bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin C and Phenolic Antioxidants of Jua (Ziziphus joazeiro M.) Pulp: A Rich Underexplored Brazilian Source of Ellagic Acid Recovered by Aqueous Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction
Authors: da Rocha Thaís Silva , de Lima Alessandro , Silva Jurandy do Nascimento , Sampaio Geni Rodrigues , Soares Freitas Rosana Aparecida Manólio , Danielski Renan , de Camargo Adriano Costa , Shahidi Fereidoon , Torres Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz da Silva
Published: January 2022

Jua (juá in Portuguese) is an underexplored fruit from Brazil’s northeast. This fruit is rich in antioxidant substances. However, there is a dearth of information about jua’s bioactive potential. The present study evaluated two extraction methods (continuous agitation and ultrasound-assisted extraction—UAE) and employed three different solvents (water, ethanol, and acetone) to efficiently recover soluble phenolic compounds. Aqueous extracts obtained by UAE showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. Besides being an eco-friendly procedure, extraction and/or solubility in an aqueous medium is also important for food application. Ellagic acids were the predominant phenolics (80%) found in aqueous jua pulp extract obtained by UAE, as determined by HPLC, while its TPC was 405.8 gallic acid equivalent per gram of fruit. This extract also exhibited a higher scavenging activity towards peroxyl radicals when compared to that of several other fruits from the literature, including grape, strawberry, cranberry, and walnuts, which are known references in terms of antioxidants. This is the first report that demonstrates jua pulp’s potential as an alternative source of ellagic acid and other phenolic acids and flavonoids. Therefore, the outcome of this study provides new information that can be useful for functional food and nutraceutical industries.
A Multitarget Approach to Evaluate the Efficacy of Aquilaria sinensis Flower Extract against Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Chae Hee-Sung , Dale Olivia , Mir Tahir Maqbool , Avula Bharathi , Zhao Jianping , Khan Ikhlas A. , Khan Shabana I.
Published: January 2022

Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Spreng is known for its resinous secretion (agarwood), often secreted in defense against injuries. We investigated the effects of A. sinensis flower extract (AF) on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma (PPARα and PPARγ), liver X receptor (LXR), glucose uptake, and lipid accumulation (adipogenesis). Activation of PPARα, PPARγ and LXR was determined in hepatic (HepG2) cells by reporter gene assays. Glucose uptake was determined in differentiated muscle (C2C12) cells using 2-NBDG (2-deoxy-2-[(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)amino]-D-glucose). Adipogenesis was determined in adipocytes (3T3-L1 cells) by Oil red O staining. At a concentration of 50 µg/mL, AF caused 12.2-fold activation of PPARα and 5.7-fold activation of PPARγ, while the activation of LXR was only 1.7-fold. AF inhibited (28%) the adipogenic effect induced by rosiglitazone in adipocytes and increased glucose uptake (32.8%) in muscle cells at 50 μg/mL. It was concluded that AF acted as a PPARα/γ dual agonist without the undesired effect of adipogenesis and exhibited the property of enhancing glucose uptake. This is the first report to reveal the PPARα/γ dual agonistic action and glucose uptake enhancing property of AF along with its antiadipogenic effect, indicating its potential in ameliorating the symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Study of the Photocatalytic Degradation of Highly Abundant Pesticides in Agricultural Soils
Authors: EL-Saeid Mohamed H. , BaQais Amal , Alshabanat Mashael
Published: January 2022

Organic pesticides are major sources of soil pollution in agricultural lands. Most of these pesticides are persistent and tend to bio accumulate in humans upon consumption of contaminated plants. In this study, we investigate different natural soil samples that were collected from agricultural lands. The samples revealed the presence of 18 pesticides that belong to four different groups including organochlorines (OCP), organophosphorus (OPP), carbamates (Carb), and pyrethroids (Pyrth). The photocatalytic degradation of the five most abundant pesticides was studied in the presence and absence of 1% TiO2 or ZnO photocatalysts under UV irradiation at a wavelength of 306 nm. The five abundant pesticides were Atrazine (OCP), Chlorpyrifos methyl (OPP), Dimethoate (OPP), Heptachlor (OCP), and Methomyl (Carb). The results showed that photolysis of all pesticides was complete under UV radiation for irradiation times between 64–100 h. However, both photocatalysts enhanced photocatalytic degradation of the pesticides in comparison with photolysis. The pesticides were photocatalytically degraded completely within 20–24 h of irradiation. The TiO2 photocatalyst showed higher activity compared to ZnO. The organochlorine heptachlor, which is very toxic and persistent, was completely degraded within 30 h using TiO2 photocatalyst for the first time in soil. The mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of the pesticides was explained and the effects of different factors on the degradation process in the soil were discussed.
Disrupting the MAD2L2-Rev1 Complex Enhances Cell Death upon DNA Damage
Authors: Pernicone Nomi , Elias Maria , Onn Itay , Tobi Dror , Listovsky Tamar
Published: January 2022

DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents such as cisplatin have been the first line of treatment for cancer for decades. While chemotherapy can be very effective, its long-term success is often reduced by intrinsic and acquired drug resistance, accompanied by chemotherapy-resistant secondary malignancies. Although the mechanisms causing drug resistance are quite distinct, they are directly connected to mutagenic translesion synthesis (TLS). The TLS pathway promotes DNA damage tolerance by supporting both replication opposite to a lesion and inaccurate single-strand gap filling. Interestingly, inhibiting TLS reduces both cisplatin resistance and secondary tumor formation. Therefore, TLS targeting is a promising strategy for improving chemotherapy. MAD2L2 (i.e., Rev7) is a central protein in TLS. It is an essential component of the TLS polymerase zeta (ζ), and it forms a regulatory complex with Rev1 polymerase. Here we present the discovery of two small molecules, c#2 and c#3, that directly bind both in vitro and in vivo to MAD2L2 and influence its activity. Both molecules sensitize lung cancer cell lines to cisplatin, disrupt the formation of the MAD2L2-Rev1 complex and increase DNA damage, hence underlining their potential as lead compounds for developing novel TLS inhibitors for improving chemotherapy treatments.
Application of TOF-SIMS Method in the Study of Wetting the Iron (111) Surface with Promoter Oxides
Authors: Arabczyk Walerian , Rogowski Jacek , Pelka Rafał , Lendzion-Bieluń Zofia
Published: January 2022

In the present work, a simplified model of the Fe(111) surface’s promoter-oxide system was investigated in order to experimentally verify the previously proposed and known models concerning the structure and chemical composition of the surfaces of iron nanocrystallites in the ammonia-synthesis catalyst. It was shown that efficient oxygen diffusion from metal oxides to the clean Fe(111) iron surface took place even at temperatures lower than 100 °C. The effective wetting of the iron surface by potassium oxide is possible when the surface is covered with oxygen at temperatures above 250 °C. In the TOF-SIMS spectra of the surface of iron wetted with potassium, an emission of secondary FeOK+ ions was observed that implies that potassium atoms are bound to the iron surface atoms through oxygen. As a result of further wetting the iron surface with potassium ions, a heterogeneous surface structure was formed consisting of a thin K2O layer, next to which there was an iron-oxide phase covered with potassium ions. Only a limited increase in calcium concentration was observed on the Fe(111) iron surface upon sample annealing at up to 350 °C. As a result of wetting the iron surface with calcium ions, an oxide solution of CaO-FexOy was formed. In the annealing process of the sample containing alumina, only traces of this promoter diffusing to the iron surface were observed. Alumina formed a solution with a passive layer on the iron surface and under the process conditions (350 °C) it did not wet the pure iron (111) surface. The decrease in Fe+-ion emission from the Fe-Ca and Fe-Al samples at 350 °C implies a reduction in the oxygen concentration on the sample surface at this temperature.
The Mediterranean Diet Protects Renal Function in Older Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Bayán-Bravo Ana , Banegas Jose Ramón , Donat-Vargas Carolina , Sandoval-Insausti Helena , Gorostidi Manuel , Rodríguez-Artalejo Fernando , Guallar-Castillón Pilar
Published: January 2022

Background: Chronic kidney disease entails a high disease burden that is progressively increasing due to population aging. However, evidence on the effect of the Mediterranean diet on renal function is limited, in particular among older adults in Mediterranean countries. Methods: Prospective cohort study with 975 community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 60 recruited during 2008–2010 in Spain and followed up to 2015. At baseline, food consumption was obtained using a validated dietary history. Two Mediterranean dietary patterns were used: (i) An a priori-defined pattern, the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS score: low adherence: 0–5 points; moderate: 6–8 points; high: 9–14 points); (ii) An a posteriori Mediterranean-like dietary pattern, based on 36 food groups, which was generated using factor analysis. Renal function decline was calculated as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decrease ≥1 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year of follow-up. Results: A total of 104 cases of renal function decline occurred. Compared with participants with a low MEDAS adherence, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confident interval) for renal function decline risk were 0.63 (0.38–1.03) for moderate adherence, and 0.52 (0.29–0.95) for high adherence (p-trend: 0.015). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for renal function decline risk according to increasing quartiles of the adherence to the a posteriori Mediterranean-like dietary pattern were 1.00, 0.67 (0.38–1.20), 0.65 (0.35–1.19), and 0.47 (0.23–0.96) (p-trend: 0.042). Conclusion: A higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with a lower risk of renal function decline in older adults, suggesting benefits to health of this dietary pattern in Mediterranean countries.
Effect of Whey Proteins on Malnutrition and Extubating Time of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Scarcella Marialaura , Scarpellini Emidio , Ascani Alessandra , Commissari Rita , Scorcella Claudia , Zanetti Michela , Parisi Amilcare , Monti Riccardo , Milic Natasa , Donati Abele , Luzza Francesco , De Robertis Edoardo , Abenavoli Ludovico
Published: January 2022

The novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to a severe pandemic, starting from early 2020. Intensive care (ICU) management of the COVID-19 disease is difficult with high morbidity and mortality. Early nutritional support, especially with whey protein, seems to be crucial in this medical case. Thus, we aimed to assess the effects of an adequate nutritional protocol rich in whey protein on nutritional and inflammatory status, extubating time, and mortality of critically ill COVID-19 patients (CICP). Methods: A prospective single-center exploratory observational study was undertaken on 32 consecutive CICP admitted to the ICU of Santa Maria Hospital, Terni, Italy, and treated with whey protein-enriched formula. Patients’ demographics, nutritional status, indexes of inflammation, daily pre-albumin serum levels, duration of mechanical ventilation, and mortality were recorded. Results: Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Ninety-five percent of them showed a gradual reduction in C-reactive protein (CRP) values and increase in pre-albumin levels after the whey protein-enriched formula. Prealbumin levels were not correlated with a better nutritional status but with a shorter extubating time and better survival. Conclusions: An adequate administration of whey protein during COVID-19 patients’ ICU stays can provide fast achievement of protein targets, reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation, and improving inflammatory status and ICU survival. Further prospective and large-scale, controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.
Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis, Malnutrition Risk, and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Poulia Kalliopi-Anna , Antoniadou Dimitra , Sarantis Panagiotis , Karamouzis Michalis V.
Published: January 2022

The present cross-sectional prospective study (from January 2017 until December 2020) aimed to evaluate the interrelation between nutritional parameters at the initial evaluation with the changes in QOL indicators and the Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival in 97 patients with pancreatic cancer. Dietary and nutritional risk assessments, and an evaluation of Frailty and Functional Status were performed. Health-related Quality of Life was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Nutritional risk, as evaluated by MNA-SF score, was negatively associated with age (p = 0.003) and positively associated with dynamometry (p = 0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference in the financial difficulties (p = 0.049). OS and PFS were found to decrease in patients who reported having increased fatigue (OS p = 0.007 and PFS p = 0.044). Moreover, higher prevalence of constipation resulted in lower OS and PFS (OS p < 0.001 and PFS p < 0.001) and increased reporting of gastrointestinal problems during the 3 months was connected with lower survival (OS p = 0.017). According to the analysis, our patients were found to have lower OS and PFS, stressing out the necessity to provide early identification and management to symptoms of the disease that could compromise nutritional status. The provision of nutritional advice and guidance is of major importance for patients.
Deprescribing Leads to Improved Energy Intake among Hospitalized Older Sarcopenic Adults with Polypharmacy after Stroke
Authors: Matsumoto Ayaka , Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Wakabayashi Hidetaka , Kose Eiji , Nagano Fumihiko , Bise Takahiro , Kido Yoshifumi , Shimazu Sayuri , Shiraishi Ai
Published: January 2022

Evidence is scarce regarding the polypharmacy in patients with sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of deprescribing for polypharmacy on the improvement of nutritional intake and sarcopenia in older patients with sarcopenia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with hospitalized older patients with sarcopenia undergoing rehabilitation after stroke. Study outcomes included energy intake, protein intake, handgrip strength (HG) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) at hospital discharge. To consider the effects of deprescribing for polypharmacy, we used multivariate analyses to examine whether the change in the number of medications during hospitalization was associated with outcomes. Of 361 patients after enrollment, 91 (mean age 81.0 years, 48.4% male) presented with sarcopenia and polypharmacy and were eligible for analysis. The change in the number of medications was independently associated with energy intake (β = −0.237, p = 0.009) and protein intake (β = −0.242, p = 0.047) at discharge, and was not statistically significantly associated with HG (β = −0.018, p = 0.768) and SMI (β = 0.083, p = 0.265) at discharge, respectively. Deprescribing was associated with improved nutritional intake in older sarcopenic patients with polypharmacy undergoing stroke rehabilitation.
Validation of the MSM and NCI Method for Estimating the Usual Intake of Nutrients and Food According to Four Seasons of Seven Consecutive Daily 24 Hour Dietary Recalls in Chinese Adults
Authors: Huang Kun , Yu Dongmei , Guo Qiya , Yang Yuxiang , Wei Xiaoqi , Zhao Liyun , Fang Hongyun
Published: January 2022

The Multiple Source Method (MSM) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method are used to estimate usual dietary intake from short-term dietary assessment instruments, such as 24 hour dietary recall (24-HRs). However, their performance has not been validated in the Chinese population via nutrition surveys. To validate the accuracy of the MSM and NCI method in estimating usual dietary intake in the Chinese population, 752 individuals from northern and southern China answered four seasons of seven consecutive 24-HRs (one for each season). The true usual dietary intake was considered as the average of the 28 collection days of dietary component intake. Using data sets with consecutive 3 collection days, the usual intakes of the selected dietary components were estimated by MSM, NCI and the within-person mean of three 24-HRs (3 day method). These estimates were compared with the true usual intake at the group and individual level. At the group level, the MSM and NCI method performed similarly, yielding estimates closer to the true usual intake than 3 day method. The percentage differences of the estimates for dietary components not consumed daily from the MSM and NCI method were larger than for the dietary components consumed daily. However, the larger percentage differences were observed in the tail of the usual intake distribution. In general, dietary components with larger variance ratios had greater percentage differences. At the individual level, for overall seasons and dietary components, the biases of individual usual intake did agree for MSM and NCI method, whereas NCI method estimates were closer to true intakes than for the MSM and 3 day method. Similar results were observed in the relative biases of dietary components consumed daily. As with the group level, there was less percentage difference in dietary components consumed daily. Both the MSM and NCI method can be used to estimate usual intake in Chinese populations and are closer to the true usual intake than the traditional mean method, at both group and individual levels.
Cardioprotective Role of BGP-15 in Ageing Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rat (ZDF) Model: Extended Mitochondrial Longevity
Authors: Kozma Mate , Bombicz Mariann , Varga Balazs , Priksz Daniel , Gesztelyi Rudolf , Tarjanyi Vera , Kiss Rita , Szekeres Reka , Takacs Barbara , Menes Akos , Balla Jozsef , Balla Gyorgy , Szilvassy Judit , Szilvassy Zoltan , Juhasz Bela
Published: January 2022

