bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fucan Sulfate with Pentasaccharide Repeating Units from the Sea Cucumber Holothuriafloridana and Its Anticoagulant Activity
Authors: Ning Zimo , Wang Pin , Zuo Zhichuang , Tao Xuelin , Gao Li , Xu Chen , Wang Zhiyue , Wu Bin , Gao Na , Zhao Jinhua
Published: June 2022

A fucan sulfate (HfFS) was isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuriafloridana after proteolysis-alkaline treatment and purified with anion-exchange chromatography. The molecular weight (Mw) of HfFS was determined to be 443.4 kDa, and the sulfate content of HfFS was 30.4%. The structural analysis of the peroxidative depolymerized product (dHfFS-1) showed that the primary structure of HfFS was mainly composed of a distinct pentasaccharide repeating unit -[l-Fuc2S4S-α(1,3)-l-Fuc-α(1,3)-Fuc-α(1,3)-l-Fuc2S-α(1,3)-l-Fuc2S-α(1,3)-]n-. Then, the “bottom-up” strategy was employed to confirm the structure of HfFS, and a series of fucooligosaccharides (disaccharides, trisaccharides, and tetrasaccharides) were purified from the mild acid-hydrolyzed HfFS. The structures identified through 1D/2D NMR spectra showed that these fucooligosaccharides could be derivates from the pentasaccharide units, while the irregular sulfate substituent also exists in the units. Anticoagulant activity assays of native HfFS and its depolymerized products (dHf-1~dHf-6) in vitro suggested that HfFS exhibits potent APTT-prolonging activity and the potencies decreased with the reduction in molecular weights, and HfFS fragments (dHf-4~dHf-6) with Mw less than 11.5 kDa showed no significant anticoagulant effect. Overall, our study enriched the knowledge about the structural diversity of FSs in different sea cucumber species and their biological activities.
HPV and HIV Coinfection in Women from a Southeast Region of Romania—PICOPIV Study
Authors: Cambrea Simona Claudia , Aschie Mariana , Resul Ghiulendan , Mitroi Anca Florentina , Chisoi Anca , Nicolau Antonela Anca , Baltatescu Gabriela Izabela , Cretu Ana Maria , Lupasteanu Gabriela , Serbanescu Lucian , Manea Mihaela , Topliceanu Sebastian Theodor , Petcu Lucian Cristian , Pazara Loredana , Cozaru Georgeta Camelia
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: Romania faces one of the highest cervical cancer burdens in Europe though it is a preventable cancer through population screening by cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) detection. Also, it has one of the highest incidences of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HPV and HIV coinfection are frequently encountered. The aim of study was to establish the prevalence of HPV infection among HIV-positive women in Southeast Region of Romania, to genotype high risk HPV types -and to correlate the results with clinical data and cytological cervical lesions. Materials and Methods: 40 HIV-positive women were screened for HPV types and for cytological cervical lesions. The findings were evaluated in correlation with CD4 cell counts, HIV viral load, age at first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella using statistical methods. Results: 19/40 (47.5%) women were positive for HPV types, 63.15% infected with single HPV type and 36.85% with multiple HPV types. The most frequent types were type: 31 (42.1%), 56 (31.57%), 53 (15.78%). On cytology, 34 (85%) women were found with NILM of which 38.23% were HPV-positive. Fifteen percent of women had abnormal cytology (three ASC-US, three LSIL), and all of them were HPV-positive. Through analyzing the value of CD4 count, women with CD4 count ≤ 200 cells/μL were found to be significantly more likely to be infected with HPV; meanwhile there was no correlation between the detection of HPV types and HIV viral load. Candida or Gardnerella were more often associated with HIV-positive women with HPV, than in women without HPV. Conclusions: Infection with HPV types is common among HIV-positive women in the Southeast Region of Romania and it is associated with age at the beginning of sexual life, number of sexual partners, CD4 value, vaginal candidiasis, and Gardnerella infection.
Alternative Liquid-Assisted Sintering of Al/Cu Composites Using Selected Powders of As-Cast Al-Zn Alloy
Authors: Ortiz Eder L. , Osório Wislei R. , Bortolozo Ausdinir D. , Padilha Giovana S.
Published: June 2022

Al and its alloys constitute one of the most versatile, economical, and attractive materials for a wide range of applications. The 7xxx and 2xxx series alloys achieve the highest mechanical strength among the aluminum alloys. In this investigation, powder metallurgy is used to characterize the microstructural and mechanical properties of a noncommercial Al6Cu5Zn alloy. Initial powder sizes are determined, and the best conditions are obtained for distribution between 75 and 106 μm. The samples are sintered at 585 °C, 600 °C and 615 °C for 0.5, 1.5 h and 3 h. Similar mechanical behavior to that of the as-cast Al-Cu-based alloys is attained (~125 MPa) for the samples sintered at 615 °C for 3 h. In terms of a reduction in energy consumption and in the metal fumes commonly evidenced by foundry applications, Al-Zn powders have the potential to be associated with Al and Cu powders in an Al6Cu5Zn composite constitution.
Bimetallic Cu/Fe MOF-Based Nanosheet Film via Binder-Free Drop-Casting Route: A Highly Efficient Urea-Electrolysis Catalyst
Authors: Patil Supriya A. , Shrestha Nabeen K. , Inamdar Akbar I. , Bathula Chinna , Jung Jongwan , Hussain Sajjad , Nazir Ghazanfar , Kaseem Mosab , Im Hyunsik , Kim Hyungsang
Published: June 2022

