary airflow rate has the biggest influence on the bed’s maximum temperatures. The internal bed cooling system is able to achieve an average bed temperature reduction of 21%, slowing the biomass thermal conversion processes. Bed cooling techniques can be combined with air staging and primary airflow reduction to reduce bed temperatures in order to reduce pollutant emissions and other undesirable phenomena, such as fouling or slagging.
Using Synthetic Remote Sensing Indicators to Monitor the Land Degradation in a Salinized Area
Authors: Yu Tao , Jiapaer Guli , Bao Anming , Zheng Guoxiong , Jiang Liangliang , Yuan Ye , Huang Xiaoran
Published: July 2021

Land degradation poses a critical threat to the stability and security of ecosystems, especially in salinized areas. Monitoring the land degradation of salinized areas facilitates land management and ecological restoration. In this research, we integrated the salinization index (SI), albedo, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and land surface soil moisture index (LSM) through the principal component analysis (PCA) method to establish a salinized land degradation index (SDI). Based on the SDI, the land degradation of a typical salinized area in the Central Asia Amu Darya delta (ADD) was analysed for the period 1990–2019. The results showed that the proposed SDI had a high positive correlation (R2 = 0.89, p < 0.001) with the soil salt content based on field sampling, indicating that the SDI can reveal the land degradation characteristics of the ADD. The SDI indicated that the extreme and strong land degradation areas increased from 1990 to 2019, mainly in the downstream and peripheral regions of the ADD. From 1990 to 2000, land degradation improvement over a larger area than developed, conversely, from 2000 to 2019, and especially, from 2000 to 2010, the proportion of land degradation developed was 32%, which was mainly concentrated in the downstream region of the ADD. The spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that the SDI values of Moran’s I in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2019 were 0.82, 0.78, 0.82 and 0.77, respectively, suggesting that the SDI was notably clustered in space rather than randomly distributed. The expansion of unused land due to land use change, water withdrawal from the Amu Darya River and the discharge of salt downstream all contributed to land degradation in the ADD. This study provides several valuable insights into the land degradation monitoring and management of this salinized delta and similar settings worldwide.
Design and Performance Analysis of BDS-3 Integrity Concept
Authors: Liu Cheng , Cao Yueling , Zhang Gong , Gao Weiguang , Chen Ying , Lu Jun , Liu Chonghua , Zhao Haitao , Li Fang
Published: July 2021

Compared to the BeiDou regional navigation satellite system (BDS-2), the BeiDou global navigation satellite system (BDS-3) carried out a brand new integrity concept design and construction work, which defines and achieves the integrity functions for major civil open services (OS) signals such as B1C, B2a, and B1I. The integrity definition and calculation method of BDS-3 are introduced. The fault tree model for satellite signal-in-space (SIS) is used, to decompose and obtain the integrity risk bottom events. In response to the weakness in the space and ground segments of the system, a variety of integrity monitoring measures have been taken. On this basis, the design values for the new B1C/B2a signal and the original B1I signal are proposed, which are 0.9 × 10−5 and 0.8 × 10−5, respectively. The hybrid alarming mechanism of BDS-3, which has both the ground alarming approach and the satellite alarming approach, is explained. At last, an integrity risk analysis and verification work were carried out using the operating data of the system in 2019. The results show that the actual operation of the system is consistent with the conceptual design, which satisfies the integrity performance promised by BDS-3 in the ICAO SAPRs.
Three- and Four-Dimensional Topographic Measurement and Validation
Authors: Rocca Fabio , Li Deren , Tebaldini Stefano , Liao Mingsheng , Zhang Lu , Lombardini Fabrizio , Balz Timo , Haala Norbert , Ding Xiaoli , Hanssen Ramon
Published: July 2021

This paper reports on the activities carried out in the context of “Dragon project 32278: Three- and Four-Dimensional Topographic Measurement and Validation”. The research work was split into three subprojects and encompassed several activities to deliver accurate characterization of targets on land surfaces and deepen the current knowledge on the exploitation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The goal of Subproject 1 was to validate topographic mapping accuracy of various ESA, TPM, and Chinese satellite system on test sites in the EU and China; define and improve validation methodologies for topographic mapping; and develop and setup test sites for the validation of different surface motion estimation techniques. Subproject 2 focused on the specific case of spatially and temporally decorrelating targets by using multi-baseline interferometric (InSAR) and tomographic (TomoSAR) SAR processing. Research on InSAR led to the development of robust retrieval techniques to estimate target displacement over time. Research on TomoSAR was focused on testing or defining new processing methods for high-resolution 3D imaging of the interior of forests and glaciers and the characterization of their temporal behavior. Subproject 3 was focused on near-real-time motion estimation, considering efficient algorithms for the digestion of new acquisitions and for changes in problem parameterization.
Response of Total Suspended Sediment and Chlorophyll-a Concentration to Late Autumn Typhoon Events in the Northwestern South China Sea
Authors: Li Junyi , Zheng Huiyuan , Xie Lingling , Zheng Quanan , Ling Zheng , Li Min
Published: July 2021

