bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wasting, Stunting, and Anemia in Angolan Children after Deworming with Albendazole or a Test-and-Treat Approach for Intestinal Parasites: Binary Longitudinal Models with Temporal Structure in a Four-Arm Randomized Trial
Authors: Gasparinho Carolina , Gonçalves Maria Helena , Chissaque Assucênio , Silva Giovani L. , Fortes Filomeno , Gonçalves Luzia
Published: May 2022

Undernutrition, anemia, and intestinal parasitic infections are public health problems in Angola, especially in pre-school children. We analyzed binary data from a longitudinal four-arm randomized parallel trial conducted in Bengo Province, northern Angola, over the course of two years, with seven follow-up assessments to explore the effects of four interventions (deworming and a test-and-treat approach for intestinal parasites, at both the individual and household levels) on wasting and stunting, and to understand their indirect benefits for anemia, malaria, diarrhea, and vomiting. A total of 121 children with intestinal parasitic infections received baseline treatment, and were allocated to the four arms (1:1:1:1). Using continuous outcome variables of height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) statistical approaches did not reveal a clear benefit of any particular arm (Pathogens 2021, 10, 309). Next, HAZ and WHZ were transformed into binary variables of stunting and wasting, respectively, considering their mild-to-severe (Z-score < −1) and moderate-to-severe degrees (Z-score < −2). Original clinical data (on anemia, diarrhea, vomiting, and malaria) were also analyzed. From a binary longitudinal analysis with different dependence structures, using the R package bild, fitted models revealed the potential benefit of a test-and-treat approach at the individual level for wasting compared with annual albendazole at the individual level, especially considering mild-to-severe forms (ORadj = 0.27; p = 0.007). All arms showed similar effects on stunting, compared with annual albendazole, at a 5% significance level. Time and age at baseline presented favorable effects in the percentage of stunting using both severity degrees. Results showed a decreased chance of having anemia and diarrhea over time, although with no significant differences between arms. Data from longitudinal studies are essential to study the direct and indirect effects of interventions, such as deworming, and to explore additional approaches aiming at better understanding the temporal structure of nutrition and health outcomes in children.
Ascorbic Acid and the Premature Infant
Authors: Chahin Nayef , Yitayew Miheret S. , Richards Alicia , Forsthoffer Brielle , Xu Jie , Hendricks-Muñoz Karen D.
Published: May 2022

Little information exists about the plasma target nutritional needs of the >15 million premature infants <37 weeks gestation. Investigating ascorbic acid’s (AscA) role in infant health, our study details the relationship of infant characteristics and maternal health on infant plasma AscA level (pAscA) during postnatal development. Furthermore, we determined pAscA influence during the first week of life (EpAscA) with later infant morbidities. We hypothesize that pAscA is influenced by gestational organ immaturity, as well as maternal factors, with EpAscA associated with greater morbidity risk. We conducted a prospective longitudinal observational study of pAscA, demographics and hospital course detailed in infants ≤34 weeks. Sixty-three subjects were included, with >200 urine and plasma data points analyzed. Maternal smoking, exposure to magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and advancing gestational and postnatal age were associated with lower pAscA. Non-white infants and those ≤30 weeks that developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia or retinopathy of prematurity had lower pAscA. Prenatal smoking, MgSO4, birth gestational age and race negatively influence pAscA. These results show prenatal and postnatal developmental factors influencing initial pAscA and metabolism, potentially setting the stage for organ health and risk for disease. Assessment of dietary targets may need adjustment in this population.
Caffeine, Paraxanthine, Theophylline, and Theobromine Content in Human Milk
Authors: Purkiewicz Aleksandra , Pietrzak-Fiećko Renata , Sörgel Fritz , Kinzig Martina
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to assess the content of caffeine and its metabolites—paraxanthine, theophylline, and theobromine—in breast milk according to selected factors. Samples of human milk were collected from 100 women living in the east–northeast region of Poland. Information on the consumption of beverages and foods containing caffeine was collected using a 3 day food record. The determination of caffeine and its metabolite content was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). This study research showed that more caffeine was found in the milk of women living in cities, with secondary education, aged 34–43, and also in milk from the 3rd and 4th lactation periods (p ≤ 0.05). Factors such as place of residence, level of education, age, and stage of lactation influenced the nutritional choices of breastfeeding women, which had an impact on the level of caffeine and its metabolites in breast milk. A positive correlation was found between the consumption of caffeine with food and drinks and its level in human milk.
Beyond the BMI: Validity and Practicality of Postpartum Body Composition Assessment Methods during Lactation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Biddulph Caren , Holmes Mark , Kuballa Anna , Carter Roger J. , Maher Judith
Published: May 2022