Impaired mitochondrial function is associated with several metabolic diseases and health conditions, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), as well as ageing. The close relationship between the above-mentioned diseases and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (diabetic cardiomyopathy and age-related cardiovascular diseases) has long been known. Mitochondria have a crucial role: they are a primary source of energy produced in the form of ATP via fatty acid oxidation, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and electron transport chain (ETC), and ATP synthase acts as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte survival. Mitochondrial medicine has been increasingly discussed as a promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of CVD. It is well known that vitamin B3 as an NAD+ precursor exists in several forms, e.g., nicotinic acid (niacin) and nicotinamide (NAM). These cofactors are central to cellular homeostasis, mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, and reactive oxygen species generation and inhibition. Increasing evidence suggests that the nicotinic acid derivative BGP-15 ((3-piperidine-2-hydroxy-1-propyl)-nicotinic amidoxime) improves cardiac function by reducing the incidence of arrhythmias and improves diastolic function in different animal models. Our team has valid reasons to assume that these cardioprotective effects of BGP-15 are based on its NAD+ precursor property. Our hypothesis was supported by an animal experiment where ageing ZDF rats were treated with BGP-15 for one year. Haemodynamic variables were measured with echocardiography to detect diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) and age-related CVD as well. In the ZDF group, advanced HF was diagnosed, whereas the BGP-15-treated ZDF group showed diastolic dysfunction only. The significant difference between the two groups was supported by post-mortem Haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson’s trichrome staining of cardiac tissues. Moreover, our hypothesis was further confirmed by the significantly elevated Cytochrome c oxidase (MTCO) and ATP synthase activity and expression detected with ELISA and Western blot analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the protective effect of BGP-15 on cardiac mitochondrial respiration in an ageing ZDF model.
Calmodulin Domain Protein Kinase PiCDPK1 Regulates Pollen Tube Growth Polarity through Interaction with RhoGDI
Authors: Scheible Nolan , Yoon Gyeong Mee , McCubbin Andrew G.
Published: January 2022

The pollen-specific calcium-dependent protein kinase PiCDPK1 of Petunia inflata has previously been shown to regulate polarity in tip growth in pollen tubes. Here we report the identification of a Rho Guanine Dissociation Inhibitor (PiRhoGDI1) as a PiCDPK1 interacting protein. We demonstrate that PiRhoGDI1 and PiCDPK1 interact in a yeast 2-hybrid assay, as well as in an in vitro pull-down assay, and that PiRhoGDI1 is phosphorylated by PiCDPK1 in vitro. We further demonstrate the PiRhoGDI1 is capable of rescuing the loss of growth polarity phenotype caused by over-expressing PiCDPK1 in vivo using stable transgenic plants. We confirmed that PiRhoGDI1 interacts with a pollen-expressed ROP GTPase isoform consistent with the established role of RhoGDIs in negatively regulating GTPases through their membrane removal and locking them in an inactive cytosolic complex. ROP is a central regulator of polarity in tip growth, upstream of Ca2+, and PiCDPK1 over-expression has been previously reported to lead to dramatic elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ through a positive feedback loop. The discovery that PiCDPK1 impacts ROP regulation via PiRhoGDI1 suggests that PiCDPK1 acts as RhoGDI displacement factor and leads us to propose a model which we hypothesize regulates the rapid recycling of ROP GTPase at the pollen tube tip.
Antagonistic Activity of Fungal Strains against Fusarium Crown Rot
Authors: Zhao Xingli , Hou Dianyun , Xu Jiaqi , Wang Kaixuan , Hu Zhenjie
Published: January 2022

