bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Sagittaria trifolia L. to Phytotoxic Ethyl Acetate Fungal Extract from Curvularia lunata Strain CLST-01
Authors: Wang Kai , Xu Chang , Li Dongyang , Gu Zumin
Published: April 2023

Curvularia lunata (No. CLST-01), a fungal pathogen isolated from the threeleaf arrowhead (Sagittaria trifolia L.), has been proposed as a potential mycoherbicide for grass weeds. This paper investigated the physiological and biochemical effects of CLST-01 phytotoxic ethyl acetate fungi extract on the leaves of the threeleaf arrowhead. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fungi extract from CLST-01 can accelerate damage to the cell membrane, increase the production of malondialdehyde, and damage the cellular structure, which could decrease the number of chloroplasts after 96 h treatments. In addition, the content of chlorophyll was reduced by 49.5%, and the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were inhibited. The rates of inhibition were 90.13%, 83.74%, and 79.31%, respectively, and the intercellular CO2 concentration increased by 51.87% on Day 9 after treatment with a concentration of 200 μg/mL. In summary, the phytotoxic ethyl acetate fungal extract from C. lunata CLST-01 can inhibit the photosynthesis of the threeleaf arrowhead leaves, destroy the ultrastructure of leaves, and affect the growth of this invasive weed. Therefore, it has the potential to be developed into a mycoherbicide for weed control in crops as a natural photosynthetic inhibitor.
Morphological and Anatomical Analysis of the Internodes of a New Dwarf Variant of Moso Bamboo, Phyllostachys edulis f. exaurita
Authors: Zha Ruofei , Chen Tianguo , Liu Qingnan , Wei Qiang , Que Feng
Published: April 2023

The lack of mutants due to the long periods between flowering of bamboo plants is one of the limiting factors inhibiting research progress in the culm development of bamboo plants. In this study, a stable new dwarf variant of Phyllostachys edulis (Moso bamboo), Phyllostachys edulis f. exaurita T. G. Chen, was discovered and was characterized morphologically, anatomically, and physiologically. The height, diameter at breast height, number of internodes, length and wall thickness of internodes, length, width and number of parenchyma cells of internodes, and morphology of the wide-type (WT) and dwarf variant vascular bundles were compared. The height of the variant was only 49% that of the WT Moso bamboo. It was concluded that the decrease in internode number and length was the cause of dwarfism in P. edulis f. exaurita. The decreased internode length was the result of a decrease in cell number and cell length in the internode. In addition, the laws of change of internode length, internode thickness, cell length, and cell number differed between the WT Moso bamboo and the variant. Furthermore, lower IAA and zeatin concentrations were detected in the buds of the variant. These results suggest that P. edulis f. exaurita is a variant with inhibited primary thickening growth, which is valuable for interpretating the molecular mechanisms underlying the primary thickening growth of bamboo that are still largely unknown.
Pluronic-F-127-Passivated SnO2 Nanoparticles Derived by Using Polygonum cuspidatum Root Extract: Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Properties
Authors: Alzahrani Badr , Elderdery Abozer Y. , Alzerwi Nasser A. N. , Alsrhani Abdullah , Alsultan Afnan , Rayzah Musaed , Idrees Bandar , Rayzah Fares , Baksh Yaser , Alzahrani Ahmed M. , Subbiah Suresh K. , Mok Pooi Ling
Published: April 2023

Nanotechnology has emerged as the most popular research topic with revolutionary applications across all scientific disciplines. Tin oxide (SnO2) has been gaining considerable attention lately owing to its intriguing features, which can be enhanced by its synthesis in the nanoscale range. The establishment of a cost-efficient and ecologically friendly procedure for its production is the result of growing concerns about human well-being. The novelty and significance of this study lie in the fact that the synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles have been tailored to have specific properties, such as size and morphology. These properties are crucial for their applications. Moreover, this study provides insights into the synthesis process of SnO2 nanoparticles, which can be useful for developing efficient and cost-effective methods for large-scale production. In the current study, green Pluronic-coated SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) utilizing the root extracts of Polygonum cuspidatum have been formulated and characterized by several methods such as UV–visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies. The crystallite size of SnO2 NPs was estimated to be 45 nm, and a tetragonal rutile-type crystalline structure was observed. FESEM analysis validated the NPs’ spherical structure. The cytotoxic potential of the NPs against HepG2 cells was assessed using the in vitro MTT assay. The apoptotic efficiency of the NPs was evaluated using a dual-staining approach. The NPs revealed substantial cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cells but failed to exhibit cytotoxicity in different liver cell lines. Furthermore, dual staining and flow cytometry studies revealed higher apoptosis in NP-treated HepG2 cells. Nanoparticle treatment also inhibited the cell cycle at G0/G1 stage. It increased oxidative stress and promoted apoptosis by encouraging pro-apoptotic protein expression in HepG2 cells. NP treatment effectively blocked the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in HepG2 cells. Thus, green Pluronic-F-127-coated SnO2 NPs exhibits enormous efficiency to be utilized as an talented anticancer agent.
Phenological and Environmental Factors’ Impact on Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal Plant Cotinus coggygria Scop.
Authors: Ciocan Alexandra-Gabriela , Tecuceanu Victorița , Enache-Preoteasa Cristian , Mitoi Elena Monica , Helepciuc Florența Elena , Dimov Tatiana Vassu , Simon-Gruita Alexandra , Cogălniceanu Gina Carmen
Published: April 2023