The assessment of body composition during lactation is an important indicator of maternal nutritional status, which is central to the overall health of the mother and child. The lactating woman’s nutritional status potentially impacts on breastmilk composition and the process of lactation itself. The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize comparative studies that sought to validate various body composition assessment techniques for use in lactating women in the postpartum period. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive, systematic literature search was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Eight comparative studies were included in the review, with data from 320 postpartum women. The design methodologies varied substantially across studies, and included a range of simple techniques to advanced multi-compartment models for assessing body composition. The validity and reliability of measurement tools must be considered alongside issues of safety, practicality, and appropriateness to guide the research design when applied to lactating women.
Oncostatin M Receptor as a Therapeutic Target for Radioimmune Therapy in Synovial Sarcoma
Authors: McCollum Sarah , Kalivas Austen , Kirkham Matthew , Kunz Kaden , Okojie Jeffrey , Pavek Adriene , Barrott Jared
Published: May 2022

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a pediatric muscle cancer that primarily affects adolescents and young adults and has few treatment options. Complicating the treatment of synovial sarcoma is the low mutational burden of SS. Inflammatory pathways have been identified as being upregulated in some SS, leading to the discovery of upregulated oncostatin M receptor (OSMR). It was found that OSMR is upregulated in SS by RNAseq analysis and quantitative PCR, highlighting its potential in the treatment of SS. Also, OSMR is upregulated in mouse models for synovial sarcoma as demonstrated by western blot and immunohistochemistry, and the protein is present in both primary and metastatic sites of disease. Using a radioimmune therapy drug model, targeted therapy was synthesized for use in OSMR expressing SS and it was demonstrated that this drug is stable, while capable of efficient OSMR binding and isotope capture. Finally, this antibody conjugate exhibited ideal pharmacokinetics and targeted sites of disease in our mouse model and was taken up in both primary and metastatic diseased tissue. This suggests OSMR as an ideal target for therapy and this radioimmune therapy provides a novel treatment option for a disease with few therapy choices.
Transferrin-Enabled Blood–Brain Barrier Crossing Manganese-Based Nanozyme for Rebalancing the Reactive Oxygen Species Level in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Zhao Qianqian , Du Wenxian , Zhou Lingling , Wu Jianrong , Zhang Xiaoxing , Wei Xiaoer , Wang Sijia , Huang Yu , Li Yuehua
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Acute ischemic stroke (IS) is one of the main causes of human disability and death. Therefore, multifunctional nanosystems that effectively cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and efficiently eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) are urgently needed for comprehensive neuroprotective effects. (2) Methods: We designed a targeted transferrin (Tf)-based manganese dioxide nanozyme (MnO2@Tf, MT) using a mild biomimetic mineralization method for rebalancing ROS levels. Furthermore, MT can be efficiently loaded with edaravone (Eda), a clinical neuroprotective agent, to obtain the Eda-MnO2@Tf (EMT) nanozyme. (3) Results: The EMT nanozyme not only accumulates in a lesion area and crosses the BBB but also possesses satisfactory biocompatibility and biosafety based on the functional inheritance of Tf. Meanwhile, EMT has intrinsic hydroxyl radical-scavenging ability and superoxide-dismutase-like and catalase-like nanozyme abilities, allowing it to ameliorate ROS-mediated damage and decrease inflammatory factor levels in vivo. Moreover, the released Mn2+ ions in the weak acid environment of the lesion area can be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the treatment process. (4) Conclusions: Our study not only paves a way to engineer alternative targeted ROS scavengers for intensive reperfusion-induced injury in ischemic stroke but also provides new insights into the construction of bioinspired Mn-based nanozymes.
Nobiletin as a Neuroprotectant against NMDA Receptors: An In Silico Approach
Authors: Jahan Sadaf , Redhu Neeru Singh , Siddiqui Arif Jamal , Iqbal Danish , Khan Johra , Banawas Saeed , Alaidarous Mohammed , Alshehri Bader , Mir Shabir Ahmad , Adnan Mohd , Pant Aditya Bhushan
Published: May 2022

Excitotoxicity is a type of neurodegenerative disorder. It caused by excessive glutamate receptor activation, which leads to neuronal malfunction and fatality. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are found in glutamatergic neurons, and their excessive activation is primarily responsible for excitotoxicity. They are activated by both glutamate binding and postsynaptic depolarization, facilitating Ca2+ entry upon activation. Therefore, they are now widely acknowledged as being essential targets for excitotoxicity issues. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analyses have demonstrated that nobiletin efficiently targets the binding pocket of the NMDA receptor protein and exhibits stable dynamic behavior at the binding site. In this study, five potential neuroprotectants, nobiletin, silibinin, ononin, ginkgolide B, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), were screened against the glutamate NMDA receptors in humans via computational methods. An in silico ADMET study was also performed, to predict the pharmacokinetics and toxicity profile for the expression of good drug-like behavior and a non-toxic nature. It was revealed that nobiletin fulfills the criteria for all of the drug-likeness rules (Veber, Lipinski, Ghose, Muegge, and Egan) and has neither PAINS nor structural alerts (Brenks). In conclusion, nobiletin demonstrated a possible promising neuroprotectant activities compared to other selected phytochemicals. Further, it can be evaluated in the laboratory for promising therapeutic approaches for in vitro and in vivo studies.
UV-Induced Benzyloxy Rotamerization in an Ortho OH-Substituted Aryl Schiff Base
Authors: Sıdır İsa , Gülseven Sıdır Yadigar , Góbi Sándor , Berber Halil , Fausto Rui
Published: May 2022

