bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerated Breeding for Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) through Doubled Haploidy: An Insight on Past and Future Prospects in the Era of Genome Editing
Authors: Mabuza Londiwe M. , Mchunu Nokuthula P. , Crampton Bridget G. , Swanevelder Dirk Z. H.
Published: January 2023

The aim of any breeding process is to fully express the targeted, superior/desirable parent characteristic in the progeny. Hybrids are often used in this dynamic, and complex process for which homozygous parents—which may require up to eight generations of back crossing and selection—are required. Doubled haploid (DH) technologies can facilitate the production of true breeding lines faster and in a more efficient manner than the traditional back crossing and selection strategies. Sunflower is the third most important oilseed crop in the world and has no available double haploid induction procedure/technique that can be efficiently used in breeding programs. A reproducible and efficient doubled haploid induction method would be a valuable tool in accelerating the breeding of new elite sunflower varieties. Although several attempts have been made, the establishment of a sunflower doubled haploid induction protocol has remained a challenge owing recalcitrance to in vitro culture regeneration. Approaches for haploid development in other crops are often cultivar specific, difficult to reproduce, and rely on available tissue culture protocols—which on their own are also cultivar and/or species specific. As an out-crossing crop, the lack of a double haploid system limits sunflower breeding and associated improvement processes, thereby delaying new hybrid and trait developments. Significant molecular advances targeting genes, such as the centromeric histone 3 (CenH3) and Matrilineal (MTL) gene with CRISPR/Cas9, and the successful use of viral vectors for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components into plant cells eliminating the in vitro culture bottleneck, have the potential to improve double haploid technology in sunflower. In this review, the different strategies, their challenges, and opportunities for achieving doubled haploids in sunflower are explored.
How Does Stomatal Density and Residual Transpiration Contribute to Osmotic Stress Tolerance?
Authors: Hasanuzzaman Md. , Zhou Meixue , Shabala Sergey
Published: January 2023

Osmotic stress that is induced by salinity and drought affects plant growth and development, resulting in significant losses to global crop production. Consequently, there is a strong need to develop stress-tolerant crops with a higher water use efficiency through breeding programs. Water use efficiency could be improved by decreasing stomatal transpiration without causing a reduction in CO2 uptake under osmotic stress conditions. The genetic manipulation of stomatal density could be one of the most promising strategies for breeders to achieve this goal. On the other hand, a substantial amount of water loss occurs across the cuticle without any contribution to carbon gain when the stomata are closed and under osmotic stress. The minimization of cuticular (otherwise known as residual) transpiration also determines the fitness and survival capacity of the plant under the conditions of a water deficit. The deposition of cuticular wax on the leaf epidermis acts as a limiting barrier for residual transpiration. However, the causal relationship between the frequency of stomatal density and plant osmotic stress tolerance and the link between residual transpiration and cuticular wax is not always straightforward, with controversial reports available in the literature. In this review, we focus on these controversies and explore the potential physiological and molecular aspects of controlling stomatal and residual transpiration water loss for improving water use efficiency under osmotic stress conditions via a comparative analysis of the performance of domesticated crops and their wild relatives.
Impact of Crop Sequence and Fertilization on Potato Yield in a Long-Term Study
Authors: Blecharczyk Andrzej , Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz , Sawinska Zuzanna , Rybacki Piotr , Radzikowska-Kujawska Dominika
Published: January 2023