Cotinus coggygria Scop. (smoketree) is a phytotherapeutically valuable shrub growing in specific areas in many Eurasian countries. Exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic (abiotic) factors that modulate its secondary metabolism has fundamental and applicative importance. Three smoketree plants from the same population were studied for a period of 4.5 months. Their extracts were characterized using LC–MS/MS, HPLC–UV–VIS–DAD and colorimetric assays to determine the chemical composition and antioxidant potential. Multivariate analysis was applied to correlate the metabolomic data with registered habitat variables and phenological stages. The identified and quantified compounds belonged to the flavonoids (myricetin-3-O-galactoside, myricitrin) and hydrolysable tannins groups (pentagalloyl glucose, methyl gallate, methyl digallate I). Phenolic compounds and tannins were synthesized abundantly in the flowering and fruit stages, whereas flavonoids and triterpenes accumulated during senescence. The antioxidant activities varied between detection methods, samplings and individuals and were only punctually correlated with the compound contents in certain phenological stages. Based on the HCAbp analysis, the samples clustered under four groups, according to their metabolic profile. The CCA analysis revealed that during the reproductive stages (flower, fruit or seed), the secondary metabolism of the plants’ leaves is sensitive to the action of abiotic factors, while in senescence, the metabolic content is according to the phenological phase. This study provides a first attempt at understanding the interplay between the habitat and the metabolome of smoketree.
Features of Photosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana Plants with Knocked Out Gene of Alpha Carbonic Anhydrase 2
Authors: Nadeeva Elena M. , Ignatova Lyudmila K. , Rudenko Natalia N. , Vetoshkina Daria V. , Naydov Ilya A. , Kozuleva Marina A. , Ivanov Boris N.
Published: April 2023

The knockout of the At2g28210 gene encoding α-carbonic anhydrase 2 (α-CA2) in Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia) led to alterations in photosynthetic processes. The effective quantum yields of both photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) were higher in α-carbonic anhydrase 2 knockout plants (α-CA2-KO), and the reduction state of plastoquinone pool was lower than in wild type (WT). The electron transport rate in the isolated thylakoids measured with methyl viologen was higher in α-CA2-KO plants. The amounts of reaction centers of PSII and PSI were similar in WT and α-CA2-KO plants. The non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence in α-CA2-KO leaves was lower at the beginning of illumination, but became slightly higher than in WT leaves when the steady state was achieved. The degree of state transitions in the leaves was lower in α-CA2-KO than in WT plants. Measurements of the electrochromic carotenoid absorbance shift (ECS) revealed that the light-dependent pH gradient (ΔpH) across the thylakoid membrane was lower in the leaves of α-CA2-KO plants than in WT plants. The starch content in α-CA2-KO leaves was lower than in WT plants. The expression levels of the genes encoding chloroplast CAs in α-CA2-KO changed noticeably, whereas the expression levels of genes of cytoplasmic CAs remained almost the same. It is proposed that α-CA2 may be situated in the chloroplasts.
Recommendations for the Assessment of Potential Environmental Effects of Genome-Editing Applications in Plants in the EU
Authors: Eckerstorfer Michael F. , Dolezel Marion , Engelhard Margret , Giovannelli Valeria , Grabowski Marcin , Heissenberger Andreas , Lener Matteo , Reichenbecher Wolfram , Simon Samson , Staiano Giovanni , Wüst Saucy Anne Gabrielle , Zünd Jan , Lüthi Christoph
Published: April 2023

The current initiative of the European Commission (EC) concerning plants produced using certain new genomic techniques, in particular, targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, underlines that a high level of protection for human and animal health and the environment needs to be maintained when using such applications. The current EU biosafety regulation framework ensures a high level of protection with a mandatory environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) products prior to the authorization of individual GMOs for environmental release or marketing. However, the guidance available from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for conducting such an ERA is not specific enough regarding the techniques under discussion and needs to be further developed to support the policy goals towards ERA, i.e., a case-by-case assessment approach proportionate to the respective risks, currently put forward by the EC. This review identifies important elements for the case-by-case approach for the ERA that need to be taken into account in the framework for a risk-oriented regulatory approach. We also discuss that the comparison of genome-edited plants with plants developed using conventional breeding methods should be conducted at the level of a scientific case-by-case assessment of individual applications rather than at a general, technology-based level. Our considerations aim to support the development of further specific guidance for the ERA of genome-edited plants.
Extracts and Residues of Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) Cause Alterations in Root and Shoot Growth of Crops
Authors: Hall Rea Maria , Wagentristl Helmut , Renner-Martin Katharina , Urban Bernhard , Durec Nora , Kaul Hans-Peter
Published: April 2023