A new benzyloxy containing ortho hydroxyl-substituted aryl Schiff base, trans 2-((2-(benzyloxy)benzylidene) amino)phenol (abbreviated as BBAP), was synthesized and characterized by 1H-, 13C-NMR and infrared spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. The conformational landscape of the compound, as well as its infrared spectra in argon and N2 cryogenic matrices (10 K) were investigated, followed by the study of the effects of in situ UV irradiation of the matrix-isolated compound. The structural information was obtained through an extensive series of quantum chemical calculations performed at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, which enabled to identify 3 low-energy OH···N intramolecularly H-bonded conformers of the molecule that were later found to be present in the as-deposited cryogenic matrices. The 3 experimentally relevant conformers of BBAP differ in the geometry of the benzyloxy substituent, and were discovered to interconvert upon in situ UV irradiation (λ = 230 nm) of the matrix-isolated compound. This is the first report on UV-induced conformational changes taking place in a benzyloxy fragment for a matrix-isolated compound.
Investigation of Crosstalk between Data Signals and Feed Light in Power-over-Fiber
Authors: Matsuura Motoharu , Ikukawa Arisa , Kuboki Hayao , Kawamura Yoshiaki
Published: May 2022

In power-over-fiber systems, simultaneous data signals and power transmission using a single optical fiber is an attractive step towards simplifying the systems. However, when simultaneously transmitting data signals and feed light in a single core, the transmission quality of the data signal degrades owing to the crosstalk based on the characteristics of the feed light source. In this study, we investigate and evaluate the crosstalk between the data signal and high-power feed light in a power-over-fiber system. To observe the effect of the crosstalk more clearly, we use a power-over-fiber link using a single-core, conventional multimode fiber, and a high-power Raman fiber laser as the feed light source. Consequently, it is found that the feed light induces relative intensity noise related to the longitudinal mode beating and mode partition noise determined by the characteristics of the laser. In addition, it depends on the input power and transmission distance, and has a significant impact on the quality of the data signal by the noise transfer. To evaluate these noises quantitatively, we also evaluate the error-vector-magnitude and bit-error-rate characteristics of analog and digital data signals, which show that similar characteristics are observed.
Mathematical Model of Photodarkening in Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber
Authors: Sun Tianran , Su Xinyang , Zhang Yunhong , Zhang Huaiwei , Sun Yabo , Zheng Yi
Published: May 2022

In this paper, an improved mathematical model is proposed by taking the factors of high-energy photons and temperature into consideration, which is verified and explained by the experimental data in our experiments and other papers. By fitting and analyzing the experimental data, we can quantitatively determine the relationship between the pump power Pλ and the photon frequency ν in the fiber core, the core area A and the temperature T of the fiber core and PD loss, and explain the mechanism of the PD phenomenon to a certain extent. We believe that the excitation of color centers by high-energy photons is the main reason for photodarkening. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between the power of high-energy photons and the photodarkening rate, and the temperature is positively correlated with the saturated photodarkening absorption.
Generation of 8–20 μm Mid-Infrared Ultrashort Femtosecond Laser Pulses via Difference Frequency Generation
Authors: Su Xinyang , Zhu Ruixue , Wang Bolin , Bai Yu , Ding Tao , Sun Tianran , Lü Xing , Peng Jiying , Zheng Yi
Published: May 2022

Mid-infrared (MIR) ultrashort laser pulses have a wide range of applications in the fields of environmental monitoring, laser medicine, food quality control, strong-field physics, attosecond science, and some other aspects. Recent years have seen great developments in MIR laser technologies. Traditional solid-state and fiber lasers focus on the research of the short-wavelength MIR region. However, due to the limitation of the gain medium, they still cannot cover the long-wavelength region from 8 to 20 µm. This paper summarizes the developments of 8–20 μm MIR ultrafast laser generation via difference frequency generation (DFG) and reviews related theoretical models. Finally, the feasibility of MIR power scaling by nonlinear-amplification DFG and methods for measuring the power of DFG-based MIR are analyzed from the author’s perspective.
Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level
Authors: Prokisch József , El-Ramady Hassan , Daróczi Lajos , Nagy Éva , Badgar Khandsuren , Kiss Attila , Shaikh Ayaz Mukarram , Gilányi Ibolya , Oláh Csaba
Published: May 2022