The research was conducted during the years 2007–2013, on the base of a long-term study established in 1958, at the Experimental Station Brody (52°26′ N; 16°18′ E), belonging to the Poznań University of Life Sciences. Varieties of potatoes resistant to cyst nematodes were grown in a seven-course crop rotation (potato—spring barley—alfalfa—alfalfa—spring oilseed rape—winter wheat—winter rye) and in continuous monoculture. The presented study from the years 2007–2013 covers the next 8th rotation of the 7-field crop rotation (since 1958). With regard to continuous cultivation, this is the period between the 50th and 56th year of the potato monoculture. The experiment included 11 fertilization variants, of which the following 7 were included in the study: 1—control object without fertilization, 2—manure, 3—manure + NPK, 4—NPKCa, 5—NPK, 6—NP, 7—NK and 8—PK. Every year, mineral and organic fertilization was applied in the following doses per 1 ha: N—90 kg, P—26 kg, K—100 kg, manure—30 t and Ca—0.7 t. Potato cultivation in monoculture resulted in a significant reduction in tuber yield compared to crop rotation and a reduction in the number of tubers per plant and the average weight of one tuber. Manure fertilization, especially in combination with NPK mineral fertilizer, had a more favorable effect on the level of potato yielding and the content of N, P, K and Mg in tubers compared to only mineral fertilization, but decreased the content of dry matter, starch and Ca. The results of long-term experiment indicate that the most effective in potato cultivation is the combined application of both manure and full mineral fertilization (NPK) with the proper sequence of plants (crop rotation).
Characterization of Endophytic Bacteria Isolated from Typha latifolia and Their Effect in Plants Exposed to Either Pb or Cd
Authors: Rubio-Santiago Jesús , Hernández-Morales Alejandro , Rolón-Cárdenas Gisela Adelina , Arvizu-Gómez Jackeline Lizzeta , Soria-Guerra Ruth Elena , Carranza-Álvarez Candy , Rubio-Salazar Jocabed Eunice , Rosales-Loredo Stephanie , Pacheco-Aguilar Juan Ramiro , Macías-Pérez José Roberto , Aldaba-Muruato Liseth Rubí , Vázquez-Martínez Juan
Published: January 2023

Plant-associated bacteria in heavy-metal-contaminated environments could be a biotechnological tool to improve plant growth. The present work aimed to isolate lead- and cadmium-tolerant endophytic bacteria from the roots of Typha latifolia growing in a site contaminated with these heavy metals. Endophytic bacteria were characterized according to Pb and Cd tolerance, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria activities, and their effect on T. latifolia seedlings exposed and non-exposed to Pb and Cd. Pb-tolerant isolates were identified as Pseudomonas azotoformans JEP3, P. fluorescens JEP8, and P. gessardii JEP33, while Cd-tolerant bacteria were identified as P. veronii JEC8, JEC9, and JEC11. They all exert biochemical activities, including indole acetic acid synthesis, siderophore production, and phosphate solubilization. Plant–bacteria interaction assays showed that P. azotoformans JEP3, P. fluorescens JEP8, P. gessardii JEP33, and P. veronii JEC8, JEC9, JEC11 promote the growth of T. latifolia seedlings by increasing the root and shoot length, while in plants exposed to either 5 mg/L of Pb or 10 mg/L of Cd, all bacterial isolates increased the shoot length and the number of roots per plant, suggesting that they are plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria that could contribute to T. latifolia adaptation to the heavy metal polluted site.
Biocontrol Effect of Clonostachys rosea on Fusarium graminearum Infection and Mycotoxin Detoxification in Oat (Avena sativa)
Authors: Khairullina Alfia , Micic Nikola , Jørgensen Hans J. Lyngs , Bjarnholt Nanna , Bülow Leif , Collinge David B. , Jensen Birgit
Published: January 2023