Developing efficient electrocatalysts for urea oxidation reaction (UOR) can be a promising alternative strategy to substitute the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER), thereby producing hydrogen at a lower cell-voltage. Herein, we synthesized a binder-free thin film of ultrathin sheets of bimetallic Cu-Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (Cu/Fe-MOFs) on a nickel foam via a drop-casting route. In addition to the scalable route, the drop-casted film-electrode demonstrates the lower UOR potentials of 1.59, 1.58, 1.54, 1.51, 1.43 and 1.37 V vs. RHE to achieve the current densities of 2500, 2000, 1000, 500, 100 and 10 mA cm−2, respectively. These UOR potentials are relatively lower than that acquired by the pristine Fe-MOF-based film-electrode synthesized via a similar route. For example, at 1.59 V vs. RHE, the Cu/Fe-MOF electrode exhibits a remarkably ultra-high anodic current density of 2500 mA cm−2, while the pristine Fe-MOF electrode exhibits only 949.10 mA cm−2. It is worth noting that the Cu/Fe-MOF electrode at this potential exhibits an OER current density of only 725 mA cm−2, which is far inconsequential as compared to the UOR current densities, implying the profound impact of the bimetallic cores of the MOFs on catalyzing UOR. In addition, the Cu/Fe-MOF electrode also exhibits a long-term electrochemical robustness during UOR.
Randomized Clinical Trial: Effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB)-Enriched vs. HMB-Free Oral Nutritional Supplementation in Malnourished Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Espina Silvia , Sanz-Paris Alejandro , Gonzalez-Irazabal Yolanda , Pérez-Matute Patricia , Andrade Fernando , Garcia-Rodriguez Beatriz , Carpéné Christian , Zakaroff Alexia , Bernal-Monterde Vanesa , Fuentes-Olmo Javier , Arbones-Mainar Jose M.
Published: June 2022

β-Hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation increases muscle and strength mass in some muscle-wasting disorders. Malnutrition and sarcopenia are often present in liver cirrhosis. We aimed to investigate the effects of oral HMB supplementation on changes in body composition and liver status in patients with cirrhosis and malnutrition. In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial, 43 individuals were randomized to receive twice a day and for 12 weeks an oral nutritional supplement (ONS) enriched with 1.5 g of calcium HMB per bottle or another supplement with similar composition devoid of HMB. Inclusion criteria were liver cirrhosis with at least one previous decompensation and clinical malnutrition. Liver function, plasma biochemistry analyses, and physical condition assessment were carried out at baseline, then after six and 12 weeks of supplementation. A total of 34 patients completed the clinical trial. An improvement in liver function and an increase in fat mass index were observed in both groups. None of the two ONS changed the fat-free mass. However, we observed an upward trend in handgrip strength and a downward trend in minimal hepatic encephalopathy in the HMB group. At the end of the trial and regardless of the supplement administered, fat mass content increased with no change in fat-free mass, while liver function scores and nutritional analytic markers also improved.
Source Attribution of Human Campylobacteriosis Using Whole-Genome Sequencing Data and Network Analysis
Authors: Wainaina Lynda , Merlotti Alessandra , Remondini Daniel , Henri Clementine , Hald Tine , Njage Patrick Murigu Kamau
Published: June 2022

Campylobacter spp. are a leading and increasing cause of gastrointestinal infections worldwide. Source attribution, which apportions human infection cases to different animal species and food reservoirs, has been instrumental in control- and evidence-based intervention efforts. The rapid increase in whole-genome sequencing data provides an opportunity for higher-resolution source attribution models. Important challenges, including the high dimension and complex structure of WGS data, have inspired concerted research efforts to develop new models. We propose network analysis models as an accurate, high-resolution source attribution approach for the sources of human campylobacteriosis. A weighted network analysis approach was used in this study for source attribution comparing different WGS data inputs. The compared model inputs consisted of cgMLST and wgMLST distance matrices from 717 human and 717 animal isolates from cattle, chickens, dogs, ducks, pigs and turkeys. SNP distance matrices from 720 human and 720 animal isolates were also used. The data were collected from 2015 to 2017 in Denmark, with the animal sources consisting of domestic and imports from 7 European countries. Clusters consisted of network nodes representing respective genomes and links representing distances between genomes. Based on the results, animal sources were the main driving factor for cluster formation, followed by type of species and sampling year. The coherence source clustering (CSC) values based on animal sources were 78%, 81% and 78% for cgMLST, wgMLST and SNP, respectively. The CSC values based on Campylobacter species were 78%, 79% and 69% for cgMLST, wgMLST and SNP, respectively. Including human isolates in the network resulted in 88%, 77% and 88% of the total human isolates being clustered with the different animal sources for cgMLST, wgMLST and SNP, respectively. Between 12% and 23% of human isolates were not attributed to any animal source. Most of the human genomes were attributed to chickens from Denmark, with an average attribution percentage of 52.8%, 52.2% and 51.2% for cgMLST, wgMLST and SNP distance matrices respectively, while ducks from Denmark showed the least attribution of 0% for all three distance matrices. The best-performing model was the one using wgMLST distance matrix as input data, which had a CSC value of 81%. Results from our study show that the weighted network-based approach for source attribution is reliable and can be used as an alternative method for source attribution considering the high performance of the model. The model is also robust across the different Campylobacter species, animal sources and WGS data types used as input.
Occurrence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Avian Coronaviruses in Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Poland between 2016 and 2020
Authors: Łukaszuk Ewa , Dziewulska Daria , Stenzel Tomasz
Published: June 2022