The human blood sugar level is important and should be controlled to avoid any damage to nerves and blood vessels which could lead to heart disease and many other problems. Several market-available treatments for diabetes could be used, such as insulin therapy, synthetic drugs, herbal drugs, and transdermal patches, to help control blood sugar. In a double-blind human study, four kinds of honey from bees fed on acacia, sea buckthorn, chlorella alga, and green walnut extracts were used in fortifying yogurt for controlling human blood sugar. The impact of a previously fortified honey was investigated on blood levels and other parameters of healthy individuals in a human study with 60 participants. The participants received 150 mL of yogurt mixed with 30 g of honey every morning for 21 days. Before and after the study period, the basic blood parameters were tested, and the participants filled out standardized self-report questionnaires. Acacia honey was the traditional honey used as a control; the special honey products were produced by the patented technology. The consumption of green walnut honey had a significant effect on the morning blood sugar level, which decreased for every participant in the group (15 people). The average blood sugar level at the beginning in the walnut group was 4.81 mmol L−1, whereas the value after 21 days was 3.73 mmol L−1. The total decrease level of the individuals was about 22.45% (1.08 mmol L−1). Concerning the sea buckthorn and chlorella alga-based honey product groups, there was no significant change in the blood sugar level, which were recorded at 4.91 and 5.28 mmol L−1 before treatment and 5.28 and 5.07 mmol L−1 after, respectively. In the case of the acacia honey group, there was a slight significant decrease as well, it was 4.77 mmol L−1 at the beginning and 4.27 mmol L−1 at the end with a total decrease rate of 10.48%. It could thus be concluded that the active ingredients of green walnut can significantly decrease the blood sugar level in humans. This study, as a first report, is not only a new innovative process to add herbs or healthy active ingredients to honey but also shows how these beneficial ingredients aid the honey in controlling the human blood sugar level.
Nutritional Value, Phytochemical Potential, and Therapeutic Benefits of Pumpkin (Cucurbita sp.)
Authors: Batool Maria , Ranjha Muhammad Modassar Ali Nawaz , Roobab Ume , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal , Farooq Umar , Nadeem Hafiz Rehan , Nadeem Muhammad , Kanwal Rabia , AbdElgawad Hamada , Al Jaouni Soad K. , Selim Samy , Ibrahim Salam A.
Published: May 2022

Pumpkin is a well-known multifunctional ingredient in the diet, full of nutrients, and has opened new vistas for scientists during the past years. The fruit of pumpkin including the flesh, seed, and peel are a rich source of primary and secondary metabolites, including proteins, carbohydrates, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, tocopherols, tryptophan, delta-7-sterols, and many other phytochemicals. This climber is traditionally used in many countries, such as Austria, Hungary, Mexico, Slovenia, China, Spain, and several Asian and African countries as a functional food and provides health promising properties. Other benefits of pumpkin, such as improving spermatogenesis, wound healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-ulcerative properties, and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia have also been confirmed by researchers. For better drug delivery, nanoemulsions and niosomes made from pumpkin seeds have also been reported as a health promising tool, but further research is still required in this field. This review mainly focuses on compiling and summarizing the most relevant literature to highlight the nutritional value, phytochemical potential, and therapeutic benefits of pumpkin.
Study and Physical Mapping of the Species-Specific Tandem Repeat CS-237 Linked with 45S Ribosomal DNA Intergenic Spacer in Cannabis sativa L.
Authors: Alexandrov Oleg S. , Romanov Dmitry V. , Divashuk Mikhail G. , Razumova Olga V. , Ulyanov Daniil S. , Karlov Gennady I.
Published: May 2022

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a valuable crop and model plant for studying sex chromosomes. The scientific interest in the plant has led to its whole genome sequencing and the determination of its cytogenetic characteristics. A range of cytogenetic markers (subtelomeric repeat CS-1, 5S rDNA, and 45S rDNA) has been mapped onto hemp’s chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In this study, another cytogenetic marker (the tandem repeat CS-237, with a 237 bp monomer) was found, studied, and localized on chromosomes by FISH. The signal distribution and karyotyping revealed that the CS-237 probe was localized in chromosome 6 with one hybridization site and in chromosome 8 with two hybridization sites, one of which colocalizes with the 45S rDNA probe (with which a nucleolus organizer region, NOR, was detected). A BLAST analysis of the genomic data and PCR experiments showed that the modified CS-237 monomers (delCS-237, 208 bp in size) were present in the intergenic spacers (IGSs) of hemp 45S rDNA monomers. Such a feature was firstly observed in Cannabaceae species. However, IGS-linked DNA repeats were found in several plant species of other families (Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae). This phenomenon is discussed in this article. The example of CS-237 may be useful for further studying the phenomenon as well as for the physical mapping of hemp chromosomes.
Systemic Signaling: A Role in Propelling Crop Yield
Authors: Chen Jieyu , Ham Byung-Kook
Published: May 2022

Food security has become a topic of great concern in many countries. Global food security depends heavily on agriculture that has access to proper resources and best practices to generate higher crop yields. Crops, as with other plants, have a variety of strategies to adapt their growth to external environments and internal needs. In plants, the distal organs are interconnected through the vascular system and intricate hierarchical signaling networks, to communicate and enhance survival within fluctuating environments. Photosynthesis and carbon allocation are fundamental to crop production and agricultural outputs. Despite tremendous progress achieved by analyzing local responses to environmental cues, and bioengineering of critical enzymatic processes, little is known about the regulatory mechanisms underlying carbon assimilation, allocation, and utilization. This review provides insights into vascular-based systemic regulation of photosynthesis and resource allocation, thereby opening the way for the engineering of source and sink activities to optimize the yield performance of major crops.
Impact of Heat Stress on Expression of Wheat Genes Responsive to Hessian Fly Infestation
Authors: Yuan Jiazheng , O’Neal Jordan , Brown Daria , Zhu Lieceng
Published: May 2022

