bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Including Sea Buckthorn Berry By-Products on White Chocolate Quality and Bioactive Characteristics under a Circular Economy Context
Authors: Murariu Otilia Cristina , Lipșa Florin Daniel , Cârlescu Petru Marian , Frunză Gabriela , Ciobanu Marius Mihai , Cara Irina Gabriela , Murariu Florin , Stoica Florina , Albu Aida , Tallarita Alessio Vincenzo , Caruso Gianluca
Published: October 2024

The by-products of the extraction of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) concentrated juice may represent a functional food ingredient for white chocolate production, as a rich source of bioactive compounds. The effects of six treatments derived from the factorial combination of two types of by-products (with oil or without oil) and three different concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%), were assessed on rheological, quality, colour, antioxidant, and mineral properties of chocolate. The 15% addition of full powder led to the highest values of max firmness, total shear energy, shear energy, cohesiveness, gummosity, dry matter, and ABTS, compared to the untreated control, but the two highest concentrations of the oil-deprived powder resulted in the protein content increasing. The full powder addition always raised fat levels. Both the ‘L’ and ‘a’ colour component as well as total carotenoids, β-carotene, lycopene, and vitamin C increased with the rise of H. rhamnoides powder addition, compared to the untreated control. The opposite trend was shown by the ‘b’ colour component and pH, whereas polyphenols and antioxidant activity attained higher values with the oil-deprived powder. The content of potassium decreased upon the 15% addition of the Hippophae rhamnoides by-product powder, compared to the untreated control, whereas calcium and magnesium increased. The 15% H. rhamnoides full powder elicited the augmentation of phosphorus content in chocolate, compared to the untreated control, contrary to the effect of the oil-deprived powder on P and Zn. The employment of SBB by-products highlights the great potential for manufacturing innovative functional foods with high nutritional value, such as chocolate.
Knockdown of SlYTHDF2 Accelerates Dark–Induced Tomato Leaf Senescence by Affecting the ABA Pathway
Authors: Chen Xinru , Gao Zihan , Li Yangyang , Nie Xiaoqian , Xie Qiaoli , Chen Guoping , Hu Zongli
Published: October 2024

N6–methyladenosine (m6A) is a widespread post–transcriptional modification in eukaryotic mRNAs. Proteins with the YTH structural domain act as m6A–binding proteins by recognizing the m6A modification and regulating mRNA through this recognition. In this study, SlYTHDF2, a prototypical m6A –binding protein gene in the YTH family was expressed in various tissues, and subcellular localization analyses indicated that the SlYTHDF2 protein was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. SlYTHDF2 knockout lines were obtained using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and showed the senesced leaves prematurely increased endogenous ABA accumulation compared with the wild type. Moreover, we found that dark promoted leaf senescence in SlYTHDF2 knockout lines and exogenous ABA further accelerated leaf senescence under dark conditions. The qRT–PCR analysis revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with the ABA pathway. Relative to the wild type, the CR–slythdf2 plants exhibited reduced levels of photosynthetic pigments, higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and increased damage to cell membranes. Additionally, we discovered that SlYTHDF2 interacts with the chloroplast–binding protein SlRBCS3 through yeast two–hybrid and BiFC experiments. Overall, our data suggest the important role of SlYTHDF2 in regulating tomato leaf senescence.
Mitigating Salt Stress with Biochar: Effects on Yield and Quality of Dwarf Tomato Irrigated with Brackish Water
Authors: Lentini Matteo , Ciriello Michele , Rouphael Youssef , Carillo Petronia , Fusco Giovanna Marta , Pagliaro Letizia , Vaccari Francesco Primo , De Pascale Stefania
Published: October 2024

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (−63%) and the number of fruits (−25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions.
Efficient Regeneration of Transgenic Rice from Embryogenic Callus via Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation: A Case Study Using GFP and Apple MdFT1 Genes
Authors: Do Van Giap , Kim Seonae , Win Nay Myo , Kwon Soon-Il , Kweon Hunjoong , Yang Sangjin , Park Juhyeon , Do Gyungran , Lee Youngsuk
Published: October 2024