Following the novel weapon hypothesis, the invasiveness of non-native species, such as common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) can result from a loss of natural competitors due to the production of chemical compounds, which negatively affect native communities. Particularly the genus Ambrosia produces several types of organic compounds, which have the potential to inhibit germination and growth of other plants. Subsequent to an assessment of the chemical content of three different ragweed extracts (aqueous shoot and root extracts, as well as essential oil), two different trials on the effects of different concentrations of these extracts, as well as ragweed residues, were conducted on two different mediums (Petri dish vs. soil). In addition, we investigated the impact on the infection potential of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on soybean roots in three different soil types (arable soil, potting soil, and sand). The results showed that the exposure to common ragweed extracts and residues induced changes in the biomass and root production of crops and ragweed itself. Even though crops and ragweed differed in their response behavior, the strongest negative impact on all crops and ragweed was observed with ragweed residues, leading to reductions in biomass and root growth of up to 90%. Furthermore, we found a decrease in the number of rhizobial nodules of up to 48% when soybean was exposed to ragweed root extract.
Study on the Detection Method for Daylily Based on YOLOv5 under Complex Field Environments
Authors: Yan Hongwen , Cai Songrui , Li Qiangsheng , Tian Feng , Kan Sitong , Wang Meimeng
Published: April 2023

Intelligent detection is vital for achieving the intelligent picking operation of daylily, but complex field environments pose challenges due to branch occlusion, overlapping plants, and uneven lighting. To address these challenges, this study selected an intelligent detection model based on YOLOv5s for daylily, the depth and width parameters of the YOLOv5s network were optimized, with Ghost, Transformer, and MobileNetv3 lightweight networks used to optimize the CSPDarknet backbone network of YOLOv5s, continuously improving the model’s performance. The experimental results show that the original YOLOv5s model increased mean average precision (mAP) by 49%, 44%, and 24.9% compared to YOLOv4, SSD, and Faster R-CNN models, optimizing the depth and width parameters of the network increased the mAP of the original YOLOv5s model by 7.7%, and the YOLOv5s model with Transformer as the backbone network increased the mAP by 0.2% and the inference speed by 69% compared to the model after network parameter optimization. The optimized YOLOv5s model provided precision, recall rate, mAP, and inference speed of 81.4%, 74.4%, 78.1%, and 93 frames per second (FPS), which can achieve accurate and fast detection of daylily in complex field environments. The research results can provide data and experimental references for developing intelligent picking equipment for daylily.
Investigation on the Compressive Behavior of Hybrid Polyurethane(PU)-Foam-Filled Hyperbolic Chiral Lattice Metamaterial
Authors: He Qingguo , Hou Yuliang , Li Xiaomeng , Li Shuang , Meng Liang
Published: April 2023

In this study, a novel hybrid metamaterial has been developed via fulfilling hyperbolic chiral lattice with polyurethane (PU) foam. Initially, both the hyperbolic and typical body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices are fabricated by 3D printing technique. These lattices are infiltrated in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solution dissolved in 1,4-Dioxane, and then freeze casting technique is applied to achieve the PU-foam-filling. Intermediate (IM) layers possessing irregular pores, are formed neighboring to the lattice-foam interface. While, the foam far from the lattice exhibits a multi-layered structure. The mechanical behavior of the hybrid lattice metamaterials has been investigated by monotonic and cyclic compressive tests. The experimental monotonic tests indicate that, the filling foam is able to soften the BCC lattice but to stiffen the hyperbolic one, further to raise the stress plateau and to accelerate the densification for both lattices. The foam hybridization also benefits the hyperbolic lattice to prohibit the property degradation under the cyclic compression. Furthermore, the failure modes of the hybrid hyperbolic lattice are identified as the interface splitting and foam collapse via microscopic analysis. Finally, a parametric study has been performed to reveal the effects of different parameters on the compressive properties of the hybrid hyperbolic lattice metamaterial.
Preparation and Evaluation of Caffeine Orodispersible Films: The Influence of Hydrotropic Substances and Film-Forming Agent Concentration on Film Properties
Authors: Vlad Robert-Alexandru , Pintea Andrada , Coaicea Mădălina , Antonoaea Paula , Rédai Emőke Margit , Todoran Nicoleta , Ciurba Adriana
Published: April 2023