Oat (Avena sativa) is susceptible to Fusarium head blight (FHB). The quality of oat grain is threatened by the accumulation of mycotoxins, particularly the trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON), which also acts as a virulence factor for the main pathogen Fusarium graminearum. The plant can defend itself, e.g., by DON detoxification by UGT-glycosyltransferases (UTGs) and accumulation of PR-proteins, even though these mechanisms do not deliver effective levels of resistance. We studied the ability of the fungal biocontrol agent (BCA) Clonostachys rosea to reduce FHB and mycotoxin accumulation. Greenhouse trials showed that C. rosea-inoculation of oat spikelets at anthesis 3 days prior to F. graminearum inoculation reduced both the amount of Fusarium DNA (79%) and DON level (80%) in mature oat kernels substantially. DON applied to C. rosea-treated spikelets resulted in higher conversion of DON to DON-3-Glc than in mock treated plants. Moreover, there was a significant enhancement of expression of two oat UGT-glycosyltransferase genes in C. rosea-treated oat. In addition, C. rosea treatment activated expression of genes encoding four PR-proteins and a WRKY23-like transcription factor, suggesting that C. rosea may induce resistance in oat. Thus, C. rosea IK726 has strong potential to be used as a BCA against FHB in oat as it inhibits F. graminearum infection effectively, whilst detoxifying DON mycotoxin rapidly.
Effect of Water Stress and Shading on Lime Yield and Quality
Authors: Mira-García Ana Belén , Conejero Wenceslao , Vera Juan , Ruiz-Sánchez María Carmen
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to test the combined effect of water stress and cropping system on yield and fruit quality in Bearss lime trees. For this purpose, two irrigation treatments were applied during stage II of fruit growth: control (well irrigated, automatically managed by soil water content sensors) and stress (non-irrigated), both under open-field and shaded conditions. Soil water status was assessed by determining soil water content and plant water status by measuring stem water potential (Ψstem), stomatal conductance (gs), and net photosynthesis (Pn). Yield parameters (kg and the number of fruits per tree and fresh mass per fruit) and fruit quality were assessed on two harvest dates. In addition, on the second harvest date, the content of metabolites and nutrients in the lime juice was analyzed. The results showed that soil water deficit induced 35% lower gs values in open-field than in shaded conditions. The highest kg and the number of fruits per tree were observed in the shaded system, especially on the first harvest date. The lowest yield was observed in stressed trees grown without netting. Slightly higher fresh mass and equatorial diameter were observed in shaded fruits than in open-field fruit. Soil water deficit increased fruit total soluble solids and decreased juice content, especially in open-field trees. Shaded conditions made the lime trees more resilient to soil water deficit, which led to higher yields and better external fruit quality traits. In addition, fruit precocity was significantly higher in the shaded system.
Plant–Insect Interactions on Aquatic and Terrestrial Angiosperms from the Latest Albian (Early Cretaceous) of Estercuel (Northeastern Spain) and Their Paleoenvironmental Implications
Authors: Santos Artai A. , Sender Luis M. , Wappler Torsten , Diez José B.
Published: January 2023

Fossils of plant–insect interactions are direct evidence of paleoecological relationships between these two dominant groups in terrestrial ecosystems. We present a variety of plant–insect interactions from the late Early Cretaceous (latest Albian) in the Estercuel locality in northeastern Spain (Iberian Peninsula), affecting two types of terrestrial angiosperms and the basal eudicot Klitzschophyllites, which is one of the oldest putative members of aquatic Ranunculales found to date. The study of these interactions revealed 23 different damage types belonging to eight functional feeding groups (hole feeding, margin feeding, skeletonization, surface feeding, piercing and sucking, mining, oviposition and galling), suggesting these angiosperms were an important source of food and lodging for insects in the Iberian ecosystems during the late Early Cretaceous. Notably, the diversity of damage in the leaves of angiosperms suggests a diverse community of herbivorous insects and a variety of strategies of interactions with plants at the end of the Early Cretaceous in the southwestern Tethys realm.
Oxidative Stress Response and Metal Transport in Roots of Macleaya cordata Exposed to Lead and Zinc
Authors: Zhang Hongxiao , Sun Xijing , Hwarari Delight , Du Xinlong , Wang Yinghao , Xu Huawei , Lv Shufang , Wang Ting , Yang Liming , Hou Dianyun
Published: January 2023

Heavy metal pollution possesses potential hazards to plant, animal and human health, which has become the focus of recent attention. Hence, phytoremediation has been regarded as one of the most important remediation technologies for heavy-metal-contaminated soils. In this research, a dominant mine tailing plant, Macleaya cordata, was used as the experimental material to compare the metal transport and oxidative stress response in its roots under lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) treatments. The result showed that Pb was mainly accumulated in the roots of M. cordata under the Pb treatment; less than 1% Pb was transported to the parts above. An analysis of the Zn content demonstrated a 39% accumulation in the shoots. The production of reactive oxygen species was detected using the in situ histological staining of roots, which showed that hydrogen peroxide in the root tips was observed to increase with the increase in both Pb and Zn concentrations. No significant superoxide anion changes were noted in the root tips under the Pb treatment. An analysis of the root enzyme activity showed that increase in NADPH oxidase activity can be responsible for the production of superoxide anions, subsequent the inhibition of root growth and decrease in antioxidant enzyme activities in the roots of M. cordata exposed to excess Zn. In total, this research provides evidence that the root of M. cordata has a high antioxidant capacity for Pb stress, so it can accumulate more Pb without oxidative damage. On the other hand, the Zn accumulated in the roots of M. cordata causes oxidative damage to the root tips, which can stimulate more Zn transport to the shoots to reduce the damage to the roots. This result will provide a basis for the application of M. cordata in the phytoremediation of soil polluted by Pb-Zn compounds.
Pollution Status, Source Apportionment, Ecological and Human Health Risks of Potentially (Eco)toxic Element-Laden Dusts from Urban Roads, Highways and Pedestrian Bridges in Uganda
Authors: Opolot Mark , Omara Timothy , Adaku Christopher , Ntambi Emmanuel
Published: January 2023