The crown rot of wheat is a destructive soil-borne pathogen that severely reduces the yield and quality of wheat. This study aimed to screen and identify the antagonistic strains against Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp), which is the dominant pathogen associated with the crown rot of wheat in China, and evaluate their biosynthetic potential. The antagonistic strains were screened via a dual-culture antagonism assay, and then identified by combining the morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing. The polyketide synthases (PKS-I and PKS-II) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes in the antagonistic strains were detected via specific amplification of chromosomal DNA. Eleven out of 157 fungal strains, including six strains with matrix competition and five strains with antibiosis, were obtained. The eleven antagonistic strains belonged to the following four genera: Alternaria, Botryosphaeria, Phoma and Talaromyces. The inhibition rate of six strains with matrix competition was greater than 50%, with B. dothidea S2-22 demonstrating the highest at 80.3%. The width of the inhibition zone of T. trachyspermus R-17 among the five strains with antibiosis was the widest at 11 mm. Among the eleven antagonistic strains, three strains of A. alternata and the strain P. moricola only contained the PKS-II gene, the strain A. tenuissima contained PKS-I and PKS-II genes, three strains of B. dothidea contained PKS-II and NRPS genes, while three strains of T. trachyspermus did not contain any genes. These results demonstrated potential strains for the biocontrol of the crown rot of wheat. In particular, T. trachyspermus R-17 can be investigated further as a promising agent, and the active substances secreted by antagonistic strains may be synthesized by other pathways.
Potassium and Humic Acid Synergistically Increase Salt Tolerance and Nutrient Uptake in Contrasting Wheat Genotypes through Ionic Homeostasis and Activation of Antioxidant Enzymes
Authors: Abbas Ghulam , Rehman Sadia , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Ali Hayssam M. , Farooq Muhammad Ansar , Chen Yinglong
Published: January 2022

Salinity limits the growth and nutrient uptake in crop species. Studies show that both potassium (K) and humic acid (HA) improved plant tolerance to salinity. However, the interactive effect of K and HA on plant tolerance to salinity stress remains unknown. This pot study examined the effect of application of K (0, 5 or 10 mM) and HA (0 or 2 g kg−1), alone or in combination, on the growth and physiology under salinity (100 mM NaCl) in two wheat genotypes (SARC 1, salt tolerant; and SARC 5, salt sensitive). The results revealed that salt stress reduced shoot biomass by 35% and 49% in SARC 1 and SARC 5, respectively. Salinity induced overproduction of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation in both genotypes, but the decline in pigments and stomatal conductance was more profound in SARC 5 than in SARC 1. Combined application of 10 mM K and HA was most effective in alleviating salt stress with improved plant biomass by 47% and 43% in SARC 1 and SARC 5, respectively. Combined application of 10 mM K and HA mitigated salt and induced oxidative stress with the activities of APX, CAT, POD and SOD increased by up to 2.8 folds in SARC 1, and by upto 2.5 folds in SARC 5, respectively. Root and shoot Na contents were increased, while K, Fe and Zn contents were decreased under saline conditions. HA combined with K decreased Na and increased K, Fe and Zn contents in both genotypes. Combined application of 10 mM K and HA was more promising for increasing wheat salt tolerance and nutrient uptake and genotype SARC 1 performed better than SARC 5 for cultivation on saline soils.
Study of the Effect of Selective Media with High Doses of Zinc on Regeneration Ability and Rutin Accumulation in Common Buckwheat In Vitro
Authors: Borovaya Svetlana , Klykov Alexey , Barsukova Elena , Chaikina Elena
Published: January 2022

Biotechnological methods are widely used in modern common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) studies, constitute an effective tool to create the best agronomic traits of the crop, and can also be used to breed forms, resistant to heavy metal ion toxicity, which is important in the environment of constantly growing anthropogenic pressure on ecosystems. The studied high concentrations of zinc salts (808–1313 mg L−1) in the nutrient medium in vitro had an inhibitory effect on buckwheat, which was manifested by a decrease in values of its morphological indicators. Ion stress had an adverse effect on 7–9% of plants from their total number, indicating high plasticity and resistance of F. esculentum to highly toxic doses of zinc. The stress state of F. esculentum significantly increases the production of flavonoid compounds, including rutin, in plant cells, which is used in biotechnology to assess and obtain buckwheat forms of high flavonoid induction capacity. The processes of rutin biosynthesis were most intense in test-tube plants of the Izumrud × Inzerskaya hybrid obtained after exposure to high doses of zinc 1010–1212 mg L−1. F. esculentum genotypes obtained using selective backgrounds with high zinc concentrations are promising biosystems for synthesis of rutin, valuable for pharmacology and medicine.
Rational Design of Pore Parameters in Monodisperse Porous Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) Particles Based on Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Steinbach Julia C. , Fait Fabio , Wagner Stefanie , Wagner Alexandra , Brecht Marc , Mayer Hermann A. , Kandelbauer Andreas
Published: January 2022

Monodisperse porous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) particles are widely applied in different fields, as their pore properties can be influenced and functionalization of the epoxy group is versatile. However, the adjustment of parameters which control morphology and pore properties such as pore volume, pore size and specific surface area is scarcely available. In this work, the effects of the process factors monomer:porogen ratio, GMA:EDMA ratio and composition of the porogen mixture on the response variables pore volume, pore size and specific surface area are investigated using a face centered central composite design. Non-linear effects of the process factors and second order interaction effects between them were identified. Despite the complex interplay of the process factors, targeted control of the pore properties was possible. For each response a response surface model was derived with high predictive power (all R2predicted > 0.85). All models were tested by four external validation experiments and their validity and predictive power was demonstrated.
Preparation and Characterization of Antibacterial Films with Eggshell-Membrane Biopolymers Incorporated with Chitosan and Plant Extracts
Authors: Webb Brian Cameron Wooding , Rafferty Steven , Vreugdenhil Andrew James
Published: January 2022