This study aimed to develop caffeine (CAF) orodispersible films (ODFs) and verify the effects of different percentages of film-forming agent and hydrotropic substances (citric acid—CA or sodium benzoate—SB) on various film properties. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E 5 (HPMC E 5) orodispersible films were prepared using the solvent casting method. Four CAF-ODF formulations were prepared and coded as CAF1 (8% HPMC E 5, CAF), CAF2 (8% HPMC E 5 and CAF:CA–1:1), CAF3 (9% HPMC E 5 and CAF:CA–1:1), and CAF4 (9% HPMC E 5 and CAF:SB–1:1). The CAF-ODFs were evaluated in terms of disintegration time, folding endurance, thickness, uniformity of mass, CAF content, thickness-normalized tensile strength, adhesiveness, dissolution, and pH. Thin, opaque, and slightly white CAF-ODFs were obtained. All the formulations developed exhibited disintegration times less than 3 min. The dissolution test revealed that CAF1, CAF2, and CAF3 exhibited concentrations of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) released at 30 min that were close to 100%, whilst CAF4 showed a faster dissolution behaviour (100% of the CAF was released at 5 min). Thin polymeric films containing 10 mg of CAF/surface area (3.14 cm2) were prepared.
Experimental Investigation on the Bonding Strength of Knotted CFRP Bars in Bulk Plastics
Authors: Ciftci Cihan
Published: April 2023

Improving the interfacial bonding strength of CFRP materials is crucial for enabling the development of novel composite beam structures with higher specific bending strength demanded by the composite industry. In this research study, for reinforced bulk plastic composites, the aim is to enhance the interfacial bonding strength of CFRP bar elements in bulk plastics by on the formation of knots. In this context, firstly, the knotted CFRP bars with varying cross-sectional areas were manufactured under laboratory conditions for the experimental investigation on the effect of knots on bonding strength. Commercially available smooth-surfaced CFRP bars were also purchased to be used as the reference. Then, all these CFRP bars were subjected to pull-out tests by using in bulk plastics. According to the test results, it was observed that the interfacial bonding strength of CFRP bars in bulk plastic materials could be increased up to 233% because of the knots.
Effect of Silicone Modifier on the Physical Properties of Flexible Silica Aerogels
Authors: Luo Kun-Hao , Yan Min-Si , Chang Chen-An , Weng Chih-Wei , Yeh Jui-Ming
Published: April 2023

Research on the development of flexible silica aerogels (FSAs) has been ongoing due to their excellent thermal insulation, low density, and high elasticity. However, the physical properties of FSAs, such as density, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and surface wettability, are highly dependent on the preparation conditions. To achieve the desired properties of FSAs for various applications, it is necessary to develop a method to fine-tune their physical properties. In this paper, two modifiers of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS)/trimethylethoxysilane (TMES) were employed to fine-tune the bulk density of a series of flexible silica aerogels (FSAs), reflecting a series of FSAs with fine-tunable physical properties. First, the precursor was synthesized by a click reaction between vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) and 2,2′ (ethylenedioxy) diethanethiol (EDDET). The VTMS, EDDET, and the as-prepared precursor were characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the precursor was converted into a series of FSAs (denoted by FSA, FSA-M, and FSA-T) through conventional sol-gel reactions with/without MTMS/TMES. Chemical structures of synthesized FSAs were confirmed by 13C and 29Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The porous structure of FSAs was identified by BET and SEM, respectively. Physical properties, such as thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and surface wettability of FSAs were determined by a Hot Disk, durometer/DMA in compression mode, and contact angle measurements, respectively. This study found FSAs containing none, 1 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% of MTMS increase the density of FSAs from 0.419 g/cm3 (FSA), 0.423 g/cm3 (FSA-M1), 0.448 g/cm3 (FSA-M5), and 0.456 g/cm3 (FSA-M10). It should be noted that the thermal conductivity, surface hardness, bulk mechanical strength, and hydrophobicity of FSA-Ms of increasing MTMS loading were all found to show a rising trend, while FSA-Ts exhibited lower density. FSA-T10 exhibited lower thermal conductivity, surface hardness, and bulk mechanical strength as compared to FSA. However, it was found to show higher hydrophobicity as compared to that of FSA.
Effect of Tannins Addition on Thermal Stability of Furfurylated Wood
Authors: Mubarok Mahdi , Azadeh Elham , Obounou Akong Firmin , Dumarçay Stéphane , Gérardin Philippe , Gérardin-Charbonnier Christine
Published: April 2023

This article presents the effect of the addition of condensed tannins, used as a reticulation agent, on the polymerization of furfuryl alcohol during wood furfurylation, as well as the effect of these condensed tannins on the thermal stability of modified wood. Three kinds of dicarboxylic acids (adipic acid, succinic acid, and tartaric acid), as well as glyoxal, used as model of a wood reticulation agent, were used to catalyze the polymerization of furfuryl alcohol or tannin-furfuryl alcohol solutions. Impregnation of furfuryl alcohol or tannin-furfuryl alcohol solution into the wood, followed by curing at 103 °C for a specific duration, was performed for the wood modification. The thermal stability of the obtained tannin-furfuryl alcohol polymers and their corresponding modified woods was investigated. The leaching resistance and dimensional stability of the modified woods were also evaluated. Results indicated that the partial substitution of furfuryl alcohol by the tannins improved the polymerization reactivity in conditions where furfuryl alcohol alone did not lead to the formation of a solid polymeric material. The thermal stability and leaching resistance of the furfurylated wood in the presence of tannins were improved. Dimensional stability was also improved for furfurylated samples, but the effect of tannin addition was not so obvious, depending on the acidic catalyst used.
Properties Comparison of Oxidized and Heat Moisture Treated (HMT) Starch-Based Biodegradable Films
Authors: Cahyana Yana , Verrell Christoper , Kriswanda Dodo , Aulia Ghina Almira , Yusra Namira Azkia , Marta Herlina , Sukri Nandi , Esirgapovich Safarov Jasur , Abduvakhitovna Sultanova Shakhnoza
Published: April 2023