Genetic transformation is a critical tool for gene manipulation and functional analyses in plants, enabling the exploration of key phenotypes and agronomic traits at the genetic level. While dicotyledonous plants offer various tissues for in vitro culture and transformation, monocotyledonous plants, such as rice, have limited options. This study presents an efficient method for genetically transforming rice (Oryza sativa L.) using seed-derived embryogenic calli as explants. Two target genes were utilized to assess regeneration efficiency: green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the apple FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene (MdFT1). Antisense MdFT1 was cloned into a vector controlled by the rice α-amylase 3D (Ramy3D) promoter, while eGFP was fused to Cas9 under the Ubi promoter. These vectors were introduced separately into rice embryogenic calli from two Korean cultivars using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic seedlings were successfully regenerated via hygromycin selection using an in vitro cultivation system. PCR confirmed stable transgene integration in the transgenic calli and their progeny. Fluorescence microscopy revealed eGFP expression, and antisense MdFT1-expressing lines exhibited notable phenotypic changes, including variations in plant height and grain quality. High transformation efficiency and regeneration frequency were achieved for both tested cultivars. This study demonstrated the effective use of seed-derived embryogenic calli for rice transformation, offering a promising approach for developing transgenic plants in monocot species.
Residual Effect of Microbial-Inoculated Biochar with Nitrogen on Rice Growth and Salinity Reduction in Paddy Soil
Authors: Abbas Hafiz Muhammad Mazhar , Rais Ummah , Sultan Haider , Tahir Ashar , Bahadur Saraj , Shah Asad , Iqbal Asim , Li Yusheng , Khan Mohammad Nauman , Nie Lixiao
Published: October 2024

Increasing soil and water salinity threatens global agriculture, particularly affecting rice. This study investigated the residual effects of microbial biochar and nitrogen fertilizer in mitigating salt stress in paddy soil and regulating the biochemical characteristics of rice plants. Two rice varieties, Shuang Liang You 138 (SLY138), a salt-tolerant, and Jing Liang You 534 (JLY534), a salt-sensitive, were grown under 0.4 ds/m EC (S0) and 6.84 ds/m EC (S1) in a glass house under controlled conditions. Three types of biochar—rice straw biochar (BC), fungal biochar (BF), and bacterial biochar (BB)—were applied alongside two nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (60 kg ha−1 and 120 kg ha−1) in a previous study. The required salinity levels were maintained in respective pots through the application of saline irrigation water. Results showed that residual effects of microbial biochars (BF and BB) had higher salt mitigation efficiency than sole BC. The combination of BB and N fertilizer (BB + N120) significantly decreased soil pH by 23.45% and Na+ levels by 46.85%, creating a more conducive environment for rice growth by enhancing beneficial microbial abundance and decreasing pathogenic fungi in saline soil. Microbial biochars (BF and BB) positively improved soil properties (physicochemical) and biochemical and physiological properties of plants, ultimately rice growth. SLY138 significantly had a less severe response to salt stress compared to JLY534. The mitigation effects of BB + N120 kg ha−1 were particularly favorable for SLY138. In summary, the combined residual effect of BF and BB with N120 kg ha−1, especially bacterial biochar (BB), played a positive role in alleviating salt stress on rice growth, suggesting its potential utility for enhancing rice yield in paddy fields.
Effects of Salicylic Acid on Physiological Responses of Pepper Plants Pre-Subjected to Drought under Rehydration Conditions
Authors: Gonçalves Fabrício Custódio de Moura , Mantoan Luís Paulo Benetti , Corrêa Carla Verônica , Parreiras Nathália de Souza , de Almeida Luiz Fernando Rolim , Ono Elizabeth Orika , Rodrigues João Domingos , Prado Renato de Mello , Boaro Carmen Sílvia Fernandes
Published: October 2024

Capsicum annuum L. has worldwide distribution, but drought has limited its production. There is a lack of research to better understand how this species copes with drought stress, whether it is reversible, and the effects of mitigating agents such as salicylic acid (SA). Therefore, this study aimed to understand the mechanisms of action of SA and rehydration on the physiology of pepper plants grown under drought conditions. The factorial scheme adopted was 3 × 4, with three water regimes (irrigation, drought, and rehydration) and four SA concentrations, namely: 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM. This study evaluated leaf water percentage, water potential of shoots, chlorophylls (a and b), carotenoids, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration at different times of day, water conditions (irrigation, drought, and rehydration), and SA applications (without the addition of a regulator (0) and with the addition of SA at concentrations equal to 0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM). In general, exogenous SA application increased stomatal conductance (gs) responses and modified the fluorescence parameters (ΦPSII, qP, ETR, NPQ, D, and E) of sweet pepper plants subjected to drought followed by rehydration. It was found that the use of SA, especially at concentrations of 1 mM in combination with rehydration, modulates gs, which is reflected in a higher electron transport rate. This, along with the production of photosynthetic pigments, suggests that H2O2 did not cause membrane damage, thereby mitigating the water deficit in pepper plants. Plants under drought conditions and rehydration with foliar SA application at concentrations of 1 mM demonstrated protection against damage resulting from water stress. Focusing on sustainable productivity, foliar SA application of 1 mM could be recommended as a technique to overcome the adverse effects of water stress on pepper plants cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions.
Improved Multi-Size, Multi-Target and 3D Position Detection Network for Flowering Chinese Cabbage Based on YOLOv8
Authors: Shui Yuanqing , Yuan Kai , Wu Mengcheng , Zhao Zuoxi
Published: October 2024