A series of films containing chitosan (CS), eggshell membrane (ESM), soluble eggshell membrane (SEP), and plant extracts from Thymus vulgaris and Origanum valgare were prepared with varying concentrations and compositions. These novel films were characterized extensively with respect to film thickness and uniformity, solution absorption, degradation, microenvironmental pH, and antibacterial properties. All the films were flexible with appropriate mechanical stability. After 48 h of soaking in a lysozyme solution, all the films degraded 64 ± 4%, which would be expected to allow for the release of the plant extracts. The plant extracts on their own showed a pH of approximately 4, with the blended films having microenvironmental pHs from approximately 6.4–7.0, which would be expected to promote wound healing. A CS-ESM-SEP film with 5% of each plant extract inhibited almost all E. coli growth in liquid cultures and had no detriments to fluid absorption. Fluid absorption was approximately 100–150% by weight for all the films. The incorporation of SEP and plant extracts to a CS-ESM film provides a promising and novel method for the incorporation of SEP and antibacterial agents in a film with no detriment to wound fluid absorption or film degradation.
Bio-Based (Chitosan-ZnO) Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization, and Its Use as Recyclable, Ecofriendly Biocatalyst for Synthesis of Thiazoles Tethered Azo Groups
Authors: Bashal Ali H. , Riyadh Sayed M. , Alharbi Walaa , Alharbi Khadijah H. , Farghaly Thoraya A. , Khalil Khaled D.
Published: January 2022

In recent years, nanotechnology has become a considerable research interest in the area of preparation of nanocatalysts based on naturally occurring polysaccharides. Chitosan (CS), as a naturally occurring biodegradable and biocompatible polysaccharide, is successfully utilized as an ideal template for the immobilization of metal oxide nanoparticles. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles have been doped within a chitosan matrix at dissimilar weight percentages (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 wt.% CS/ZnO) and have been fabricated by using a simple solution casting method. The prepared solutions of the nanocomposites were cast in a Petri-dish and were subsequently shaped as a thin film. After that, the structural features of the nanocomposite film have been studied by measuring the FTIR, SEM, and XRD analytical tools. FTIR spectra showed the presence of some changes in the major characteristic peaks of chitosan due to interaction with ZnO nanoparticles. In addition, SEM graphs exhibited dramatic morphology changes on the chitosan surface, which is attributed to the surface adsorption of ZnO molecules. Based on the results of the investigated organic catalytic reactions, the prepared CS/ZnO nanocomposite film (20 wt.%) could be a viable an effective, recyclable, and heterogeneous base catalyst in the synthesis of thiazoles. The results showed that the nanocomposite film is chemically stable and can be collected and reused in the investigated catalytic reactions more than three times without loss of its catalytic activity.
Comparative Study on Extraction of Cellulose Fiber from Rice Straw Waste from Chemo-Mechanical and Pulping Method
Authors: Razali Nur Amirah Mamat , Mohd Sohaimi Risby , Othman Raja Nor Izawati Raja , Abdullah Norli , Demon Siti Zulaikha Ngah , Jasmani Latifah , Yunus Wan Mohd Zain Wan , Ya’acob Wan Mohd Hanif Wan , Salleh Emee Marina , Norizan Mohd Nurazzi , Halim Norhana Abdul
Published: January 2022

Inspired by nature, cellulose extracted from plant wastes has been explored, due to its great potential as an alternative for synthetic fiber and filler that contributes to structural performance. The drive of this study was to extract, treat, and evaluate the characteristics of rice straw (RS) (Oryza sativa L.) cellulose as a biodegradable reinforcement to be utilized in polymer base materials. Two routes of extraction and treatment were performed via the pulping (Route 1) and chemo-mechanical methods (Route 2), in order to discover comparative characteristics of the synthesized cellulose fiber. Comprehensive characterization of RS cellulose was carried out to determine crystallinity, surface morphology, and chemical bonding properties, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), respectively. The XRD test results showed that the crystallinity index (CI) of cellulose powder (CP) decreased after the surface modification treatment, Route 2, from 64.50 to 50.10% CI for modified cellulose powder (MCP), due to the surface alteration of cellulose structure. From Route 1, the crystallinity of the fibers decreased up to 33.5% (dissolve cellulose, DC) after the pulp went through the surface modification and dissolution processes, resulting from the transformation of cellulose phase into para-crystalline structure. FESEM micrographs displayed a significant reduction of raw RS diameter from 7.78 µm to 3.34 µm (treated by Route 1) and 1.06 µm (treated by Route 2). The extracted and treated cellulose via both routes, which was considerably dominated by cellulose II because of the high percentage of alkaline used, include the dissolve cellulose (DC). The dissolution process, using NMMO solvent, was performed on the pulp fiber produced by Route 1. The fiber change from cellulose I to cellulose II after undergoes the process. Thus, the dissolution process maintains cellulose II but turned the pulp to the cellulose solution. The acquired characteristics of cellulose from RS waste, extracted by the employed methods, have a considerably greater potential for further application in numerous industries. It was concluded that the great achievement of extracted RS is obtained the nanosized fibers after surface modification treatment, which is very useful for filler in structural composite applications.
Do You See What I See? ‘Religion’ and Acculturation in Filipino–Japanese International Families
Authors: LeMay Alec R.
Published: January 2022