While disease control in racing pigeons and the potential role of pigeons as vectors transmitting viruses to poultry are of importance, there is still a paucity of data concerning the occurrence of coronaviruses in pigeons. In this study, 215 domestic pigeons were tested for the presence of coronaviral genetic material using the nested PCR method, which revealed 57 positive samples (26.51%). The difference in coronavirus prevalence between young and adult pigeons (34.34% and 19.83%, respectively) has been found statistically significant. In contrast, no statistically significant difference has been demonstrated between the prevalence in symptomatic and asymptomatic birds, leaving the influence of coronavirus presence on pigeon health uncertain. Phylogenetic analysis of the RdRp gene fragment allowed us to assign all the obtained strains to the Gammacoronavirus genus and Igacovirus subgenus. The phylogenetic tree plotted using the ML method revealed that those sequences formed a group most similar to pigeon coronavirus strains from China, Finland, and Poland, and to a single strain from a common starling from Poland, which suggests wide geographical distribution of the virus and its possible transmission between various species.
Assessing Gene Expression Related to Cisplatin Resistance in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Choi Hyeong Sim , Kim Young-Kyun , Yun Pil-Young
Published: June 2022

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy has been effectively used to treat oral cancer, but treatment often fails owing to the development of drug resistance. However, the important gene expression alterations associated with these resistances remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to identify the gene expressions related to cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines. RNA samples were obtained from three cisplatin-resistant (YD-8/CIS, YD-9/CIS, and YD-38/CIS) and -sensitive (YD-8, YD-9, and YD-38) cell lines. Global gene expression was analyzed using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Differentially expressed genes were determined. Based on the gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, functional enrichment and signaling pathways analyses were performed. Candidate genes selected from RNA-Seq analysis were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. The YD-8/CIS and YD-9/CIS samples had very similar expression patterns. qRT-PCR analysis was performed on selected genes commonly expressed between the two samples. The expression levels of 11 genes were changed in cisplatin-resistant samples compared with their parental samples; several of these genes were related to cell adhesion molecules and proteoglycans in cancer pathways. Our data provide candidate genes associated with cisplatin resistance in OSCC, but further study is required to determine which genes have an important role. Nevertheless, these results may provide new ideas to improve the clinical therapeutic outcomes of OSCC.
Mepirapim, a Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid, Induces Addiction-Related Behaviors through Neurochemical Maladaptation in the Brain of Rodents
Authors: Hur Kwang-Hyun , Lee YouYoung , Donio Audrey Lynn , Ma Shi-Xun , Lee Bo-Ram , Kim Seon-Kyung , Lee Jae-Gyeong , Kim Young-Jung , Kim MinJeong , Yoon SeolMin , Lee SooYeun , Lee Yong-Sup , Lee Seok-Yong , Jang Choon-Gon
Published: June 2022

Mepirapim is a synthetic cannabinoid that has recently been abused for recreational purposes. Although serious side effects have been reported from users, the dangerous pharmacological effects of Mepirapim have not been scientifically demonstrated. In this study, we investigated the addictive potential of Mepirapim through an intravenous self-administration test and a conditioned place preference test in rodents. Moreover, to determine whether the pharmacological effects of Mepirapim are mediated by cannabinoid receptors, we investigated whether Mepirapim treatment induces cannabinoid tetrad symptoms in mice. Lastly, to identify Mepirapim induced neurochemical maladaptation in the brains of mice, we performed microdialysis, western blots and neurotransmitter enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In the results, Mepirapim supported the maintenance of intravenous self-administration and the development of conditioned place preference. As a molecular mechanism of Mepirapim addiction, we identified a decrease in GABAeric signalling and an increase in dopaminergic signalling in the brain reward circuit. Finally, by confirming the Mepirapim-induced expression of cannabinoid tetrad symptoms, we confirmed that Mepirapim acts pharmacologically through cannabinoid receptor one. Taken together, we found that Mepirapim induces addiction-related behaviours through neurochemical maladaptation in the brain. On the basis of these findings, we propose the strict regulation of recreational abuse of Mepirapim.
siRNA Targeting Mcl-1 Potentiates the Anticancer Activity of Andrographolide Nanosuspensions via Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Pengnam Supusson , Charoensuksai Purin , Yingyongnarongkul Boon-ek , Saeeng Rungnapha , Uludağ Hasan , Patrojanasophon Prasopchai , Opanasopit Praneet , Plianwong Samarwadee
Published: June 2022