Accurately detecting the maturity and 3D position of flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis) in natural environments is vital for autonomous robot harvesting in unstructured farms. The challenge lies in dense planting, small flower buds, similar colors and occlusions. This study proposes a YOLOv8-Improved network integrated with the ByteTrack tracking algorithm to achieve multi-object detection and 3D positioning of flowering Chinese cabbage plants in fields. In this study, C2F-MLCA is created by adding a lightweight Mixed Local Channel Attention (MLCA) with spatial awareness capability to the C2F module of YOLOv8, which improves the extraction of spatial feature information in the backbone network. In addition, a P2 detection layer is added to the neck network, and BiFPN is used instead of PAN to enhance multi-scale feature fusion and small target detection. Wise-IoU in combination with Inner-IoU is adopted as a new loss function to optimize the network for different quality samples and different size bounding boxes. Lastly, ByteTrack is integrated for video tracking, and RGB-D camera depth data are used to estimate cabbage positions. The experimental results show that YOLOv8-Improve achieves a precision (P) of 86.5% and a recall (R) of 86.0% in detecting the maturity of flowering Chinese cabbage. Among them, mAP50 and mAP75 reach 91.8% and 61.6%, respectively, representing an improvement of 2.9% and 4.7% over the original network. Additionally, the number of parameters is reduced by 25.43%. In summary, the improved YOLOv8 algorithm demonstrates high robustness and real-time detection performance, thereby providing strong technical support for automated harvesting management.
Changes in the Phylogenetic Structure of Alpine Grassland Plant Communities on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau with Long-Term Nitrogen Deposition
Authors: Liu Yongqi , Shen Hao , Dong Shikui , Xiao Jiannan , Zhang Ran , Zuo Hui , Zhang Yuhao , Wu Minghao , He Fengcai , Ma Chunhui
Published: October 2024

Nitrogen (N) deposition rates have notably increased around the world, especially in high-altitude regions like the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We conducted a six-year comprehensive experiment to simulate nitrogen deposition in an alpine grassland area near Qinghai Lake. Four levels of nitrogen depositions, i.e., 0 (CK), 8 kg N ha−1year−1 (N1), 40 kg N ha−1year−1 (N2), and 72 kg N ha−1year−1 (N3), with three replicates for each N treatment, were tested annually in early May and early July, with the meticulous collection of plant and soil samples during the peak growth period from 15 July to 15 August. We used the null model to evaluate the impact of environmental filtration and interspecific competition on the dynamics of the plant community was assessed based on the level of discrete species affinities within the plant community by constructing a phylogenetic tree. The results showed that the environmental filter was the predominant driver for the change of community’s genealogical fabric. The N2 and N3 treatments increased the influence of soil factors on the change of plant community structure. Climatic factors played a crucial role on the change of plant community in the CK grassland area, while soil factors were dominant in the N1- and N3-treated grasslands.
A Three-Dimensional Modeling Approach for Carbon Nanotubes Filled Polymers Utilizing the Modified Nearest Neighbor Algorithm
Authors: Wang Junpu , Yue Xiaozhuang , Wang Yuxuan , Di Liupeng , Wang Wenzhi , Wei Jingchao , Yu Fei
Published: October 2024

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are extensively utilized in the fabrication of high-performance composites due to their exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal characteristics. To investigate the mechanical properties of CNTs filled polymers accurately and effectively, a 3D modeling approach that incorporates the microstructural attributes of CNTs was introduced. Initially, a representative volume element model was constructed utilizing the modified nearest neighbor algorithm. During the modeling phase, a corresponding interference judgment method was suggested, taking into account the potential positional relationships among the CNTs. Subsequently, stress–strain curves of the model under various loading conditions were derived through finite element analysis employing the volume averaging technique. To validate the efficacy of the modeling approach, the stress within a CNT/epoxy resin composite with varying volume fractions under different axial strains was computed. The resulting stress–strain curves were in good agreement with experimental data from the existing literature. Hence, the modeling method proposed in this study provides a more precise representation of the random distribution of CNTs in the matrix. Furthermore, it is applicable to a broader range of aspect ratios, thereby enabling the CNT simulation model to more closely align with real-world models.
Comparison of Biowaste Fillers Extracted from Fish Scales and Collagen on the Mechanical Properties of High-Density Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Obiechefu Zodidi , Onwubu Stanley Chibuzor , Naidoo Deneshree , Mokhothu Thabang Hendrica , Mdluli Phumlane Selby
Published: October 2024