The occurrence of potentially (eco)toxic elements (PTEs) in street, indoor and roadside dusts have been associated with potential human health risks. For the first time, the pollution levels of PTEs—copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr)—were investigated in 24 dust samples from eight selected sampling sites on urban roads, highways and pedestrian bridges constructed over River Manafwa, a flood-prone river in Eastern Uganda. Concentration of PTEs in the sample digests were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. Multivariate geostatistical (Pearson’s Correlation, Principal Components and Hierarchical Cluster) analyses were used to apportion sources of the contaminants. Contamination, ecological and human health assessment indices and models were employed to establish any potential risks the elements could pose to the environment and humans. The study revealed that there is severe PTE pollution of dusts from roads, highways and pedestrian bridges in Eastern Uganda when compared with their crustal averages, except for Cu, Ni and Cr. The mean concentrations (mg kg−1) of Cu (11.4–23.2), Ni (0.20–23.20), Mn (465.0–2630.0), Zn (26.8–199.0), Pb (185.0–244.0), Cd (0.178–1.994) and Cr (5.40–56.60) were highest in samples obtained near high-traffic areas. Source apportionment studies suggested that Cu, Ni, Mn and Cr are from combustion processes and vehicular traffic, whereas Pb, Zn and Cd came from traffic and geogenic contributions. Assessment using the pollution load index indicated that only dust from Zikoye–Bushika road, the junction of Zikoye–Bushika and Bududa–Manafwa roads and Manafwa town were substantially polluted as the indices were greater than 1. Further assessment of pollution degree of the dust samples using index of geo-accumulation revealed that the dusts were practically uncontaminated to medium-to-strongly contaminated. Health risk assessment showed that there are non-carcinogenic health risks that could emanate from direct ingestion of PTEs in dusts by children. This study therefore opens the lead for investigation of the contamination levels and the health risks of PTEs in dusts from industrial areas as well as busy Ugandan cities such as Kampala, Jinja, Mbarara and Gulu.
Effect of Salinity and Polycarboxylate Superplasticizer on Fresh Property of Seawater-Blended Cement
Authors: Ren Jun , Li Hao , Zhang Ji , Yan Shuo , Zhu Haiyan , Xu Shengye , Shi Shi , Mao Jianghong
Published: January 2023

The salinity of seawater can affect the properties of mixtures of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) and seawater. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of different salinities of water on the property of seawater-mixed cement slurry. Two PCE types with different side chain lengths and acid–ether ratios were used. Their physicochemical properties were explained by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), turbidimetry, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The performance of the PCEs was measured using slump, rheological energy, and solidification time. Finally, by measuring the adsorption volume, adsorption layer thickness, and water film thickness (WFT), the mechanisms involved in performance modification were studied. The results show that the workability and rheological performances of seawater-mixed cement paste are decreased by increasing salinity. With the increase in salinity, the minislump of the seawater-blended cement pastes with two PCEs decreased from 285 mm to 120 mm and from 280 mm to 78 mm, respectively, and the thixotropic areas were increased from less than 2000 Pa/s to above 10,000 Pa/s. Moreover, the adsorption amount of the two PCEs in the cement mixed with high-salinity seawater decreased by 55.99% and 71.56%, respectively, and the thickness of the adsorption layer and water film was decreased with increasing salinity. Compared with the two PCEs, PCE with long side chains and a high acid–ether ratio provided better salt resistance.
Towards Highly Efficient Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Sensors in Humid and Wet Environments Using Triggerable-Polymer Metasurfaces
Authors: Danila Octavian , Gross Barry M.
Published: January 2023