Heat stress compromises wheat (Triticum aestivium) resistance to Hessian fly (HF, Mayetiola destructor (Say)). This study aimed to investigate the impact of heat stress on transcript expression of wheat genes associated with resistance to HF infestation under normal and heat-stressed conditions. To this end, ‘Molly’, a wheat cultivar containing the resistance gene H13, was subjected to HF infestation, heat stress, and the combination of HF infestation and heat stress. Our RNA-Seq approach identified 21 wheat genes regulated by HF infestation under normal temperatures (18 °C) and 155 genes regulated by HF infestation when plants were exposed to 35 °C for 6 h. Three differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the RNA-Seq analysis were selected to validate the gene function of these DEGs using the RT-qPCR approach, indicating that these DEGs may differentially contribute to the expression of wheat resistance during the early stage of wheat–HF interaction under various stresses. Moreover, the jasmonate ZIM domain (JAZ) gene was also significantly upregulated under these treatments. Our results suggest that the genes in heat-stressed wheat plants are more responsive to HF infestation than those in plants growing under normal temperature conditions, and these genes in HF-infested wheat plants are more responsive to heat stress than those in plants without infestation.
A New Cellulose-Based Fluorescent Probe for Specific and Sensitive Detection of Cu2+ and Its Applications in the Analysis of Environmental Water
Authors: Zhao Fei , Meng Zhiyuan , Wang Zhonglong , Yang Yiqin
Published: May 2022

In this work, a novel fluorescent probe CMC−GE−AQ with an effective sensitive detection ability for Cu2+ was synthesized and constructed by using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the skeleton and 8-aminoquinoline (AQ) as the fluorophore. This probe exhibited a highly specific “turn-off” fluorescence response to Cu2+, and the fluorescence color changed from bright orange to colorless after adding Cu2+. The probe could selectively detect Cu2+ in a complex environment and its detection limit (LOD), the binding constant (Ka) and the numbers of binding sites (n) were calculated to be 6.4 × 10−8 mol L−1, 1.7 × 106 mol−1 L and 1.2, respectively. The sensing detection mechanism was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, the probe CMC−GE−AQ was successfully applied to detect Cu2+ in real water samples, and CMC−GE−AQ-based fluorescent microspheres can serve as a convenient tool for the detection of Cu2+.
Experimental Study on Gas Seepage Characteristics of Axially Unloaded Coal under Different Confining Pressures and Gas Pressures
Authors: Ding Ke , Wang Lianguo , Wang Wenmiao , Li Zhaolin , Jiang Chongyang , Ren Bo , Wang Shuai
Published: May 2022

Protective coal seam mining can not only effectively prevent coal and gas outbursts in mines, but also provide stress unloading space for the protected coal seam. The coal body in the protected coal seam might undergo deformation, internal damage and structural damage, which changes its gas seepage characteristics. This study aims to explore the variations of permeability of the coal body in the protected coal seam under axial unloading. With the coal body from the outburst coal seam in the Huaibei mining area as the research object, experiments were conducted to explore the gas seepage characteristics of axially unloaded coal body under different confining pressures and gas pressures, using the TAWD-2000 coal-rock mechanics-seepage experimental system. According to the results, with respect to the gas seepage, the variations of permeabilities of axially unloaded coal samples are closely related to their deformation and damage. As the confining pressure and gas pressure rise, the difference between the permeability at the final failure point and the initial permeability rises at a decreasing rate. The experiments fully demonstrate that the protective coal seam is technically important for the unloaded gas drainage and the coal and gas outburst prevention of the protected coal seam. Under different confining pressures and gas pressures, the permeability of axially unloaded coal varies to different extents and at different rates. The mining scheme for the protective coal seam should be designed in accordance with its confining pressure and gas pressure. This study is of guiding significance for the prevention and control of coal and gas outbursts in coal seam groups.
Development of a Novel Green Bio-Nanofluid from Sapindus Saponaria for Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes
Authors: Giraldo Lady J. , Galeano-Caro Dahiana , Franco Carlos A. , Archila Jesús , Villamil Fabio , Cortés Farid B. , Franco Camilo A.
Published: May 2022