The utilization of biowaste fillers in the development of high-density polyurethane (PU) foams has gained significant attention due to environmental and economic benefits. This study investigates the mechanical properties of PU foams reinforced with biowaste fillers extracted from fish scales (FS) and fish scale-derived collagen (FSC). The fish scales and collagen were characterized for their composition and integrated into PU foams at various loadings. Mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness, and density were evaluated. ANOVA was used to analyze the mean values. Bonferroni tests were used to identify differences between the filler materials (α = 0.05). The tensile strength increases with an increase in filler content for both FS (59.48 Kpa) and FSC (65.43 Kpa). No differences were observed between FS and FSC in tensile strength. Significant differences were observed between the FS and FSC in both hardness and density (p < 0.001). The results demonstrated that both fillers enhanced the mechanical properties of PU foams, with collagen-reinforced foams showing superior performance. This suggests that collagen and fish scales can be effective biowaste fillers for developing environmentally friendly PU foams with enhanced mechanical properties.
Palladium-Functionalized Polysiloxane Drop-Casted on Carbon Paper as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction
Authors: Golovenko Ekaterina A. , Kocheva Anastasia N. , Semenov Artem V. , Baykova Svetlana O. , Deriabin Konstantin V. , Baykov Sergey V. , Boyarskiy Vadim P. , Islamova Regina M.
Published: October 2024

In this work, a Pd(II)-C,N-cyclometalated complex was grafted to polysiloxanes via azide–alkyne cycloaddition. The obtained polymer–metal complex (Pd-PDMS) acts as a catalyst in the Suzuki–Miyaura reaction. Pd-PDMS was drop-casted onto a carbon fiber support, and the resulting membrane demonstrated catalytic activity in the cross-coupling reaction without yield loss after several catalytic cycles. The catalytic membrane allows for easy catalyst recycling and provides ultra-low palladium levels in Suzuki–Miyaura reaction products.
Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Metallocene Polyalphaolefins (mPAO) Base Oil with Anti-Friction and Anti-Wear Properties
Authors: Hu Qidi , Zeng Kai , Han Sheng , Xu Jian , Hu Wenjing , Li Jiusheng
Published: October 2024

Anti-wear and anti-oxidation abilities are two key properties of lubricants that play a crucial role in ensuring long-term stable equipment operation. In this study, we aimed to develop a base oil with good anti-oxidation and anti-wear properties for use under extreme pressure. The as-prepared metallocene polyalphaolefin (mPAO) was chemically modified using the trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) catalysis through an alkylating reaction with triphenyl phosphorothioate (TPPT). During the experiments, when the reaction temperature exceeded 70 °C or the concentration of TfOH exceeded 2.67%, the β-scission reaction in the alkylation process became significantly more pronounced. The physical and chemical properties of TPPT-modified mPAO (T-mPAO) were evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier trans-form infrared spectroscopy, gel–permeation chromatography, and ASTM standards. T-mPAO showed significantly improved antioxidant capacity, with the initial oxidation temperature increasing by 32 °C compared to the base oil, and it exhibited the slowest increase in acid number in the 96-h oven oxidation test. The tribological tests showed that T-mPAO had the lowest friction coefficient, wear track, and wear rate (72.7% lower than that of mPAO) as well as the highest PB (238 kg) and PD (250 kg) among all tested samples. Compared to mPAO, the average friction coefficient of TPPT-modified mPAO in the four-ball friction test was reduced by 30.5%, and by 16.4% in the TE77 reciprocating friction test. Based on the experimental results, T-mPAO had strong anti-oxidation ability and excellent lubricating performance.The successful synthesis of multifunctional mPAO has enabled lubricant base oil additization, making it possible to use it in more demanding work scenarios, greatly broadening its application scope and making lubricant formulation blending more flexible.
In Situ Formation of Acidic Comonomer during Thermal Treatment of Copolymers of Acrylonitrile and Its Influence on the Cyclization Reaction
Authors: Toms Roman V. , Ismaylov Daniil A. , Gervald Alexander Yu. , Prokopov Nickolay I. , Plutalova Anna V. , Chernikova Elena V.
Published: October 2024

Binary and ternary copolymers of acrylonitrile (AN), tert-butyl acrylate (TBA), and n-butyl acrylate (BA) are synthesized through conventional radical polymerization in DMSO in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol. The thermal behavior of binary and ternary copolymers is studied under argon atmosphere and in air. It is demonstrated that the copolymers of AN contain 1–10 mol.% of TBA split isobutylene upon heating above 160 °C, resulting in the formation of the units of acrylic acid in the chain. The carboxylic groups formed in situ are responsible for the ionic mechanism of cyclization, which starts at lower temperatures compared with pure polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or AN copolymer with BA. The activation energy of cyclization through ionic and radical mechanisms depends on copolymer composition. For the ionic mechanism, the activation energy lies in the range ca. 100–130 kJ/mole, while for the radical mechanism, it lies in the range ca. 150–190 kJ/mole. The increase in the TBA molar part in the copolymer is followed by faster consumption of nitrile groups and the evolution of a ladder structure in both binary and ternary copolymers. Thus, the incorporation of a certain amount of TBA in PAN or its copolymer with BA allows tuning the temperature range of cyclization. This feature seems attractive for applications in the production of melt-spun PAN by choosing the appropriate copolymer composition and heating mode.
Stabilization of Picea abies Spruce Bark Extracts within Ice-Templated Porous Dextran Hydrogels
Authors: Damaschin Roxana Petronela , Lazar Maria Marinela , Ghiorghita Claudiu-Augustin , Aprotosoaie Ana Clara , Volf Irina , Dinu Maria Valentina
Published: October 2024