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. However, recurrence is frequently found despite adjuvant therapy being available. Combination therapy with cytotoxic drugs and gene therapy is being developed to be a new promising cancer treatment strategy. Introducing substituted dithiocarbamate moieties at the C12 position of andrographolide (3nAG) could improve its anticancer selectivity in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. However, its hydrophobicity is one of its main drawbacks. This work successfully prepared 3nAG nanosuspension stabilized with the chitosan derivative NSC (3nAGN-NSC) to increase solubility and pharmacological effectiveness. siRNAs have emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative for interfering with particular mRNA. The 3nAGN-NSC had also induced Mcl-1 mRNA expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells at 8, 12, and 24 h. This indicates that, in addition to Mcl-1 silencing by siRNA (siMcl-1) in MCF-7 with substantial Mcl-1 reliance, rationally devised combination treatment may cause the death of cancer cells in breast cancer. The Fa-CI analysis showed that the combination of 3nAGN-NSC and siMcl-1 had a synergistic effect with a combination index (CI) value of 0.75 (CI < 1 indicating synergistic effects) at the fractional inhibition of Fa 0.7. The synergistic effect was validated by flow cytometry, with the induction of apoptosis as the mechanism of reduced cell viability. Our findings suggested the rational use of 3nAGN-NSC in combination with siMcl-1 to kill breast cancer cells.
A Table of Some Coherency Matrices, Coherency Matrix Factors, and Their Respective Mueller Matrices
Authors: Sheppard Colin J. R. , Bendandi Artemi , Le Gratiet Aymeric , Diaspro Alberto
Published: June 2022

Many books on polarization give tables of Mueller matrices. The coherency matrix has been found useful for interpretetion of the Mueller matrix. Here we give a table of Mueller matrices M, coherency matrices C, and coherency matrix factors F for different polarization components and systems. F is not given for some complicated nondeterministic cases. In many cases, though, F has a very simple form. In particular, we give expressions for F for the general case of an homogeneous elliptic diattenuating retarder. Different coordinate systems for describing diattenuating retarders are compared, on a generalized retardation sphere, analogous to the Poincaré sphere. For the general homogeneous deterministic case, expressions for the Mueller matrix have particularly simple forms for Cartesian or stereographic coordinates in generalized retardation space.
Roadmapping 5.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Technological Proposal for Developing the Coffee Plant Centered on Indigenous Producers’ Requirements from Mexico, via Knowledge Management
Authors: Contreras-Medina David Israel , Medina-Cuéllar Sergio Ernesto , Rodríguez-García Juan Manuel
Published: June 2022

The coffee plant, with more than 40 billion shrubs, 9 million tons of grains produced, and 80% of its production accounted for by small-scale producers, has been severely damaged since the emergence of Hemileia vastatrix and Hypothenemus hampei. Despite technological support, these pests have caused 20% to 40% production losses, a 50% to 60% deficit in performance, and a cost of between USD 70 million and USD 220 million to the world economies, which forces us to rethink actions centered on people as the key elements to develop appropriate solutions. For this, the present study presents a technological proposal centered on small indigenous coffee producer requirements for introducing Industry 5.0 technologies, considering roadmapping, knowledge management, statistical analysis, and the social, productive, and digital contexts of five localities in Mexico. The results show a correlation between monitoring and control, soil analysis, the creation of organic fertilizers, accompaniment, and coffee experimentation, as the actions to be implemented, proposing the introduction of a mobile application; sensors, virtual platforms, dome-shaped greenhouses, and spectrophotometric technology as relevant technologies centered on indigenous coffee producers’ requirements. This study is important for policymakers, academics, and producers who wish to develop strategies centered on people in Mexico and the world.
Isolation and Characterization of the GmMT-II Gene and Its Role in Response to High Temperature and Humidity Stress in Glycine max
Authors: Liu Sushuang , Liu Yanmin , Liu Chundong , Li Yang , Zhang Feixue , Ma Hao
Published: June 2022