Starch-based biodegradable films have been studied for a long time. To improve starch properties and to increase film characteristics, starch is commonly modified. Amongst different types of starch modifications, oxidation and heat moisture treatment are interesting to explore. Unfortunately, review on these modifications for film application is rarely found, although these starch modifications provide interesting results regarding the starch and film properties. This paper aims to discuss the progress of research on oxidized and heat moisture-treated-starch for edible film application. In general, both HMT and oxidation modification on starch lead to an increase in film’s tensile strength and Young’s modulus, suggesting an improvement in film mechanical properties. The elongation, however, tends to decrease in oxidized starch-based film, hence more brittle film. Meanwhile, HMT tends to result in a more ductile film. The drawback of HMT film is its lower transparency, while the opposite is observed in oxidized films. The observation on WVP (water vapor permeability) of HMT starch-based film shows that the trend of WVP is not consistent. Similarly, an inconsistent trend of WVP is also found in oxidized starch films. This suggests that the WVP parameter is very sensitive to intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Starch source and its concentration in film, film thickness, RH (relative humidity) of film storage, oxidation method and its severity, plasticizer type and its concentration in film, and crystallinity value may partly play roles in determining film properties.
Investigation of Polymer/Si Thin Film Tandem Solar Cell Using TCAD Numerical Simulation
Authors: Okil Mohamed , Shaker Ahmed , Salah Mostafa M. , Abdolkader Tarek M. , Ahmed Ibrahim S.
Published: April 2023

The current study introduces a two-terminal (2T) thin-film tandem solar cell (TSC) comprised of a polymer-based top sub cell and a thin crystalline silicon (c-Si) bottom sub cell. The photoactive layer of the top sub cell is a blend of PDTBTBz-2F as a polymer donor and PC71BM as a fullerene acceptor. Initially, a calibration of the two sub cells is carried out against experimental studies, providing a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.88% for the top sub cell and 14.26% for the bottom sub cell. Upon incorporating both sub cells in a polymer/Si TSC, the resulting cell shows a PCE of 20.45% and a short circuit current density (Jsc) of 13.40 mA/cm2. Then, we optimize the tandem performance by controlling the valence band offset (VBO) of the polymer top cell. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of varying the top absorber defect density and the thicknesses of both absorber layers in an attempt to obtain the maximum obtainable PCE. After optimizing the tandem cell and at the designed current matching condition, the Jsc and PCE of the tandem cell are improved to 16.43 mA/cm2 and 28.41%, respectively. Based on this TCAD simulation study, a tandem configuration established from an all thin-film model may be feasible for wearable electronics applications. All simulations utilize the Silvaco Atlas package where the cells are subjected to standard one Sun (AM1.5G, 1000 W/m2) spectrum illumination.
Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Catha edulis Forsk from Djibouti and Its Toxicological Investigations In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Mohamed Abdoul-Latif Fatouma , Ainane Ayoub , Houmed Aboubaker Ibrahim , Merito Ali Ali , El Montassir Zineb , Kciuk Mateusz , Mohamed Jalludin , Ainane Tarik
Published: April 2023

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential oils from Catha edulis Forsk collected in the Day Forest of the Republic of Djibouti. Additionally, in vivo toxicity studies, biochemical profiling, and hematological tests were conducted to determine the biological activity of the investigated essential oils. Finally, in vitro tests were performed to investigate the antibacterial activity of the essential oils. The essential oils were obtained at yields of 0.75%. Chromatographic analysis identified 39 compounds, of which cathinone (81.4%) and cathine (10.55%) were determined as the two major components, representing 91.95% of the total composition. Catha edulis essential oil had a rat LD50 of 2500 mg/kg, indicating very low toxicity. Chronic exposure studies revealed that use of the essential oil in rats resulted in persistent stimulant action at dosages of 100 and 200 mg/kg, whereas the weight gain of control rats was faster than that of the essential oil-treated rats. Hematological parameters showed a significant increase in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets in treated rats, which could indicate blood hyperviscosity that may increase the risk of blood clots and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, the investigated essential oil exhibited antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains.
Monasticism and Ecologism: Between Economic Opportunity and Religious Convictions?
Authors: Jonveaux Isabelle
Published: April 2023