Porous hydrogels have brought more advantages than conventional hydrogels when used as chromatographic materials, controlled release vehicles for drugs and proteins, matrices for immobilization or separation of molecules and cells, or as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Polysaccharide-based porous hydrogels, in particular, can address challenges related to bioavailability, solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of natural antioxidant compounds. Their porous structure enables the facile encapsulation and controlled release of these compounds, enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness. In this context, in the present study, the cryogelation technique has been adopted to prepare novel dextran (Dx)-based porous hydrogels embedding polyphenol-rich natural extract from Picea abies spruce bark (SBE). The entrapment of the SBE within the Dx network was proved by FTIR, SEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). SEM analysis showed that entrapment of SBE resulted in denser cryogels with smaller and more uniform pores. Swelling kinetics confirmed that higher concentrations of Dx, EGDGE, and SBE reduced water uptake. The release studies demonstrated the effective stabilization of SBE in the Dx-based cryogels, with minimal release irrespective of the approach selected for SBE incorporation, i.e., during synthesis (~3–4%) or post-synthesis (~15–16%). In addition, the encapsulation of SBE within the Dx network endowed the hydrogels with remarkable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. These porous biomaterials could have broad applications in areas such as biomedical engineering, food preservation, and environmental protection, where stability, efficacy, and safety are paramount.
Polymers Containing Diethylsiloxane Segment and Active Functional Group by Ring-Opening Polymerization of Hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane under the Catalysis of Linear Chlorinated Phosphazene Acid
Authors: Jin Chen , Yang Hao , Zhang Yang , Zhang Shuting , Long Xu , Dong Hong , Song Yanjiang , Qu Zhirong , Wu Chuan
Published: October 2024

Linear chlorinated phosphazene acid is prepared using PCl5 and NH4Cl as raw materials. Using hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane as the monomer, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane or 1,3-divinyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane as the end-capping agent, and linear chlorinated phosphazene acid as the catalyst, polydiethylsiloxane oligomers terminated with active Si-H or Si-CH=CH2 groups have been prepared. Using hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane and 1,3,5,7-octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane as comonomers, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane or hexamethyldisiloxane as the end-capping agent, or using hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane and octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane as comonomers, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane as the end-capping agent, copolymers containing active Si-H bonds and dimethylsiloxane segments have been prepared under the catalysis of linear chlorinated phosphazene acid. The effects of catalyst dosage, reaction temperature, reaction time, end-capping agent, and polymerization monomer dosage on polymer yield and structure were investigated. Using 300 ppm of linear chlorinated phosphazene acid, oligomers and copolymers containing an active Si-H bond and diethylsiloxane segment were prepared under mild conditions. The molecular weight of the obtained polymers was close to their designed values, but their PDI values were small. The highest yield of α, ω-bisdimethylsiloxyl-terminated PDES oligomers reached 93%. Using oligomers and copolymers containing Si-H bonds and diethylsiloxane segments as crosslinkers, a silicone gel containing diethylsiloxane segments was prepared by hydrosilylation reaction. With the introduction of a diethylsiloxane segment, the glass transition temperature of the silicone gel decreased relative to that of the PDMS oligomer, but the temperature at 5% weight loss in nitrogen atmosphere decreased from 347 °C to 312 °C. The mechanism of the ring-opening polymerization of hexaethylcyclotrisiloxane catalyzed by linear chlorinated phosphazene acid is also discussed.
Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) for High-Throughput Screening of Pesticides in Rice Samples Collected in Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia
Authors: Strashnov Ilya , Ahmed Farah T. , Alrashdi May M. , Nesmiyan Inna , Polya David A.
Published: October 2024

Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) with modified QuEChERS sample preparation has been applied to the high-throughput screening of pesticide residuals in rice collected from Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia markets. Both countries consume high volumes of rice, which is a fundamental food for their populations. We report optimized sample preparation and mass spectrometry analysis protocols, which can be rapidly deployed in analytical laboratories. The screening of four groups (organophosphorus, synthetic pyrethroid, organonitrogen, and organochlorine) of a total of 115 pesticides can be performed within ~10 min using a matrix-matched calibration. For most compounds, the limits of detection and quantification (LOD/LOQ) are well below the maximum residue levels (MRLs) of the main regulators. The method generally demonstrates acceptable recovery values (91 compounds 75–125% and 10 compounds 30–75%). Out of 55 rice samples analyzed, 16 samples (29%) contained pesticide residues above LOQ. Four samples contained chlorpyrifos with concentrations ranging from 21.3 to 71.9 µg/kg, ten samples contained tebuconazole (34.7–69.0 µg/kg), and three samples contained pirimiphos methyl (10.7–20.7 µg/kg). The concentrations of the pesticide residues detected in these samples are well below MRL of FAO/WHO (chlorpyrifos, 500 µg/kg; tebuconazole, 1500 µg/kg; pirimiphos methyl, 7000 µg/kg).
Optimization of Synchronous Control Parameters Based on Improved Sinusoidal Gray Wolf Algorithm
Authors: Wang Taoyu , Sun Shiyan , She Bo
Published: October 2024