Metallothioneins (MTs) are polypeptide-encoded genes involved in plant growth, development, seed formation, and diverse stress response. High temperature and humidity stress (HTH) reduce seed development and maturity of the field-grown soybean, which also leads to seed pre-harvest deterioration. However, the function of MTs in higher plants is still largely unknown. Herein, we isolated and characterized the soybean metallothionein II gene. The full-length fragment is 255 bp and encodes 85 amino acids and contains the HD domain and the N-terminal non-conservative region. The subcellular location of the GmMT-II-GFP fusion protein was clearly located in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. The highest expression of the GmMT-II gene was observed in seeds both of the soybean Xiangdou No. 3 and Ningzhen No. 1 cultivars, as compared to other plant tissues. Similarly, gene expression was higher 45 days after flowering followed by 30, 40, and 35 days. Furthermore, the GmMT-II transcript levels were significantly higher at 96 and 12 h in the cultivars Xiangdou No. 3 and Ningzhen No. 1 under HTH stress, respectively. In addition, it was found that when the Gm1-MMP protein was deleted, the GmMT-II could bind to the propeptide region of the Gm1-MMP, but not to the signal peptide region or the catalytic region. GmMT-II overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis increased seed germination and germination rate under HTH conditions, conferring enhanced resistance to HTH stress. GmMT-II overexpressing plants suffered less oxidative damage under HTH stress, as reflected by lower MDA and H2O2 content and ROS production than WT plants. In addition, the activity of antioxidant enzymes namely SOD, CAT, and POD was significantly higher in all transgenic Arabidopsis lines under HTH stress compared wild-tpye plants. Our results suggested that GmMT-II is related to growth and development and confers enhanced HTH stress tolerance in plants by reduction of oxidative molecules through activation of antioxidant activities. These findings will be helpful for us in further understanding of the biological functions of MT-II in plants.
Investigation of Efficient Alkali Treatment and the Effect of Flame Retardant on the Mechanical and Fire Performance of Frost-Retted Hemp Fiber Reinforced PLA
Authors: Alao Percy Festus , Press Raimond , Kallakas Heikko , Ruponen Jussi , Poltimäe Triinu , Kers Jaan
Published: June 2022

This research investigates an effective alkali (NaOH) treatment and fire-retardant coating to produce biocomposites from frost-retted hemp fiber and PLA. The fiber surface treatment with various NaOH concentrations was investigated throughout a range of soaking times. The results show that the extracted non-cellulosic fiber content increases with treatment duration and NaOH concentration, while the fraction of targeted components removed remains nearly unchanged after soaking for 1, 2, and 4 h with a 5 wt.% NaOH solution. At the composite level, the treatment with 5 wt.% NaOH solution for 1 h emerged as the most efficient, with tensile strength, Young’s modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of 89.6 MPa, 9.1 GPa, 121.6 MPa, and 9.6 GPa, respectively, using 30 wt.% fibrous reinforcement. The fire performance of the examined batches of biocomposites improved significantly with the novel fire-retardant (Palonot F1) coating. However, the tensile strength notably decreased, while the flexural properties showed only a slight reduction. In most cases, the biocomposites with the alkali-treated hemp fiber had delayed ignition during the 5 min exposure to the cone heater. The findings in this work contribute to studies that will be required to give design guidelines for sustainable building options.
Current Strategies to Improve Yield of Recombinant Protein Production in Rice Suspension Cells
Authors: Chi Yu-Hsiang , Huang Li-Fen
Published: June 2022

A plant cell-based recombinant glucocerebrosidase was approved by the FDA in 2012 for the treatment of human inherited Gaucher disease, indicating that plant suspension cells have advantages in biosafety and a low production cost as a commercial pharmaceutical recombinant protein expression system. A low allergenic rice suspension cell-based recombinant protein expression system controlled by the αAmy3/RAmy3D promoter has been shown to result in relatively high protein yields in plant cell-based systems. Although several recombinant proteins have been produced in rice suspension cell-based systems, yields must be improved to compete with the current commercial protein expression systems. Different strategies were performed and showed successful improvements in recombinant protein yields in this rice system. The review updates and highlights strategies for potential improvements of the αAmy3-based rice suspension cell-based system.
Special Issue “Micro and Nanotechnology: Application in Surface Modification”
Authors: Ellinas Kosmas , Dimitrakellis Panagiotis
Published: June 2022

Surface modification is crucial to the fabrication of (multi)functional materials and interfaces for a range of applications, such as superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surfaces, anti-biofouling and antibacterial coatings, dropwise condensation, packaging materials, sensors, catalysis, and photonics [...]
Exploring Internet Addiction in Italian Nurses during the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Lupo Roberto , Zacchino Simone , Lezzi Alessia , Lezzi Pierluigi , Calabrò Antonino , Carvello Maicol , Conte Luana , Vitale Elsa
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: Nomophobia is considered a digital and virtual contemporary society disorder and refers to discomfort, anxiety, nervousness, or distress caused by being out of contact with a cell phone or computer. The present study had a twofold objective: to evaluate the expert use of the Internet among Italian nurses by correlating it with socio-demographic characteristics, such as: sex, years of work experience, professional role, and level of nursing education; and to assess a possible increase in the levels of nomophobia among Italian nurses during COVID-19 compared to the pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted from April to September 2020, such as during the First Wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. (3) Results: A total of 502 nurses were enrolled in the present study. Significantly differences were reported in the IAT (Internet Addiction Test) levels according to socio-demographic characteristics since males reported significantly higher IAT levels than females (p < 0.001). Nurses who worked more than 6 years reported significantly higher IAT levels (p = 0.031) than their younger colleagues. More nursing managers and coordinators reported significantly higher IAT levels than registered nurses (p < 0.001). This trend was repeated by considering the nursing educational level, as nurses who recorded more years of nursing educational level reported significantly higher IAT levels than the others (p = 0.003). Additionally, significant differences were reported according to all the socio-demographic characteristics considered and IAT subdimensions, namely: Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, and Lack of Control. (4) Conclusions: The study revealed higher levels of Internet addiction in men than in women during the COVID-19 pandemic period, as well as a significant correlation between nomophobia, years of work experience, and the role of nursing coordinator/manager.
Is New Testament Theology Sufficiently Theological?
Authors: Bennett Thomas Andrew
Published: June 2022