Monasteries, especially Benedictine monasteries, have developed a close relationship with nature based on a respect for creation and a goal of self-sufficiency. There seems to be an elective affinity between monasticism and ecologism. Since the second half of the 20th century, monasteries have been engaging in ecological practices, and in many cases have been pioneers in these practices in their region. How can the role of monasteries in ecology be explained? To what extent is the ecology practiced by monasteries different from that of society? And what developments can we observe in this field over the last 20 years? After presenting the background of the elective affinity between monasticism and ecologism, I will explore the practices that monastics put in place to act sustainably for the protection of the environment. The last part of the paper deals with the shift from respect for creation to ecologism in the vocabulary monastics use today and to what extent we can speak of a charismatic ecologism. This article is based on field inquiries conducted in monastic communities in six countries in Europe and four countries in Africa between 2004 and 2019.
Comparing Different Spatial Resolutions and Indices for Retrieving Land Surface Phenology for Deciduous Broadleaf Forests
Authors: Cui Kailong , Yang Jilin , Dong Jinwei , Zhao Guosong , Cui Yaoping
Published: April 2023

Deciduous broadleaf forests (DBF) are an extremely widespread vegetation type in the global ecosystem and an indicator of global environmental change; thus, they require accurate phenological monitoring. However, there is still a lack of systematic understanding of the sensitivity of phenological retrievals for DBF in terms of different spatial resolution data and proxy indices. In this study, 79 globally distributed DBF PhenoCam Network sites (total 314 site-years, 2013–2018) were used as the reference data (based on green chromaticity coordinates, GCC). Different spatial resolutions (30 m Landsat and Sentinel-2 data, and 500 m MCD43A4 data) and satellite remote sensing vegetation indices (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI; enhanced vegetation index, EVI; and near-infrared reflectance of vegetation, NIRV) were compared to find the most suitable data and indices for DBF phenological retrievals. The results showed that: (1) for different spatial resolutions, both 30 m Landsat–Sentinel-2 data and 500 m MODIS data accurately captured (R2 > 0.8) DBF phenological metrics (i.e., the start of the growing season, SOS, and the end of the growing season, EOS), which are associated with the comparatively homogeneous landscape pattern of DBF; (2) for SOS, the NIRv index was closer to GCC than EVI and NDVI, and it showed a slight advantage over EVI and a significant advantage over NDVI. However, for EOS, NDVI performed best, outperforming EVI and NIRv; and (3) for different phenological metrics, the 30 m data showed a significant advantage for detecting SOS relative to the 500 m data, while the 500 m MCD43A4 outperformed the 30 m data for EOS. This was because of the differences between the wavebands used for GCC and for the satellite remote sensing vegetation indices calculations, as well as the different sensitivity of spatial resolution data to bare soil. This study provides a reference for preferred data and indices for broad scale accurate monitoring of DBF phenology.
Exploring the Optimal 4D-SfM Photogrammetric Models at Plot Scale
Authors: Liu Junfeng , Ma Shaoxiu , Chen Rensheng
Published: April 2023

Structure from Motion (4D-SfM) photogrammetry can capture the changes in surface processes with high spatial and temporal resolution, which is widely used to quantify the dynamic change process of the ground surface. However, the low accuracy and uncertainty of the reconstructed digital elevation models (DEM) with current 4D-SfM photogrammetry hinder its application due to the simple survey pattern with multiple cameras. Hence, this study aims to develop a single-camera-based 4D-SfM photogrammetry device and adopt the “lawn-mower’ survey pattern zigzagging over a 4 × 4 m bare slope to improve the accuracy and stability of reconstructed DEM. Four different image network geometries were generated based on the zigzag-based survey pattern. Two processing settings for Agisoft PhotoScan Pro were tested to reconstruct the 4D-SfM model. In total, we achieved eight different 4D models over a bare slope over a month-long period. The differences, stability and accuracy of eight models were analyzed. The results of the study showed that the different image network geometry and processing settings resulted in significant differences among the eight models of 4D data sequences. Among them, the image network geometry has the greatest influence on the accuracy of 4D data, and the different processing settings cause the least difference for the zigzag image network geometry with a large number of photos. The 49-ultra-high model could achieve submillimeter scale precision and its relative accuracy is superior to most of previous studies. The results of the above study show that the zigzag image network geometry can greatly improve the accuracy and stability of ground-based 4D-SfM photogrammetry.
A Twenty-Year Assessment of Spatiotemporal Variation of Surface Temperature in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Zhang Quan , Feng Tian , Wang Mengen , Yang Gang , Lu Huimin , Sun Weiwei
Published: April 2023