Strong typhoon winds enhance turbulent mixing, which induces sediment to resuspend and to promote chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) blooms in the continental shelf areas. In this study, we find limited Chl-a responses to three late autumn typhoons (typhoon Nesat, Mujigae and Khanun) in the northwestern South China Sea (NWSCS) using satellite observations. In climatology, the Chl-a and total suspended sediment (TSS) concentrations are high all year round with higher value in autumn in the offshore area of the NWSCS. After the typhoon passage, the Chl-a concentration increases slightly (23%), while even TSS enhances by 280% on the wide continental shelf of the NWSCS. However, in the southern area, located approximately 100 km from the typhoon tracks, both TSS and Chl-a concentrations increase 160% and 150% after typhoon passage, respectively. In the deeper area, the increased TSS concentration is responsible for the considerable increase of the Chl-a. An empirical analysis is applied to the data, which reveals the TSS and Chl-a processes during typhoon events. The results of this study suggest a different mechanism for Chl-a concentration increase and thus contribute toward further evaluation of typhoon-induced biological responses.
LiDAR Odometry and Mapping Based on Semantic Information for Outdoor Environment
Authors: Du Shitong , Li Yifan , Li Xuyou , Wu Menghao
Published: July 2021

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) in an unknown environment is a crucial part for intelligent mobile robots to achieve high-level navigation and interaction tasks. As one of the typical LiDAR-based SLAM algorithms, the Lidar Odometry and Mapping in Real-time (LOAM) algorithm has shown impressive results. However, LOAM only uses low-level geometric features without considering semantic information. Moreover, the lack of a dynamic object removal strategy limits the algorithm to obtain higher accuracy. To this end, this paper extends the LOAM pipeline by integrating semantic information into the original framework. Specifically, we first propose a two-step dynamic objects filtering strategy. Point-wise semantic labels are then used to improve feature extraction and searching for corresponding points. We evaluate the performance of the proposed method in many challenging scenarios, including highway, country and urban from the KITTI dataset. The results demonstrate that the proposed SLAM system outperforms the state-of-the-art SLAM methods in terms of accuracy and robustness.
Remotely Sensed Ecological Protection Redline and Security Pattern Construction: A Comparative Analysis of Pingtan (China) and Durban (South Africa)
Authors: Lin Qixin , Eladawy Ahmed , Sha Jinming , Li Xiaomei , Wang Jinliang , Kurbanov Eldar , Thomas Abraham
Published: July 2021

The unprecedented regional urbanization has brought great pressure on the ecological environment. Building an ecological security pattern and guide regional land and space development is an important technique to ensure regional ecological security and stability to achieve sustainable development. In this study, the Pingtan Island of China and the Durban city of South Africa were chosen as case study area for a comparative study of different scales. The importance of ecosystem services and ecological sensitivity were evaluated, respectively. The core area of landscape which is vital for ecological function maintenance was extracted by morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and landscape connectivity analysis. Furthermore, the ecological sources were determined by combining the results of ecological protection redline delimitation and core area landscape extraction. The potential ecological corridors were identified based on the minimum cumulative resistance model, and the ecological security pattern of study areas was constructed. The results showed that the ecological protection redline areas of Pingtan and Durban were 42.78 km2 and 389.07 km2, respectively, which were mainly distributed in mountainous areas with good habitat quality. Pingtan ecological security pattern is composed of 15 ecological sources, 16 ecological corridors, 10 stepping stone patches and 15 ecological obstacle points. The total length of corridors is 112.23 km, which is radially distributed in the form of “one ring, three belts”. The ecological security pattern of Durban is composed of 15 ecological sources, 17 ecological corridors, 11 stepping stone patches and 18 ecological obstacle points. The total length of corridors is 274.25 km, which is radially distributed in the form of “two rings and three belts”. The research results can provide an important reference for the land space construction planning and ecological restoration projects in Pingtan and Durban.
A Novel Mosaic Method for Spaceborne ScanSAR Images Based on Homography Matrix Compensation
Authors: Tian Jianghao , Wu Yulun , Cai Yonghua , Fan Huaitao , Yu Weidong
Published: July 2021

Accurate and efficient image mosaicking is essential for generating wide-range swath images of spaceborne scanning synthetic aperture radar (ScanSAR). However, the existing methods cannot guarantee the accuracy and efficiency of stitching simultaneously, especially when mosaicking multiple large-area images. In this paper, we propose a novel image mosaic method based on homography matrix compensation to solve the mentioned problem. A set of spaceborne ScanSAR images from the Gaofen-3 (GF-3) satellite were selected to test the performance of the new method. First, images are preprocessed by an improved Wallis filter to eliminate intensity inconsistencies. Then, to reduce the enormous computational redundancy of registration, the overlapping areas of adjacent images are coarsely extracted using geolocation technologies. Furthermore, to improve the efficiency of stitching and maintain the original information and resolution of images, we deduce a compensation of homography matrix to implement downsampled images registration and original-size images projection. After stitching, the transitions at the edges of the images were smooth and seamless, the information and resolution of the original images were preserved successfully, and the efficiency of the mosaic was improved by approximately one thousand-fold. The validity, high efficiency and reliability of the method are verified.