High precision control is often accompanied by many control parameters, which are interrelated and difficult to adjust directly. It is difficult to convert the system control effect directly into mathematical expression, so it is difficult to optimize it by intelligent algorithm. To solve this problem, we propose an improved sinusoidal gray wolf optimization algorithm (ISGWO). In this algorithm, a particle crossing processing mechanism based on the symmetry idea is introduced to maximize the retention of the position information of the optimal individual and improve the search accuracy of the algorithm. In addition, a differential cross-perturbation strategy is adopted to help the algorithm jump out of the local optimal solution in time, which enhances the development capability of ISGWO. Meanwhile, the position update formula with improved sinusoidal can better balance the development and exploration of ISGWO. The ISGWO algorithm is compared with three improved Gray Wolf algorithms on the CEC2017 test set as well as the synchronization controller. The experimental results show that the ISGWO algorithm has better selectivity, speed and robustness.
Evaluation of CO2/Water Imbibition Relative Permeability Curves in Sandstone Core Flooding—A CFD Study
Authors: Acharya Tathagata , Dhaliwal Tapinder , Ludian Alina , Popli Gorang , Wilemon Benjamin , Hernandez Leonardo , Farahani Maryam , Song Liaosha
Published: October 2024

Greenhouse gases such as CO2 can be safely captured and stored in geologic formations, which in turn can reduce the carbon imprint in the Earth’s atmosphere and therefore help toward reducing global warming. The relative permeability characteristics in CO2/brine or CO2/water systems provide insight into the CO2 trapping efficacy of formations such as sandstone rocks. In this research, CO2/water imbibition relative permeability characteristics in a typical sandstone core sample are numerically evaluated. This work uses transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations to study relative permeability characteristics, and a sensitivity analysis is performed based on two different injection pressures and absolute permeability values of the sandstone rock material. Results show that when the irreducible water fraction remains unchanged, the imbibition relative permeability to the non-wetting phase decreases with an increase in injection pressure within the sandstone core sample. Also, with the irreducible water fraction being unchanged, relative permeabilities to both non-wetting and wetting phases decrease with an increase in the absolute permeability of the rock material. Finally, at irreducible water saturation, relative permeability to the gas phase decreases with an increase in injection pressure.
Cardiovascular Drugs as Water Contaminants and Analytical Challenges in the Evaluation of Their Degradation
Authors: Kravos Aleksander , Žgajnar Gotvajn Andreja , Prosen Helena
Published: October 2024

Cardiovascular drugs have been a burning topic in the field of environmental analytical chemistry in the last few decades. Growing modern healthcare has led to the widespread use of pharmaceuticals. Among these, antihypertensives (sartans, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) and lipid-regulating drugs (fibrates and statins) are the most frequently consumed and, thus, excreted into wastewater. Their chemical fate during conventional and advanced wastewater treatment, such as ozonation, remains unclear. Analytical chemistry, providing sample pretreatment followed by instrumental analysis, has a tremendous role in water treatment evaluation, mostly from the perspective of parent contaminants’ removals and also assessment of transformation pathways. Ultrasensitive liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) systems provide many opportunities. By carefully using planned workflows for chromatographic and mass-spectrometric data processing, i.e., suspect and non-target screening approaches, LC-MS allows for the identification and structural elucidation of unknown, predicted, suspected or selected transformation products. Accordingly, some examples and case studies on selected cardiovascular drugs in this review are presented to show the applicability of the used analytical approaches and workflows.
Fault Location Method of Distribution Network Based on VGAE-GraphSAGE
Authors: Fan Min , Xia Jialu , Zhang Huanjiao , Zhang Xi
Published: October 2024