A good understanding of the processes of land surface temperature (LST) change is important for assessing regional climate change. In the present study, we obtained the MODIS MOD11A2 LST products over the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) from 2001 to 2020. In order to comprehensively assess the spatial and temporal variability of LST in the YRD region over the past two decades, the Theil–Sen Median trend analysis and Mann–Kendall test, BFAST01 trend decomposition, and landscape pattern analysis were used in this study. We show that the rate of linear change in LST in the YRD ranges from −0.019 °C/month to 0.046 °C/month. The BFAST01 trend decomposition identifies more details of LST change and monotonic increases, reversal increase, and interruption increase are the main warming trends. The distribution of the different trend types shows strong aggregation with high spatial heterogeneity. The LST breakpoints are mainly located in the northern and southern YRD, which frequently occurred during 2010–2013. Of the various land types, breakpoints occur most frequently in cropland and high NDVI (0.5–0.7) areas, and the intensity of most of them is within 2 °C. In addition, much stronger warming occurs in urban areas than in other land types. Our study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of LST in the YRD region over the past 20 years and highlights that breakpoints cannot be circumvented in regional temperature assessment.
An Overview of the Special Issue “Remote Sensing Applications in Vegetation Classification”
Authors: Jarocińska Anna , Marcinkowska-Ochtyra Adriana , Ochtyra Adrian
Published: April 2023

One of the ideas behind vegetation monitoring is the ability to identify different vegetation units, such as species, communities, habitats, or vegetation types. Remote sensing data allow for obtaining such information remotely, which is especially valuable in areas that are difficult to explore (such as mountains or wetlands). At the same time, such techniques allow for limiting field research, which is particularly important in this context. Remote sensing has been utilized for vegetation inventories for many decades, using airborne and spaceborne platforms. Developing newer tools, algorithms and sensors is conducive to more new applications in the vegetation identification field. The Special Issue “Remote Sensing Applications in Vegetation Classification” is an overview of the applications of remote sensing data with different resolutions for the identification of vegetation at different levels of detail. In 14 research papers, the most frequent different types of crops were analysed. In three cases, the authors recognised different types of grasslands, whereas trees were the object of the studies in two papers. The most commonly used sensors were Copernicus Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2; however, to a lesser extent, MODIS, airborne hyperspectral and multispectral data, as well as LiDAR products, were also utilised. There were articles that tested and compared different combinations of datasets, different terms of data acquisition, or different classifiers in order to achieve the highest classification accuracy. These accuracies were assessed quite satisfactorily in each publication; the overall accuracy (OA) for the best result varied from 72% to 98%. In all of the research papers, at least one of the two commonly used machine learning algorithms, random forest (RF) and support vector machines (SVM), was applied. Additionally, one paper presented software ARTMO’s machine-learning classification algorithms toolbox, which allows for the testing of 13 different classifiers. The studies published in this Special Issue can be used by the vegetation research teams and practitioners to conduct deeper analysis via the utilization of the proposed solutions.
High Spatial and Temporal Soil Moisture Retrieval in Agricultural Areas Using Multi-Orbit and Vegetation Adapted Sentinel-1 SAR Time Series
Authors: Mengen David , Jagdhuber Thomas , Balenzano Anna , Mattia Francesco , Vereecken Harry , Montzka Carsten
Published: April 2023

The retrieval of soil moisture information with spatially and temporally high resolution from Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) observations is still a challenge. By using multi-orbit Sentinel-1 C-band time series, we present a novel approach for estimating volumetric soil moisture content for agricultural areas with a temporal resolution of one to two days, based on a short-term change detection method. By applying an incidence angle normalization and a Fourier Series transformation, the effect of varying incidence angles on the backscattering signal could be reduced. As the C-band co-polarized backscattering signal is prone to vegetational changes, it is used in this study for the vegetational correction of its related backscatter ratios. The retrieving algorithm was implemented in a cloud-processing environment, enabling a potential global and scalable application. Validated against eight in-situ cosmic ray neutron probe stations across the Rur catchment (Germany) as well as six capacitance stations at the Apulian Tavoliere (Italy) site for the years 2018 to 2020, the method achieves a correlation coefficient of R of 0.63 with an unbiased Root Mean Square Error of 0.063 m3/m3.
The Five-DOF Explosion-Removal Manipulator Based on Position and Velocity Feedforward Compensation Control
Authors: Zhao Jianwei , Zhou Jiaxin
Published: April 2023

The main problem with a robotic system arm is its sensitivity to time delays in the control process. Due to this problem, it is necessary to further optimize the control process of the system. One solution is to deal with the control accuracy and response speed issues of robotic arm joints, to improve the system’s response performance and enhance the system’s anti-interference ability. This paper proposes a speed feedforward and position control scheme for robotic arm joint control. The conclusion section shows that compared to traditional five-degree-of-freedom robotic arm systems, the addressed robotic arm control system has a lower tracking delay and better dynamic response performance. It can improve the system’s response performance while also enhancing its anti-interference ability.
Electroencephalography Signal Analysis for Human Activities Classification: A Solution Based on Machine Learning and Motor Imagery
Authors: de Brito Guerra Tarciana C. , Nóbrega Taline , Morya Edgard , de M. Martins Allan , de Sousa Vicente A.
Published: April 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a fundamental tool for understanding the brain’s electrical activity related to human motor activities. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) uses such electrical activity to develop assistive technologies, especially those directed at people with physical disabilities. However, extracting signal features and patterns is still complex, sometimes delegated to machine learning (ML) algorithms. Therefore, this work aims to develop a ML based on the Random Forest algorithm to classify EEG signals from subjects performing real and imagery motor activities. The interpretation and correct classification of EEG signals allow the development of tools controlled by cognitive processes. We evaluated our ML Random Forest algorithm using a consumer and a research-grade EEG system. Random Forest efficiently distinguishes imagery and real activities and defines the related body part, even with consumer-grade EEG. However, interpersonal variability of the EEG signals negatively affects the classification process.
A Robust Adaptive Objective Power Allocation in Cognitive NOMA Networks
Authors: Zhou Mingyue , Guo Xingang
Published: April 2023