We report simulations on a highly-sensitive class of metasurface-based nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas sensors, operating in the telecom C band around the 1550 nm line and exhibiting strong variations in terms of the reflection coefficient after assimilation of NO2 molecules. The unit architecture employs a polymer-based (polyvinylidene fluoride—PVDF or polyimide—PI) motif of either half-rings, rods, or disks having selected sizes and orientations, deposited on a gold substrate. On top of this, we add a layer of hydrophyllic polymer (POEGMA) functionalized with a NO2-responsive monomer (PAPUEMA), which is able to adsorb water molecules only in the presence of NO2 molecules. In this process, the POEGMA raises its hidrophyllicity, while not triggering a phase change in the bulk material, which, in turn, modifies its electrical properties. Contrary to absorption-based gas detection and electrical signal-based sensors, which experience considerable limitations in humid or wet environments, our method stands out by simple exploitation of the basic material properties of the functionalized polymer. The results show that NO2-triggered water molecule adsorption from humid and wet environments can be used in conjunction with our metasurface architecture in order to provide a highly-sensitive response in the desired spectral window. Additionally, instead of measuring the absorption spectrum of the NO2 gas, in which humidity counts as a parasitic effect due to spectral overlap, this method allows tuning to a desired wavelength at which the water molecules are transparent, by scaling the geometry and thicknesses of the layers to respond to a desired wavelength. All these advantages make our proposed sensor architecture an extremely-viable candidate for both biological and atmospheric NO2 gas-sensing applications.
Parametric Modeling and Optimization of Dimensional Error and Surface Roughness of Fused Deposition Modeling Printed Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Parts
Authors: Mishra Prithu , Sood Shruti , Bharadwaj Vipra , Aggarwal Aryan , Khanna Pradeep
Published: January 2023

Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) is a fused deposition modeling (FDM)-compatible material gaining popularity due to its high strength and durability, lower shrinkage with less warping, better recyclability and safer and easier printing. FDM, however, suffers from the drawbacks of limited dimensional accuracy and a poor surface finish. This study describes a first effort to identify printing settings that will overcome these limitations for PETG printing. It aims to understand the influence of print speed, layer thickness, extrusion temperature and raster width on the dimensional errors and surface finish of FDM-printed PETG parts and perform multi-objective parametric optimization to identify optimal settings for high-quality printing. The experiments were performed as per the central composite rotatable design and statistical models were developed using response surface methodology (RSM), whose adequacy was verified using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. Adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) models were also developed for response prediction, having a root mean square error of not more than 0.83. For the minimization of surface roughness and dimensional errors, multi-objective optimization using a hybrid RSM and NSGA-II algorithm suggested the following optimal input parameters: print speed = 50 mm/s, layer thickness = 0.1 mm, extrusion temperature = 230 °C and raster width = 0.6 mm. After experimental validation, the predictive performance of the ANFIS (mean percentage error of 9.33%) was found to be superior to that of RSM (mean percentage error of 12.31%).
Synthesis and Demulsification Properties of Poly (DMDAAC-co-DAMBAC) (9:1) Copolymer
Authors: Jia Xu , Qian Minghuan , Peng Wenhui , Xu Xiao , Zhang Yuejun , Zhao Xiaolei
Published: January 2023