Catholicism prides itself on being a ‘global religion’. However, just how this ‘religion’ is contextualized into a specific culture has led to intercultural and intergenerational problems. In Japan, the Filipino–Japanese struggle to fit into a society that sees, in their Catholic upbringing, ‘religious’ activity that it deems un-Japanese. The concept of ‘religion’ (shūkyō) in Japan has been largely associated with congregational activity, an aspect that neither Shinto nor Buddhism stress. As a result, the Japanese people label acts such as the purchasing of lucky charms, temple and shrine pilgrimages, visits to power spots, and performing birth or death rituals as ‘non-religious’ (mushūkyō). On the other hand, they label similar Christian acts as ‘religious’. Associating Christianity with ‘religion’ has had consequences for Japan’s Filipino residents and their international families. This paper considers the role the concept of ‘religion’ plays in the acculturation of Filipino–Japanese children into Japanese society. Through qualitative interviews of four Filipino–Japanese young adults, it delineates, in eight sections, how the discourse of ‘religion’ isolates Filipino mothers from their ‘non-religious’ children and husbands. This begins at adolescence and culminates with the children’s absence from the Roman Catholic Church of Japan.
A Spatiotemporal Fusion Method Based on Multiscale Feature Extraction and Spatial Channel Attention Mechanism
Authors: Lei Dajiang , Ran Gangsheng , Zhang Liping , Li Weisheng
Published: January 2022

Remote sensing satellite images with a high spatial and temporal resolution play a crucial role in Earth science applications. However, due to technology and cost constraints, it is difficult for a single satellite to achieve both a high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution. The spatiotemporal fusion method is a cost-effective solution for generating a dense temporal data resolution with a high spatial resolution. In recent years, spatiotemporal image fusion based on deep learning has received wide attention. In this article, a spatiotemporal fusion method based on multiscale feature extraction and a spatial channel attention mechanism is proposed. Firstly, the method uses a multiscale mechanism to fully utilize the structural features in the images. Then a novel attention mechanism is used to capture both spatial and channel information; finally, the rich features and spatial and channel information are used to fuse the images. Experimental results obtained from two datasets show that the proposed method outperforms existing fusion methods in both subjective and objective evaluations.
Remote Sensing Pansharpening by Full-Depth Feature Fusion
Authors: Jin Zi-Rong , Zhuo Yu-Wei , Zhang Tian-Jing , Jin Xiao-Xu , Jing Shuaiqi , Deng Liang-Jian
Published: January 2022

Pansharpening is an important yet challenging remote sensing image processing task, which aims to reconstruct a high-resolution (HR) multispectral (MS) image by fusing a HR panchromatic (PAN) image and a low-resolution (LR) MS image. Though deep learning (DL)-based pansharpening methods have achieved encouraging performance, they are infeasible to fully utilize the deep semantic features and shallow contextual features in the process of feature fusion for a HR-PAN image and LR-MS image. In this paper, we propose an efficient full-depth feature fusion network (FDFNet) for remote sensing pansharpening. Specifically, we design three distinctive branches called PAN-branch, MS-branch, and fusion-branch, respectively. The features extracted from the PAN and MS branches will be progressively injected into the fusion branch at every different depth to make the information fusion more broad and comprehensive. With this structure, the low-level contextual features and high-level semantic features can be characterized and integrated adequately. Extensive experiments on reduced- and full-resolution datasets acquired from WorldView-3, QuickBird, and GaoFen-2 sensors demonstrate that the proposed FDFNet only with less than 100,000 parameters performs better than other detail injection-based proposals and several state-of-the-art approaches, both visually and quantitatively.
New Media Literacies and Transmedia Learning… Do We Really Have the Conditions to Make the Leap? An Analysis from the Context of Two Italian licei classici
Authors: Runchina Cinzia , Fauth Fernanda , Sánchez-Caballé Anna , González-Martínez Juan
Published: January 2022

In recent years, the integration of new media literacies and, consequently, strategies such as transmedia learning in teaching–learning processes has been a topic of interest among various types of national and international institutions and governments. In this sense, the current article deals with the abilities and habits of Italian students of licei classici (Italian classical high schools) to cope with these new formative contexts that are arising. For this purpose, different quantitative instruments (from the field of attitudes, digital skills and multitasking, and corresponding to the transmedia sphere) were administered to 400 students (N = 400). The results show that most young people have access to devices and that they prefer the mobile ones when consuming or creating content on the net. Moreover, although they are inclined towards transmedia practices, they have some difficulties in becoming creative agents collaborating and fully participating in digital citizenship.
Design and Verification of Process Discovery Based on NLP Approach and Visualization for Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Moon Junhyung , Park Gyuyoung , Yang Minyeol , Jeong Jongpil
Published: January 2022