Cognitive radio (CR) is a candidate for opportunistic spectrum implementation in wireless communications, allowing secondary users (SUs) to share the spectrum with primary users (PUs). In this paper, a robust adaptive target power allocation strategy for cognitive nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) networks is proposed, which involves the maximum transmission power of each SU and interference power threshold under PU constraints. By introducing the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) adjustment factor, the strategy enables single-station communication to achieve energy efficiency (EE) or high throughput (HT), thus making the target function more flexible. In the same communication scenario, different cognitive users can choose different communication targets that meet their needs. Different QoS can be selected by the same cognitive user at different times. In the case of imperfect channel state information (CSI), semi-infinite (SI) constraints with bounded uncertainty sets are transformed into an optimization problem under the worst case, which is solved by the dual decomposition method. Simulation results show that this strategy has good adaptive selectivity and robustness.
Pharmacokinetics of Lixisenatide, a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist, Determined by a Novel Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis in Rats
Authors: Oh Hyeon Seok , Park Eun Ji , Lee Tae Suk , An Yejin , Kim Tae Hwan , Shin Soyoung , Shin Beom Soo
Published: April 2023

Because of its greater binding affinity and longer half-life than native glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), the GLP-1 receptor agonist lixisenatide is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to establish a simple and robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) approach for lixisenatide for in vivo pharmacokinetic investigation. Methanol-based protein precipitation with formic acid was exploited for plasma sample extraction, using esomeprazole as the internal standard. Gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid in distilled water and acetonitrile was utilized for chromatographic separation. Mass spectrometry was used to monitor the MRM transition at m/z 810.8 → 129.2 for lixisenatide. In rat plasma, lixisenatide had a lower limit of quantification of 10 ng/mL. The LC–MS/MS was applied to describe the pharmacokinetics of lixisenatide in rats following intravenous and subcutaneous dosing. The average half-life of lixisenatide was 0.37 ± 0.06 h after intravenous injection. The estimated subcutaneous bioavailability of lixisenatide was 2.17%. This LC–MS/MS analysis might be relevant in future research to create novel dosage formulations of lixisenatide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists with optimal therapeutic effectiveness.
Adaptations on the Use of p-Values for Statistical Inference: An Interpretation of Messages from Recent Public Discussions
Authors: Verykouki Eleni , Nakas Christos T.
Published: April 2023

P-values have played a central role in the advancement of research in virtually all scientific fields; however, there has been significant controversy over their use. “The ASA president’s task force statement on statistical significance and replicability” has provided a solid basis for resolving the quarrel, but although the significance part is clearly dealt with, the replicability part raises further discussions. Given the clear statement regarding significance, in this article, we consider the validity of p-value use for statistical inference as de facto. We briefly review the bibliography regarding the relevant controversy in recent years and illustrate how already proposed approaches, or slight adaptations thereof, can be readily implemented to address both significance and reproducibility, adding credibility to empirical study findings. The definitions used for the notions of replicability and reproducibility are also clearly described. We argue that any p-value must be reported along with its corresponding s-value followed by (1−α)% confidence intervals and the rejection replication index.
Simple and Smart: Investigating Two Heuristics That Guide the Intention to Engage in Different Climate-Change-Mitigation Behaviors
Authors: Matthies Ellen , de Paula Sieverding Theresa , Engel Lukas , Blöbaum Anke
Published: April 2023

Individuals can support climate-change mitigation in many ways, e.g., through private-sphere behaviors or the support of political measures. We assume that the common climate-change-mitigation heuristic of restriction does not sufficiently support impactful mitigation intentions and therefore introduce and investigate a new heuristic (optimization heuristic.) In a cross-sectional survey with N = 1427 participants (representative of the German population with regard to age, gender, education), we developed two scales to measure the heuristics of restriction and optimization. As individual climate-change-mitigation intentions, we recorded four types of private-sphere behavior, activism, and three forms of policy support. Further psychological variables (personal norm, biospheric value orientation) and sociodemographic variables were recorded. The factorial structure of all concepts was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analyses. Hierarchical regression analyses with the climate-change-mitigation intentions as the criterion were carried out. Results support the assumption of two related, yet distinct, climate-change-mitigation heuristics that were highly correlated with biospheric value orientation. We additionally computed measure of the dominance of the restriction heuristic. This variable had no correlation with biospheric values, and correlated with the intentions in the expected ways, indicating that individuals with a dominant restriction heuristic tend to show lower scores of impactful climate-change-mitigation intentions.