Utilizing the copolymerization modification of dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), the high positive charge density of the copolymer could be maintained, thereby facilitating the deficiency of its monomer in the application. In this paper, poly (DMDAAC-co-DAMBAC) (9:1) was synthesized with an aqueous polymerization method using DMDAAC and methyl benzyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DAMBAC) as monomers and 2,2’-azobis [2-methylpropionamidine] dihydrochloride (V50) as an initiator. Targeted to the product’s weight-average relative molecular mass (Mw), the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the preparation process. The optimal process conditions were obtained as follows: w (M) = 80.0%, m (V50):m (M) = 0.00700%, m (Na4EDTA):m (M) = 0.00350%, T1 = 50.0 °C, T2 = 60.0 °C, and T3 = 72.5 °C. The intrinsic viscosity ([η]) of the product was 1.780 dL/g, and the corresponding double bond conversion (Conv.) was 90.25 %. Poly (DMDAAC-co-DAMBAC) (9:1) revealed a highest Mw of 5.637 × 105, together with the polydispersity index d (Mw/Mn) as 1.464. For the demulsification performance of simulated crude oil O/W emulsions, the demulsification rate of poly (DMDAAC-co-DAMBAC) (9:1) could reach 97.73%. Our study has illustrated that the copolymerization of DMDAAC and a small amount of DAMBAC with poor reactivity could significantly improve the relative molecular weight of the polymer, enhance its lipophilicity, and thus the application scope of the polymer.
Lignocellulose Biomass Liquefaction: Process and Applications Development as Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Bontaş Marius Gabriel , Diacon Aurel , Călinescu Ioan , Rusen Edina
Published: January 2023

One of the main strategies for sustainable human society progress is the development of efficient strategies to limit waste production and maximize renewable resource utilization. In this context, this review highlights the opportunity to transform vegetable biomass residues into valuable commercial products. Biomass conversion entails the depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass towards biopolyols and the synthesis and characterization of the valuable products obtained by using them. The influence of the reaction parameters in both acid and basic catalysis is highlighted, respectively the influence of microwaves on the liquefaction reaction versus conventional heating. Following the depolymerization reaction, polyols are employed to produce polyurethane foams. As a special characteristic, the addition of flame-retardant properties was emphasized. Another interesting topic is the biodegradability of these products, considering the negative consequences that waste accumulation has on the environment.
Limited Optimal Plastic Behavior of RC Beams Strengthened by Carbon Fiber Polymers Using Reliability-Based Design
Authors: Khaleel Ibrahim Sarah , Movahedi Rad Majid
Published: January 2023

The plastic behavior of strengthened haunched beams utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) was investigated using a probabilistic design that took into account random concrete properties, CFRP properties, and complementary strain energy values, with the reliability index serving as a limiting index, as the proposed method considers a novel method that deals with probabilistic parameters for models with limited plastic behavior designed based on the reliability index. The data used in this research were gathered and evaluated in a recent study on simply supported haunched beams reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymers. The purpose of this research was to use the reliability limitation index for simulated strengthened haunched beams by taking into account randomness in concrete and CFRP properties and the complementary strain energy value, which is considered a plastic behavior controller that provides an illustration of the damage amount within the reinforcement steel bars. The results indicate how randomness affects the behavior of the presented models, which are chosen to have different numbers of CFRP strips. The variable randomness affects load and deflection values where the reliability index value increases as the corresponding load value decrease, reflecting the increased probability of failure in models subjected to higher loading conditions, while tension concrete damage percentages are reflected in the damage pattern presented in the results, showing that as the produced load increases, so does the damage intensity. It is also obvious that the reliability index served as a limitation index while taking concrete characteristics and complementary strain energy as random variables.
Characterization and Analysis of Chitosan-Gelatin Composite-Based Biomaterial Effectivity as Local Hemostatic Agent: A Systematic Review
Authors: Herliana Heri , Yusuf Harmas Yazid , Laviana Avi , Wandawa Ganesha , Cahyanto Arief
Published: January 2023

Chitosan and gelatin were the most widely used natural materials in pharmaceutical and medical fields, especially as local hemostatic agents, independently or as a composite material with the addition of other active substances. Chitosan and gelatin have excellent properties in biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and water absorption capacity. The objective of this review was to analyze the characteristics of chitosan-gelatin (CG) composite-based biomaterial and its effectivity as a local hemostatic agent. We used PRISMA guidelines and the PICO framework to compile this review. The findings demonstrated that the CG composite-based biomaterial had excellent physical, chemical, mechanical properties and local hemostatic agent activity by adding other active substances such as oxidized fibers (OF), silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), calcium (Ca) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) or by setting the CG composite proportion ratio.
Service Composition and Optimal Selection of Low-Carbon Cloud Manufacturing Based on NSGA-II-SA Algorithm
Authors: Chen Chen , Yu Junjie , Lu Jingyu , Su Xuan , Zhang Jian , Feng Chen , Ji Weixi
Published: January 2023