The distribution network is the main component of the power system, which undertakes the important function of power transmission and distribution. Fast and accurate distribution network fault location is one of the important means to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system and is helpful in guiding troubleshooting, shortening the power outage time, reducing the workload of manual inspection, and reducing the social and economic losses caused by faults. Due to the development of the new distribution network, the comprehensive influence of many factors has put forward new challenges to the traditional distribution network fault location methods. In this paper, a distribution network fault location method based on the graph neural network is proposed. Firstly, the distribution network is treated as non-Euclidean graph data; secondly, variational graph auto-encoders (VGAE) are used to mine the underlying information of nodes and improve the overall anti-noise performance of the fault location method. Then the GraphSAGE model is used to aggregate the neighbor information of nodes, fully consider the influence of the surrounding lines on the target lines, and improve the output of the model to locate the distribution network line where the fault occurred. The experimental example analysis based on OpenDSS simulation software (version 9.8) proves that the proposed method has high accuracy and anti-interference, and the accuracy reached 97.81%. Moreover, the positioning result is still good in the new intelligent distribution network scenario with distributed power access, with an accuracy of 95.07% in the hybrid power generation scenario.
Markan Spirituality of the Way
Authors: Jung Deok Hee
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates Markan spirituality through an examination of his use of “the Way” motif, with a focus on the story of blind Bartimaeus in 10:46–52. Mark arranges his narrative around the theme of the way, and in so doing, points to the spirituality of following Jesus on the way. Mark’s underlying spirituality is particularly unveiled in the story of Bartimaeus, where the evangelist carefully indicates that Bartimaeus follows Jesus on the way once his sight has been restored. This episode is instructive for discipleship since the true disciple of Jesus is one who is ready to follow Jesus to Jerusalem and the Cross. Mark thus provides his audience with a model of sincere discipleship. In particular, the phrase “followed him [Jesus] on the way” presents the core values of Markan spirituality as follows: conformity, participation, identification, and incorporation with and into Jesus’s ministry. Accordingly, this research has implications for pilgrimage and the art of spiritual living, since Bartimaeus’s behaviour offers a prototype for both.
On Ecological Interpretation
Authors: Underbrink Evan R.
Published: October 2024

This article works on the interdisciplinary grounds of phenomenology and ecology, analyzing and dialoguing with the thought of preservationist Freeman Tilden, to provide the hitherto underutilized concept of interpretation as an avenue for addressing current ecological crises. This analysis provides data for the phenomenologist to enter their own dialogue with Tilden on eco-philosophy. The article concludes with the story of a pebble, exploring from a different angle the process and import of the writing of this article, contextualized ethnographically from the position of the author’s own double-employment as a scholar of aesthetics, and interpretive park ranger.
Public Theology as a Theology of Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Public Pastoral Care Contribution
Authors: Nanthambwe Patrick
Published: October 2024

The negative impacts of COVID-19, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, political unrest, and natural disasters in sub-Saharan Africa have caused widespread suffering. In light of these crises, many have questioned the relevance of theology in addressing such complex challenges. This article tackles critical questions such as: How can public theology effectively engage with the socio-political and economic issues facing sub-Saharan Africa? What role does public pastoral care play in fostering resilience within these communities? Can theology provide tangible support in the face of widespread suffering, and if so, how? The article argues that public theology offers a resilient framework to guide communities through these difficult times, particularly when integrated with public pastoral care. Public theology can provide hope, support, and a sense of purpose to those affected by engaging both spiritual and social dimensions. The article further explores how public pastoral care, as a practical expression of public theology, can address individuals’ and communities’ emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. Ultimately, it demonstrates that public theology is relevant and essential in fostering resilience and promoting human flourishing in the face of adversity.
Negotiating the Affordance of Greco-Roman Spiritual Exercise for Community Flourishing: From and beyond Foucauldian Care of the Self
Authors: Li Yulong , Chen Zhen
Published: October 2024

The worldwide launch of neoliberalism ushered everyone into an atomized society. Neoliberalism transforms Homo sapiens into Homo economicus, a narcissistic self-entrepreneur that positions their body as a factory, skills as resources, and earnings as products while relying less on others. Such atomization of individuals undermines the community. Following the Cartesian moment, enlightenment, and postmodernism’s later wave, the world is disenchanted, deprived of unity in the form of community fragmentation. Foucault offered a Greco–Roman philosophical remedy for contemporary society, focusing on the formulation of ‘Spiritual-Corporality’ through the practice of care of the self. Foucault believed the one who takes good care of himself is often self-assured of his ability, expectations, and missions in relationships with others, he does not resort to tyranny in those relationships, giving him an ethical advantage in caring for his family and fellow citizens. If everyone strives to take care of themselves, the city-state will prosper. However, Foucault relied on Stoic philosophy over other ancient schools and failed to provide concrete practices on how to bind ourselves with others through care of the self. In partial agreement with Foucault, the present study chooses Hadot’s spiritual exercise as a more accurate terminology to justify Greco–Roman philosophies’ affordance to contemporary social unification. After reviewing the philosophies of Aristotle, the Stoics, and Epicurus, the present study selected the spiritual exercises of ‘hitting the mean as deliberation’, ‘reframing of self’, and ‘thinking outside the box’ as suitable practices for community flourishing.
On the Capabilities of the IREA-CNR Airborne SAR Infrastructure
Authors: Esposito Carmen , Natale Antonio , Lanari Riccardo , Berardino Paolo , Perna Stefano
Published: October 2024