In this essay, I assess contemporary New Testament Theology against six values or aims of academic theology as espoused classically by St. Anselm and, recently, by Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen. I find New Testament Theology to excel in the first three, with contributions being coherent, historical, and engaged with contemporary contexts. It is with the second three theological trajectories—being confessional, constructive, and collaborative—that I find some standout hopeful examples that, should they become ubiquitous within the disciple, would lead to New Testament Theology becoming sufficiently theological and ultimately, would help to collapse the divide between biblical studies and theology altogether.
Crop Classification Based on the Physically Constrained General Model-Based Decomposition Using Multi-Temporal RADARSAT-2 Data
Authors: Xie Qinghua , Dou Qi , Peng Xing , Wang Jinfei , Lopez-Sanchez Juan M. , Shang Jiali , Fu Haiqiang , Zhu Jianjun
Published: June 2022

Crop identification and classification are of great significance to agricultural land use management. The physically constrained general model-based decomposition (PCGMD) has proven to be a promising method in comparison with the typical four-component decomposition methods in scattering mechanism interpretation and identifying vegetation types. However, the robustness of PCGMD requires further investigation from the perspective of final applications. This paper aims to validate the efficiency of the PCGMD method on crop classification for the first time. Seven C-band time-series RADARSAT-2 images were exploited, covering the entire growing season over an agricultural region near London, Ontario, Canada. Firstly, the response and temporal evolution of the four scattering components obtained by PCGMD were analyzed. Then, a forward selection approach was applied to achieve the highest classification accuracy by searching an optimum combination of multi-temporal SAR data with the random forest (RF) algorithm. For comparison, the general model-based decomposition method (GMD), the original and its three improved Yamaguchi four-component decomposition approaches (Y4O, Y4R, S4R, G4U), were used in all tests. The results reveal that the PCGMD method is highly sensitive to seasonal crop changes and matches well with the real physical characteristics of the crops. Among all test methods used, the PCGMD method using six images obtained the optimum classification performance, reaching an overall accuracy of 91.83%.
Carbon Sink under Different Carbon Density Levels of Forest and Shrub, a Case in Dongting Lake Basin, China
Authors: Kong Lingqiao , Lu Fei , Rao Enming , Ouyang Zhiyun
Published: June 2022

Terrestrial ecosystems play a critical role in the global carbon cycle and climate change mitigation. Studying the temporal and spatial dynamics of carbon sink and the driving mechanisms at the regional scale provides an important basis for ecological restoration and ecosystem management. Taking the Dongting Lake Basin as an example, we assessed the carbon sinks of forest and shrub from 2000 to 2020 based on the maps of biomass that were obtained by remote sensing, and analyzed the dynamics of carbon sinks that were contributed by different biomass carbon density levels of constant forest and shrub and new afforestation over the past two decades. The results showed that the carbon sink of forest and shrub in the Dongting Lake Basin grew rapidly from 2000 to 2020: carbon sink increased from 64.64 TgC between 2000 and 2010, to 382.56 TgC between 2010 and 2020. The continuous improvement of biomass carbon density has made a major contribution to carbon sink, especially the carbon density increase in low carbon density forests and shrubs. Carbon-dense forests and shrubs realized their contribution to carbon sink in the second decade after displaying negative carbon sink in the first decade. Carbon sink from new afforestation increased 61.16% from the first decade to the second decade, but the contribution proportion decreased. The overall low carbon density of forest and shrub in the Dongting Lake Basin and their carbon sink dynamics indicated their huge carbon sequestration potential in the future. In addition to continuously implementing forest protection and restoration projects to promote afforestation, the improvement of ecosystem quality should be paid more attention in ecosystem management for areas like Dongting Lake Basin, where ecosystems, though severely degraded, are important and fragile, to realize their huge carbon sequestration potential.
Extrapolation Assessment for Forest Structural Parameters in Planted Forests of Southern China by UAV-LiDAR Samples and Multispectral Satellite Imagery
Authors: Liu Hao , Cao Fuliang , She Guanghui , Cao Lin
Published: June 2022