When a consultant of a company that provides a smart factory solution consults with a customer, it is difficult to define the outline of the manufacturing process and create all activities within the process by case. It requires a large amount of resources from the company to perform a task. In this study, we propose a process discovery automation system that helps consultants define manufacturing processes. In addition, for process discovery, a fully attention-based transformer model, which has recently shown a strong performance, was applied. To be useful to consultants, we solved the black box characteristics of the deep learning model applied to process discovery and proposed a visualization method that can be used in the monitoring system when explaining the discovery process. In this study, we used the event log of the metal fabrication process to perform the modeling, visualization, and evaluation.
Perfectionism, Interactional Justice and Job Performance: A Trait Activation Perspective
Authors: Kim Myungsun , Kim Seckyoung Loretta , Son Seung Yeon , Yun Seokhwa
Published: January 2022

Drawing on trait activation theory, this research explores the intrapersonal consequences of perfectionism in the workplace by examining the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism (SOP) and two distinct job performance dimensions, i.e., task performance and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and the moderating role of interactional justice on these relationships. Using field data collected from 121 employee–supervisor dyads in South Korea, we found a unique and incremental predictive power of employee SOP on job performance, specifically task performance. Moreover, the results showed that the interaction effect of employee SOP and interactional justice on OCB was significant, such that the trait of SOP was activated to enhance OCB when interactional justice was low. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Trend Analysis of Mainstreaming Flood Risk Reduction into Spatial Planning in Thailand
Authors: Chaladdee Alita , Kim Sohee Minsun , Nitivattananon Vilas , Pal Indrajit , Roy Joyashree , Roachanakanan Thongchai
Published: January 2022

Mainstreaming flood risk reduction into spatial planning (MFRRSP) recognizes the urgent need for sustainable human settlement planning. Despite official recognition of MFRRSP in Thailand, repetitive damage from floods demonstrates gaps in concept and implementation. This paper examines the transition and challenges of flood risk reduction (FRR) practices in the spatial planning (SP) of the Bangkok and Sing Buri provinces of Thailand. Content analysis through computer-aided qualitative data analysis software (CAQDS) and in-depth interviews provide the evidence for the study. Twenty-two codes under seven assessments were extracted from the MFRRSP guidelines of international organizations. It was found that FRR was more mainstream in Thailand’s SP. The code in the next Sing Buri and Bangkok Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) was mentioned in 202.06% and 112.70% of the existing CLUP. The assessment area that deserves more attention is FRR preparedness and stakeholder participation, which only 0.011% and 0.035% mention. Two implementation problems are identified. Firstly, no emergency management deals with using land-use management methods. Secondly, FRR regulations limiting the type, density, and design have been reduced, as seen in the next draft of Bangkok CLUP that reduces the floodway in specific districts to be a residential land type. This specific study for Thailand shows how the method can be used in any local context for any country to understand how official planning documents evolve and adapt to disaster preparedness.
Urbanization, Economic Development, and Ecological Environment: Evidence from Provincial Panel Data in China
Authors: Chen Xiaofu , Liu Chang , Yu Xiaohua
Published: January 2022

The relationship between urbanization and the ecological environment is not conclusive in the literature. We used the provincial data from China from 1998 to 2019 to empirically study the relationship between the urbanization ratio and ecological environment which is proxied by the NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) from the remote sensing data. The results indicate that the coefficient of the interaction between urbanization and per capita GDP is statistically significant and negative (−0.0946), while the coefficient of urbanization itself is very trivial and not statistically significant. It implies that urbanization could reduce ecological quality, particularly for the high-income regions. The higher the urbanization ratio is, the larger the negative impact is. It implies that urban expansion does reduce the ecological environment. The effect of economic development level on the NDVI can be divided into three stages: the one where the NDVI improves with the increase of GDP per capita (urbanization rate of less than 77.59%), the one where the value of the NDVI is not affected by the level of GDP per capita (urbanization rate equal to 77.59%), and the one where the NDVI decreases with the increase of GDP per capita (urbanization rate of more than 77.59%).
A Spatial Analysis of Smart Meter Adoptions: Empirical Evidence from the U.S. Data
Authors: Gao Yue , Fang Chao , Zhang Jing
Published: January 2022

With the increasing demand on grid modernization for improving environmental sustainability and grid security, the topic of smart meter adoption has attracted much attention, especially with regard to the roles of public policies. However, there is a lack of research investigating the association between the multi-layered government policies and smart meter adoption from a spatial perspective to explain the variant adoption rates across the United States. This study constructs a panel of 48 contiguous U.S. states and the District of Columbia over the period 2007–2019. Using this unique dataset and spatial econometric models, we investigate the impacts of federal and state policies as well as spatial spillover effects of smart meter adoption in the residential sector. Results indicate the following: (1) Smart meter adoption has spatial spillover effects between the adjacent states in a sense that the rate of adoption in one state is positively associated with adoption rates in the neighboring states; (2) federal funding and state-level legislative actions on advanced metering and smart grid have positive impacts on smart meter adoption. These findings provide important implications for the formulation and implementation of public policies for the adoption of a modern electric grid in the U.S.