The main objective of this study is to develop a novel green-nanofluid from Sapindus Saponaria for its application in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes. The bio-nanofluid is composed of a green active compound (AGC), bio-ethanol, and commercial surfactant (SB) at a low concentration. The AGC was obtained from soapberry “Sapindus Saponaria” using the alcoholic extraction method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and critical micellar concentration (CMC) to verify the content of saponins as active agents with surface-active behavior. Three types of silica-based nanoparticles were used and characterized by FTIR, TGA, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Two commercial nanoparticles (SiO2-C1 and SiO2-C2) were evaluated, and a third one (SiO2-RH) was synthesized from rice husks as an ecological nanomaterial alternative. The performance of the adjusted systems was evaluated by capillary number (effective interfacial tension (σe), wettability and viscosity) and finally with coreflooding tests under reservoir conditions. The FTIR results confirm the presence of saponins in the AGC. In addition, according to the TGA, the AGC is stable under the reservoir temperature of interest. Regarding nanoparticles, siloxane and silanol groups were observed in all samples. For SiO2-C1 and SiO2-C2 samples, the weight loss was lower than 5% for temperatures up to 700 °C. Meanwhile, SiO2-RH had a weight loss of 12% at 800 °C, and 8% at reservoir temperature. Results show a decrease in the interfacial tension (IFT) of up to 83% of the tuned system with only 100 mg·L−1 of rice husk nanoparticles compared to the system without nanoparticles, reaching values of 1.60 × 10−1 mN·m−1. In the coreflooding test, increases of up to 13% of additional crude oil were obtained using the best bio-nanofluid. This work presents an excellent opportunity to include green alternatives to improve conventional techniques with added value during the injection of chemicals in chemical-enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) processes.
Field-Scale Experimental Study on the Perforation Erosion in Horizontal Wellbore under Real Fracturing Conditions
Authors: Wu Baocheng , Zhou Fujian , Wang Mingxing , Lv Zhenhu , Li Minghui , Wang Bo , Guo Xiaodong , Zhang Jingchen
Published: May 2022

Limited-entry fracturing (LEF) technology is a widely used method to realize the simultaneous propagation of multiple fractures in horizontal wells. The key of this technology is to create high perforation friction to maintain the high treatment pressure in the wellbore and realize the uniform fluid entry of multi-fractures; however, high perforation friction cannot be effectively maintained due to the serious perforation erosion effect. Considering that the current laboratory studies mostly used small fluid injection flowrate, low injection pressure, and small proppant dosage, this study has developed a field-scale flow system to investigate the effect of various factors on perforation erosion under real field conditions. The filed-scale flow system uses the real fracturing trucks, proppant, and perforated wellbore, the fluid flow rate through perforation could reach 200 m/s and the injection pressure could reach 105 MPa. The effects of different parameters, such as injection flow rates, proppant concentration, proppant type, proppant size, and carrying fluid viscosity, on the perforation erosion were investigated. The experimental results show that: (1) The perforation friction during erosion goes through two stages, i.e., the roundness erosion stage and the diameter erosion stage. The reduction of perforating friction mainly occurred in the first stage, which was completed after injecting 1 m3 proppant. (2) After erosion, the perforation changes from the original circular shape to a trumpet shape, the inner diameter is much larger than the outer diameter. (3) The more serious perforation erosion is caused by the conditions of high injection flow rate, large proppant size, using ceramic proppant, and low viscosity fluid. The findings of this study can help for a better understanding of perforation erosion during the limited-entry fracturing in the horizontal wells, and also could promote the establishment of a theoretical model of perforation erosion under the field-scale conditions.
Did Socrates Meditate? On Some Traces of Contemplative Practices in Early Greco-Latin Philosophy
Authors: Chase John Michael
Published: May 2022

Following insights by Pierre Hadot, I suggest that although explicit discussions of practices of breath control and other psychosomatic techniques of contemplative attention management are conspicuously absent in early Greek thought, there are some signs that analogous practices did exist, perhaps as early as Socrates. The combined evidence of Aristophanes and Plato suggests that Socrates may have engaged in a practice that has key features in common with meditative practices and experiences as attested in Zen Buddhism. This technique consists in two stages: an initial practice of top-down, voluntary, egocentric focused meditation resulting in a state of “absorption” or abstraction from all sensory input, followed by the practice of a more bottom-up, open, other-centered (allocentric) form of meditation, intended to provide a more global or universal perspective, in which the practitioner situates herself as a part of the cosmos. This paper includes discussion of “withdrawal” into oneself as a contemplative practice in Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Evagrius Ponticus, and Gregory Palamas.
Jesus, the Anthropologist: Patterns of Emplotment and Modes of Action in the Parables
Authors: Vermander Benoît
Published: May 2022

This article uses a typology of action framework to analyze a selection of the gospels’ parables. It does so by connecting these parables to A. G. Haudricourt and C. Ferret’s research on the “anthropology of action”. After summarizing Haudricourt’s and Ferret’s results, I relate modes of action to types of emplotment. I select four parables as the basis of my analysis, using J. P. Meier’s findings as a guide for selection. I discern in these four parables four modes of emplotment, which enables me to insert them into larger narrative networks found within the gospels. I locate the corpus of narratives determined this way in the context of Jesus’ time so as to better appreciate how the four modes of emplotment combine into a typology of action shaped by a specific social and cultural context. Within this typology of action, I put a spotlight on the way our corpus’ modes of emplotment make use of “discontinuous actions” (coined by Ferret). “Discontinuous actions” decisively initiate or correct a specified course of events. The stress on this dimension of action applies to the relationships occurring between humans and the natural world, within the social world, and between humans and the supranatural world, thus connecting one order of reality with another.
Fluorescence Line Height Extraction Algorithm for the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager
Authors: Zhao Min , Bai Yan , Li Hao , He Xianqiang , Gong Fang , Li Teng
Published: May 2022