Accurate estimation and extrapolation of forest structural parameters in planted forests are essential for monitoring forest resources, investigating their ecosystem services (e.g., forest structure and functions), as well as supporting decisions for precision silviculture. Advances in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology have enhanced our ability to precisely characterize the 3-D structure of the forest canopy with high flexibility, usually within forest plots and stands. For wall-to-wall forest structure mapping in broader landscapes, samples (transects) of UAV-LiDAR datasets are a cost-efficient solution as an intermediate layer for extrapolation from field plots to full-coverage multispectral satellite imageries. In this study, an advanced two-stage extrapolation approach was established to estimate and map large area forest structural parameters (i.e., mean DBH, dominant height, volume, and stem density), in synergy with field plots and UAV-LiDAR and GF-6 satellite imagery, in a typical planted forest of southern China. First, estimation models were built and used to extrapolate field plots to UAV-LiDAR transects; then, the maps of UAV-LiDAR transects were extrapolated to the whole study area using the wall-to-wall grid indices that were calculated from GF-6 satellite imagery. By comparing with direct prediction models that were fitted by field plots and GF-6-derived spectral indices, the results indicated that the two-stage extrapolation models (R2 = 0.64–0.85, rRMSE = 7.49–26.85%) obtained higher accuracy than direct prediction models (R2 = 0.58–0.75, rRMSE = 21.31–38.43%). In addition, the effect of UAV-LiDAR point density and sampling intensity for estimation accuracy was studied by sensitivity analysis as well. The results showed a stable level of accuracy for approximately 10% of point density (34 pts·m−2) and 20% of sampling intensity. To understand the error propagation through the extrapolation procedure, a modified U-statistics uncertainty analysis was proposed to characterize pixel-level estimates of uncertainty and the results demonstrated that the uncertainty was 0.75 cm for mean DBH, 1.23 m for dominant height, 14.77 m3·ha−1 for volume and 102.72 n·ha−1 for stem density, respectively.
Lower Order Description and Reconstruction of Sparse Scanning Lidar Measurements of Wind Turbine Inflow Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
Authors: Kidambi Sekar Anantha Padmanabhan , van Dooren Marijn Floris , Rott Andreas , Kühn Martin
Published: June 2022

Preview measurements of the inflow by turbine-mounted lidar systems can be used to optimise wind turbine performance or alleviate structural loads. However, nacelle-mounted lidars suffer data losses due to unfavourable environmental conditions and laser beam obstruction by the rotating blades. Here, we apply proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to the simulated line-of-sight wind speed measurements of a turbine-mounted scanning lidar obtained from two large eddy simulations. This work aimed at identifying the dominant POD modes that can be used to subsequently derive a reduced-order representation of the turbine inflow. Secondly, we reconstructed the data points lost due to blade passage by using Gappy-POD. We found that only a few modes are required to capture the dynamics of the wind field parameters commonly used for lidar-assisted wind turbine control, such as the effective wind speed, vertical shear and directional misalignment. By evaluating turbine-relevant metrics in the time and frequency domain, we found that a ten-mode reconstruction could accurately describe most spatio-temporal variations in the inflow. Furthermore, a modal interpretation is presented by direct comparison with these wind field parameters. We found that the Gappy-POD method performs substantially better than spatial interpolation techniques, accurately reconstructing up to even 50% of missing data. A POD-based wind field reconstruction offers a trade-off between wind field reconstruction techniques requiring flow assumptions and more complex physics-based representations, offers dimensional reduction and can overcome the blade passage limitation of nacelle-mounted lidar systems.
Combination of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Data for Tree Species Classification in a Central European Biosphere Reserve
Authors: Lechner Michael , Dostálová Alena , Hollaus Markus , Atzberger Clement , Immitzer Markus
Published: June 2022

Microwave and optical imaging methods react differently to different land surface parameters and, thus, provide highly complementary information. However, the contribution of individual features from these two domains of the electromagnetic spectrum for tree species classification is still unclear. For large-scale forest assessments, it is moreover important to better understand the domain-specific limitations of the two sensor families, such as the impact of cloudiness and low signal-to-noise-ratio, respectively. In this study, seven deciduous and five coniferous tree species of the Austrian Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald (105,000 ha) were classified using Breiman’s random forest classifier, labeled with help of forest enterprise data. In nine test cases, variations of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 imagery were passed to the classifier to evaluate their respective contributions. By solely using a high number of Sentinel-2 scenes well spread over the growing season, an overall accuracy of 83.2% was achieved. With ample Sentinel-2 scenes available, the additional use of Sentinel-1 data improved the results by 0.5 percentage points. This changed when only a single Sentinel-2 scene was supposedly available. In this case, the full set of Sentinel-1-derived features increased the overall accuracy on average by 4.7 percentage points. The same level of accuracy could be obtained using three Sentinel-2 scenes spread over the vegetation period. On the other hand, the sole use of Sentinel-1 including phenological indicators and additional features derived from the time series did not yield satisfactory overall classification accuracies (55.7%), as only coniferous species were well separated.
Absolute Frequency Readout of Cavity against Atomic Reference
Authors: Rees Emily Rose , Wade Andrew R. , Sutton Andrew J. , McKenzie Kirk
Published: June 2022

Future space-based geodesy missions such as the Mass Change Mission and the Next Generation Gravity Mission are expected to rely on laser ranging as their primary instrument. Short-term laser frequency stability has previously been achieved on the GRACE Follow On mission by stabilizing the lasers to an optical cavity. The development of a technique to provide long-term laser frequency stability is expected to be required. We have previously demonstrated a technique to track long-term frequency changes by using measurements of the optical cavity’s free spectral range. In this paper, we calibrate this technique to absolute frequency by using an atomic reference. We have also validated an approach for on-ground calibration to allow the absolute frequency to be determined whilst in orbit.
A New Deep Learning Neural Network Model for the Identification of InSAR Anomalous Deformation Areas
Authors: Zhang Tian , Zhang Wanchang , Cao Dan , Yi Yaning , Wu Xuan
Published: June 2022