As a new model of networked manufacturing services, cloud manufacturing (CMfg) aims to allocate enterprise manufacturing resources, realize rational utilization of manufacturing resources, and adapt to increasingly complex user needs. However, previous studies on service composition and optimal selection (SCOS) in CMfg environments do not incorporate carbon emissions into the quality of service (QoS) evaluation indicators. Therefore, a SCOS model for CMfg under a low-carbon environment is firstly proposed in this paper. Secondly, based on the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) algorithm, a hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, named the NSGA-II-SA algorithm, is proposed to solve the model and obtain the Pareto optimal solution set. Then, an algorithm result optimization strategy combining subjective and objective is proposed to filter the Pareto optimal solution set, so as to make the final decision. Finally, taking natural gas cylinder head production as an example, the proposed algorithm is compared with other algorithms, and the results show that the proposed algorithm can obtain more non-dominated solutions, and the quality of the solutions in the four dimensions is better than the other. Therefore, it is proved that the proposed algorithm has better comprehensive performance in SCOS under a low-carbon environment.
Random-Enabled Hidden Moving Target Defense against False Data Injection Alert Attackers
Authors: Liu Bo , Wu Hongyu , Yang Qihui , Zhang Hang
Published: January 2023

Hidden moving target defense (HMTD) is a proactive defense strategy that is kept hidden from attackers by changing the reactance of transmission lines to thwart false data injection (FDI) attacks. However, alert attackers with strong capabilities pose additional risks to the HMTD and thus, it is much-needed to evaluate the hiddenness of the HMTD. This paper first summarizes two existing alert attacker models, i.e., bad-data-detection-based alert attackers and data-driven alert attackers. Furthermore, this paper proposes a novel model-based alert attacker model that uses the MTD operation models to estimate the dispatched line reactance. The proposed attacker model can use the estimated line reactance to construct stealthy FDI attacks against HMTD methods that lack randomness. We propose a novel random-enabled HMTD (RHMTD) operation method, which utilizes random weights to introduce randomness and uses the derived hiddenness operation conditions as constraints. RHMTD is theoretically proven to be kept hidden from three alert attacker models. In addition, we analyze the detection effectiveness of the RHMTD against three alert attacker models. Simulation results on the IEEE 14-bus systems show that traditional HMTD methods fail to detect attacks by the model-based alert attacker, and RHMTD is kept hidden from three alert attackers and is effective in detecting attacks by three alert attackers.
Case Study on Pre-Splitting Blasting Reasonable Parameters of Goaf-Side Entry Retained by Roof Cutting for Hard Main Roof
Authors: Zhu Hengzhong , Wang Huajun
Published: January 2023

The key parameters of pressure relief pre-splitting blasting technology (PRPBT) contribute to the implementation effect of goaf-side entry by roof cutting (GSERC). This study is an attempt to design the key parameters including the roof cutting height, the roof cutting angle, the spacing between blasting boreholes, the charge structure and the sealing length by using theoretical analysis, numerical simulation and field implementation. The basic quality index of the main roof is 666.27, and combined with the peeping observation result, the main roof belongs to the category of a hard main roof. Different from a weakened roof and a compound roof, the unreasonable parameters of the PRPBT for the hard main roof lead to three problems including an insufficient pre-splitting blasting effect, roof suspension in the goaf and serious damage to the rock mass for the roof cutting rib. The PRPBT effect is closely related to key parameters, including the roof cutting parameters and the pre-splitting blasting parameters. Hence, to solve those three problems, a new design strategy was proposed based on the optimized directions of increasing the roof cutting height, decreasing the spacing between the blasting boreholes, changing the charge structure and adjusting the sealing length. According to the results of the theoretical calculation, numerical simulation and in situ measurement, the roof cutting height, the roof cutting angle, the spaced distance between the blasting boreholes, the charge structure and the sealing length were determined as 10 m, 15°, 500 mm, 4 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 2 and 2.4 m, respectively. The fissure rate was proposed to assess the developed effect of different pre-splitting blasting schemes. The proposed design strategy achieved a better effect of pre-splitting blasting for the entry, and eliminated the roof suspension of the hard main roof in the goaf. The design strategy in this study could contribute to other similar coal mines under the condition of a hard main roof.
Single-Step Fabrication of a Dual-Sensitive Chitosan Hydrogel by C-Mannich Reaction: Synthesis, Physicochemical Properties, and Screening of its Cu2+ Uptake
Authors: Romal John Rey Apostol , Ong Say Kee
Published: January 2023