Chlorophyll fluorescence is an important indicator of the physiological state of phytoplankton in water bodies. The new generation of ocean color satellite remote sensors usually sets fluorescence bands to detect the phytoplankton fluorescence line height (FLH). Yet, the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) offers no FLH products so far, and the FLH results calculated using the fluorescence band (680 nm) and the two baseline bands (660 and 745 nm) have numerous negative values and are quite different from the FLH products of other satellite ocean color sensors. To address this problem, we established an FLH retrieval algorithm suitable for GOCI. We simulated the spectral datasets of different water types using the radiative transfer model HydroLight and established the band conversion relationship from 680 to 685 nm based on the simulated datasets. The remote sensing reflectance after band conversion was applied to the FLH product inversion, significantly reducing the number of negative FLH values and appreciably improving data availability for GOCI FLH products (from 14.78% to 66.73% on average). The new FLH product has a good correlation with the field-measured data (R2 = 0.73), and the relative error was 6.95%. Moreover, after band conversion, the FLH products retrieved by GOCI are in good agreement with the FLH products of MODIS, and fusion products can be further produced to improve the spatiotemporal resolution of the data. In addition, the radiative transfer simulation datasets also revealed that changes in solar zenith angle have little effect on FLH inversion. The hourly GOCI-derived FLH has good spatiotemporal continuity and can clearly reflect the diurnal variation of FLH. It can provide a stable FLH algorithm for further recovery of time-series GOCI FLH products and research on diurnal changes in FLH.
An Investigation on Super- and Sub-Terminal Drops in Two Different Rain Categories and Climate Regimes
Authors: Chatterjee Chandrani , Porcù Federico , Das Saurabh , Bracci Alessandro
Published: May 2022

The pressing need for accurate and reliable precipitation measurements and forecasting poses theoretical and technological problems. Remote-sensing instruments with increased coverage and sensitivity (such as space-borne and ground-based radar) are available; however, their full exploitation requires physical calibration and validation based on a deep knowledge of precipitation microphysics. This study reports a detailed analysis of the evidence of non-terminal velocities in a mid-latitude (Bologna, Italy) and a tropical location (Kolkata, India). The data from two identical disdrometers OTT-Parsivel2 were analyzed to shed light on the nature of the raindrops that fall at a velocity that is significantly higher (i.e., super-terminal drops) or lower (sub-terminal drops) than the terminal velocity expected for the raindrop sizes. The results show a significant fraction of super- and sub-terminal drops in both locations. The percentages of both super- and sub-terminal drops were higher in Kolkata. However, the difference was more notable for convective rain. The percentages of both super- and sub-terminal drops were found to be high within a drop diameter of 1 mm. The number of sub-terminal drops seemed to increase with an increase in diameter for drops larger than ~2.5 mm. The natural rain in Bologna showed stronger evidence of drop break-up in correspondence with the evolution of non-terminal velocities. Moreover, this study once again pointed toward the fact that the process of break-up cannot be neglected in natural rain of tropical or mid-latitude locations. We found that 7% and 10% of rain samples in Bologna and Kolkata seemed to be subjected to drop break-up. The results indicate that radar measurements of rain in the tropics or mid-latitude regions, relying on the Gunn–Kinzer relationship between velocity and diameter, should be verified by observations of disdrometers for a high precision QPE.
Assessment of Terra/Aqua MODIS and Deep Convective Cloud Albedo Solar Calibration Accuracies and Stabilities Using Lunar Calibrated MERBE Results
Authors: Matthews Grant
Published: May 2022

Moon calibrated radiometrically stable and relatively accurate Earth reflected solar measurements from the Moon and Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (MERBE) are compared here to primary channels of coaligned Terra/Aqua MODIS instruments. A space-based climate observing system immune to untracked drifts due to varying instrument calibration is a key priority for climate science. Measuring these changes in radiometers such as MODIS and compensating for them is critical to such a system. The independent MERBE project using monthly lunar scans has made a proven factor of ten improvement in calibration stability and relative accuracy of measurements by all devices originally built for another project called ‘CERES’, also on the Terra and Aqua satellites. The MERBE comparison shown here uses spectrally invariant Deep Convective Cloud or DCC targets as a transfer, with the objective of detecting possible unknown MODIS calibration trends or errors. Most MODIS channel 1–3 collection 5 calibrations are shown to be correct and stable within stated accuracies of 3% relative to the Moon, much in line with changes made for MODIS collection 6. Stable lunar radiance standards are then separately compared to the sometimes used calibration metric of the coldest DCCs as standalone calibration targets, when also located by MODIS. The analysis overall for the first time finds such clouds can serve as an absolute solar target on the order of 1% accuracy and are stable to ±0.3% decade−1 with two sigma confidences, based on the Moon from 2000–2015. Finally, time series analysis is applied to potential DCC albedo corrected Terra data. This shows it is capable of beginning the narrowing of cloud climate forcing uncertainty before 2015; some twenty five years sooner than previously calculated elsewhere, for missions yet to launch.
Two-Stage Convolutional Neural Networks for Diagnosing the Severity of Alternaria Leaf Blotch Disease of the Apple Tree
Authors: Liu Bo-Yuan , Fan Ke-Jun , Su Wen-Hao , Peng Yankun
Published: May 2022