In this work, the airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) infrastructure developed at the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) is described. This infrastructure allows IREA-CNR to plan and execute airborne SAR campaigns and to process the acquired data with a twofold aim. On one hand, the aim is to develop research activities; on the other hand, the aim is to support the emergency prevention and management activities of the Department of Civil Protection of the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, for which IREA-CNR serves as National Centre of Competence. Such infrastructure consists of a flight segment and a ground segment that include a multi-frequency airborne SAR sensor based on the Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) technology and operating in the X- and L-bands, an Information Technology (IT) platform for data storage and processing and an airborne SAR data processing chain. In this work, the technical aspects related to the flight and ground segments of the infrastructure are presented. Moreover, a discussion on the response times and characteristics of the final products that can be achieved with the infrastructure is provided with the aim of showing its capabilities to support the monitoring activities required in a possible emergency scenario. In particular, as a case study, the acquisition and subsequent interferometric processing of airborne SAR data relevant to the Stromboli volcanic area in the Sicily region, southern Italy, are presented
Desertification Mitigation in Northern China Was Promoted by Climate Drivers after 2000
Authors: Li Haohui , Yang Kai , Cui Yang , Ai Lingyun , Wang Chenghai , Wang Zhenting , Zhang Caixia
Published: October 2024

Desertification greatly threatens the ecological environment and sustainable development over approximately 30% of global land. In this study, the contributions of climate drivers and human activity in shaping the desertification process from 1984 to 2014 were quantified in the desertification-prone region (DPR) in Northern China (NC) by employing net primary productivity (NPP) as a proxy. The results reveal that 72.74% of the DPR experienced desertification mitigation and 27.26% experienced exacerbation. Climate drivers acted as primary drivers, contributing to both the mitigation (47.2%) and exacerbation (48.5%) of desertification, while human activity also played a crucial role, with contributions of 39.6% to mitigation and 41.0% to exacerbation of desertification. Furthermore, a shift in desertification dynamics emerged around 2000, with climate drivers promoting the mitigation process (66.8%), and precipitation was a dominant climatic factor for the mitigation of desertification after 2000, which was related to internal atmospheric variability. This study highlights changes in the contributions of different factors to desertification, underscoring the need for policy adjustment to attain sustainable land management in NC.
Automatic Landslide Detection in Gansu, China, Based on InSAR Phase Gradient Stacking and AttU-Net
Authors: Sun Qian , Li Cong , Xiong Tao , Gui Rong , Han Bing , Tan Yilun , Guo Aoqing , Li Junfeng , Hu Jun
Published: October 2024

Landslides are the most serious geological disaster in our country, causing economic losses. Because they go undetected, a large number of landslides that have caused disasters are not in the catalogue. At present, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) has been widely used in the identification of landslides. However, it is time-consuming, inefficient, etc., to survey landslides throughout our large country. In the context of massive SAR data, this problem is more obvious. Therefore, based on the current technique of using differential interferogram phase gradient stacking to avoid phase unwrapping errors, a landslide phase gradient dataset has been constructed. To validate the dataset’s effectiveness and applicability, deep learning methods were introduced, applying the dataset to four networks: U-Net, Attention-Unet, Bisenet v2, and Deeplab v3. The results indicate that the phase gradient dataset performs well across different models, with the Attention-Unet network demonstrating the best performance. Specifically, the precision, recall, and accuracy on the test dataset were 0.8771, 0.8712, and 0.9834, respectively, and the accuracy on the validation dataset was 0.8523. Finally, in this paper, the model is applied to landslide identification in Gansu Province, China, during 2022-2023, and a total of 1882 landslides are found. These landslides are mainly concentrated in the south of Gansu Province, where the terrain is relatively undulating. The results show that this method can quickly and accurately realize landslide automatic identification in a wide area and provide technical support for large-scale landslide disaster surveys.
Methods for Assessing the Effectiveness of Modern Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Authors: Brewczyński Konrad D. , Życzkowski Marek , Cichulski Krzysztof , Kamiński Kamil A. , Petsioti Paraskevi , De Cubber Geert
Published: October 2024

Given the growing threat posed by the widespread availability of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), which can be utilised for various unlawful activities, the need for a standardised method to evaluate the effectiveness of systems capable of detecting, tracking, and identifying (DTI) these devices has become increasingly urgent. This article draws upon research conducted under the European project COURAGEOUS, where 260 existing drone detection systems were analysed, and a methodology was developed for assessing the suitability of C-UASs in relation to specific threat scenarios. The article provides an overview of the most commonly employed technologies in C-UASs, such as radars, visible light cameras, thermal imaging cameras, laser range finders (lidars), and acoustic sensors. It explores the advantages and limitations of each technology, highlighting their reliance on different physical principles, and also briefly touches upon the legal implications associated with their deployment. The article presents the research framework and provides a structural description, alongside the functional and performance requirements, as well as the defined metrics. Furthermore, the methodology for testing the usability and effectiveness of individual C-UAS technologies in addressing specific threat scenarios is elaborated. Lastly, the article offers a concise list of prospective research directions concerning the analysis and evaluation of these technologies.