The identification and early warning of potential landslides can effectively reduce the number of casualties and the amount of property loss. At present, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is considered one of the mainstream methods for the large-scale identification and detection of potential landslides, and it can obtain long-term time-series surface deformation data. However, the method of identifying anomalous deformation areas using InSAR data is still mainly manual delineation, which is time-consuming, labor-consuming, and has no generally accepted criterion. In this study, a two-stage detection deep learning network (InSARNet) is proposed and used to detect anomalous deformation areas in Maoxian County, Sichuan Province. Compared with the most commonly used detection models, it is demonstrated that the InSARNet has a better performance in the detection of anomalous deformation in mountainous areas, and all of the quantitative evaluation indexes are higher for InSARNet than for the other models. After the anomalous deformation areas are identified using the proposed model, the possible relationship between the anomalous deformation areas and potential landslides is investigated. Finally, the fact that the automatic and rapid identification of potential landslides is the inevitable trend of future development is discussed.
Elastic and Inelastic Ground Deformation in Shanghai Lingang Area Revealed by Sentinel-1, Leveling, and Groundwater Level Data
Authors: Chen Yanling , Liao Minyan , Wu Jicang , Li Xiaobo , Xiong Fuwen , Liu Shijie , Feng Yongjiu , Wang Xiaoya
Published: June 2022

Shanghai Lingang New City, located in the southeast corner of Shanghai, was constructed by land reclamation from 2002 to 2005, in an area where the geological structure is prone to subsidence over time. Firstly, we explore the spatio-temporal pattern of ground subsidence and its mechanism using the Persistent Scatterers Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) technique by processing 50 scenes of Sentinel-1A images acquired from May 2016 to May 2018. In order to assess the accuracy of PSInSAR derived deformation, we collect the first-class leveling data at two benchmarks located in the study area; the comparison between the two settlement indicates that the maximum difference is 1.93 mm and 2.9 mm, respectively, which validates the PSInSAR’s high accuracy. We then obtain the skeleton release coefficients by the joint analysis of PSInSAR measurements and groundwater level data. Finally, we find that this coastal area has undergone both elastic and inelastic deformation from 2016 to 2018. The outcome shows that the combination of different techniques is conductive to understand the deformation mechanism of the aquifer system in these coastal areas, which is expected to be a valuable reference for ground subsidence monitoring and groundwater extraction management.
Extraction of Photovoltaic Plants Using Machine Learning Methods: A Case Study of the Pilot Energy City of Golmud, China
Authors: Chen Zhenghang , Kang Yawen , Sun Zhongxiao , Wu Feng , Zhang Qian
Published: June 2022

Solar energy is an abundant, clean, and renewable source that can mitigate global climate change, environmental pollution, and energy shortage. However, comprehensive datasets and efficient identification models for the spatial distribution of photovoltaic (PV) plants locally and globally over time remain limited. In the present study, a model that combines original spectral features, PV extraction indexes, and terrain features for the identification of PV plants is established based on the pilot energy city Golmud in China, which covers 71,298.7 km2 and has the highest density of PV plants in the world. High-performance machine learning algorithms were integrated with PV plant extraction models, and performances of the XGBoost, random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) algorithms were compared. According to results from the investigations, the XGBoost produced the highest accuracy (OA = 99.65%, F1score = 0.9631) using Landsat 8 OLI imagery. The total area occupied by PV plants in Golmud City in 2020 was 10,715.85 ha based on the optimum model. The model also revealed that the area covered by the PV plant park in the east of Golmud City increased by approximately 10% from 2018 (5344.2 ha) to 2020 (5879.34 ha). The proposed approach in this study is one of the first attempts to identify time-series large-scale PV plants based on a pixel-based machine learning algorithm with medium-resolution free images in an efficient way. The study also confirmed the effectiveness of combining original spectral features, PV extraction indexes, and terrain features for the identification of PV plants. It will shed light on larger- and longer-scale identification of PV plants around the world and the evaluation of the associated dynamics of PV plants.
Fiber Bragg Grating-Based Smart Garment for Monitoring Human Body Temperature
Authors: Wang Xiujuan , Jiang Yaming , Xu Siyi , Liu Hao , Li Xiaozhi
Published: June 2022

Body temperature provides an insight into the physiological state of a person, and body temperature changes reflect much information about human health. In this study, a garment for monitoring human body temperature based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is reported. The FBG sensor was encapsulated with a PMMA tube and calibrated in the thermostatic water bath. The results showed that FBG sensors had good vibration resistance, and the wavelength changed about 0–1 pm at a 0.5–80 Hz vibration frequency. The bending path of the optical fiber after integration with clothing is discussed. When the bending radius is equal to or greater than 20 mm, a lower bending loss can be achieved even under the bending and stretching of the human body. The FBG sensor, the optical fiber, and the garment were integrated together using hot melt glue by the electric iron and the hot press machine. Through experiments of monitoring human body temperature, the sensor can reach the human armpit temperature in about 10–15 min with the upper arm close to the torso. Because it is immune to electromagnetic interferences, the smart garment can be used in some special environments such as ultrasonography, magnetic resonance (MR), and aerospace.