In many parts of the world, apple trees suffer from severe foliar damage each year due to infection of Alternaria blotch (Alternaria alternata f. sp. Mali), resulting in serious economic losses to growers. Traditional methods for disease detection and severity classification mostly rely on manual labor, which is slow, labor-intensive and highly subjective. There is an urgent need to develop an effective protocol to rapidly and accurately evaluate disease severity. In this study, DeeplabV3+, PSPNet and UNet were used to assess the severity of apple Alternaria leaf blotch. For identifications of leaves and disease areas, the dataset with a total of 5382 samples was randomly split into 74% (4004 samples) for model training, 9% (494 samples) for validation, 8% (444 samples) for testing and 8% (440 samples) for overall testing. Apple leaves were first segmented from complex backgrounds using the deep-learning algorithms with different backbones. Then, the recognition of disease areas was performed on the segmented leaves. The results showed that the PSPNet model with MobileNetV2 backbone exhibited the highest performance in leaf segmentation, with precision, recall and MIoU values of 99.15%, 99.26% and 98.42%, respectively. The UNet model with VGG backbone performed the best in disease-area prediction, with a precision of 95.84%, a recall of 95.54% and a MIoU value of 92.05%. The ratio of disease area to leaf area was calculated to assess the disease severity. The results showed that the average accuracy for severity classification was 96.41%. Moreover, both the correlation coefficient and the consistency correlation coefficient were 0.992, indicating a high agreement between the reference values and the value that the research predicted. This study proves the feasibility of rapid estimation of the severity of apple Alternaria leaf blotch, which will provide technical support for precise application of pesticides.
An Integrated Change Detection Method Based on Spectral Unmixing and the CNN for Hyperspectral Imagery
Authors: Li Haishan , Wu Ke , Xu Ying
Published: May 2022

Hyperspectral remote sensing image (HSI) include rich spectral information that can be very beneficial for change detection (CD) technology. Due to the existence of many mixed pixels, pixel-wise approaches can lead to considerable errors in the resulting CD map. The spectral unmixing (SU) method is a potential solution to this problem, as it decomposes mixed pixels into a set of fractions of land cover. Subsequently, the CD map is created by comparing the abundance images. However, based only on the abundance images created through the SU method, they are unable to effectively provide detailed change information. Meanwhile, the features of change information cannot be sufficiently extracted by the traditional sub-pixel CD framework, which leads to a poor CD result. To address these problems, this paper presents an integrated CD method based on multi-endmember spectral unmixing, joint matrix and CNN (MSUJMC) for HSI. Three main steps are considered to accomplish this task. First, considering the endmember spectral variability, more reliable endmember abundance information is obtained by multi-endmember spectral unmixing (MSU). Second, the original image features are incorporated with the abundance images using a joint matrix (JM) algorithm to provide more temporal and spatial land cover change information characteristics. Third, to efficiently extract the change features and to better handle the fused multi-source information, the convolutional neural network (CNN) is introduced to realize a high-accuracy CD result. The proposed method has been verified on simulated and real multitemporal HSI datasets, which provide multiple changes. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Generation and Optimization of Spectral Cluster Maps to Enable Data Fusion of CaSSIS and CRISM Datasets
Authors: Fernandes Michael , Pletl Alexander , Thomas Nicolas , Rossi Angelo Pio , Elser Benedikt
Published: May 2022

Four-band color imaging of the Martian surface using the Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter exhibits a high color diversity in specific regions. Not only is the correlation of color diversity maps with local morphological properties desirable, but mineralogical interpretation of the observations is also of great interest. The relatively high spatial resolution of CaSSIS data mitigates its low spectral resolution. In this paper, we combine the broad-band imaging of the surface of Mars, acquired by CaSSIS with hyperspectral data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer (CRISM) onboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to achieve a fusion of both datasets. We achieve this using dimensionality reduction and data clustering of the high dimensional datasets from CRISM. In the presented research, CRISM data from the Coprates Chasma region of Mars are tested with different machine learning methods and compared for robustness. With the help of a suitable metric, the best method is selected and, in a further step, an optimal cluster number is determined. To validate the methods, the so-called “summary products” derived from the hyperspectral data are used to correlate each cluster with its mineralogical properties. We restrict the analysis to the visible range in order to match the generated clusters to the CaSSIS band information in the range of 436–1100 nm. In the machine learning community, the so-called UMAP method for dimensionality reduction has recently gained attention because of its speed compared to the already established t-SNE. The results of this analysis also show that this method in combination with the simple K-Means outperforms comparable methods in its efficiency and speed. The cluster size obtained is between three and six clusters. Correlating the spectral cluster maps with the given summary products from CRISM shows that four bands, and especially the NIR bands and VIS albedo, are sufficient to discriminate most of these clusters. This demonstrates that features in the four-band CaSSIS images can provide robust mineralogical information, despite the limited spectral information using semi-automatic processing.