Uncovering the value of waste materials is one of the keys to sustainability. In this current work, valorization of chitosan was pursued to fabricate a novel modified chitosan functional hydrogel using a process-efficient protocol. The fabrication proceeds by a one-pot and single-step C-Mannich condensation of chitosan (3% w/v), glutaraldehyde (20 eq.), and 4-hydroxycoumarin (40 eq.) at 22 °C in 3% v/v acetic acid. The Mannich base modified chitosan hydrogel (CS-MB) exhibits a dual-responsive swelling behavior in response to pH and temperature that has not been observed in any other hydrogel systems. Combining the pre-defined optimal swelling pH (pH = 4) and temperature (T = 22 °C), the CS-MB was screened for its Cu2+ adsorption capacity at this condition. The CS-MB achieved an optimal adsorption capacity of 12.0 mg/g with 1.2 g/L adsorbent dosage after 36 h with agitation. The adsorption of Cu2+ on the surface of CS-MB was verified by EDS, and an overview of the adsorption sites was exhibited by FT-IR. The simply fabricated novel CS-MB hydrogel under investigation presents a unique response to external stimuli that exhibits a promise in heavy metal removal from aqueous media.
Influence of Loading Rate on the Cohesive Traction for Soft, Rubber-Like Adhesive Layers Loaded in Modes I and III
Authors: Schrader Peer , Domladovac Dennis , Marzi Stephan
Published: January 2023

To date, the fracture behaviour of soft, polyurethane-based adhesive joints has rarely been investigated. This work contributes to the experimental investigation of such joints in modes I and III by performing double cantilever beam (mode I) and out-of-plane loaded double cantilever beam (mode III) tests at various loading rates. The tests were evaluated using a J-integral method, which is well established for testing stiff adhesive layers and is conventionally used to determine the cohesive traction at the crack tip. Additionally, fibre-optics measurements were conducted to provide crack extension, process zone length, and cohesive traction from the measured backface strain of the adherends. It was found that the energy release rate seems to be largely independent of the loading mode. However, differences were observed regarding process zone length and resistance curve behaviour. Furthermore, the backface strain measurement allows the determination of the cohesive traction along with the complete adhesive layer as well as separation and separation rate, yielding rate-dependent cohesive laws. A comparison indicated that the cohesive traction obtained from the J-integral method does not match the measured benchmark from the backface strain measurements because the underlying theoretical assumptions of the J-integral method are likely violated for soft, rubber-like adhesive joints.
New Perspective on Comparative Chemometric and Molecular Modeling of Antifungal Activity and Herbicidal Potential of Alkyl and Cycloalkyl s-Triazine Derivatives
Authors: Salaković Benjamin , Kovačević Strahinja , Karadžić Banjac Milica , Podunavac-Kuzmanović Sanja , Jevrić Lidija , Pajčin Ivana , Grahovac Jovana
Published: January 2023

The contamination of the environment by pesticides is becoming a burning issue in many countries in the World. Development, design, and synthesis of new eco-friendly pesticides and modification of existing ones in order to improve their efficacy with the lowest impact on the environment are two main future possibilities in crop protection and the provision of sufficient food for the growing world population. The present study is focused on the comparative analysis of a series of eight symmetrical triazine derivatives, as potential herbicide candidates with acyclic (alkyl) and cyclic (cycloalkyl) substituents, in terms of their antifungal activity towards Aspergillus flavus as an opportunistic fungal pathogenic microorganism responsible for frequent contaminations of crops with aflatoxin, and in terms of their potential application as herbicides in maize, common wheat, barley, and rice crops. The applied methods include the chemometric pattern recognition method (hierarchical cluster analysis), experimental microbiological analysis of antifungal activity (agar well-diffusion method), and molecular docking of the triazines in the corresponding enzymes. The main findings of the conducted study indicate the significant antifungal activity of the studied triazine derivatives towards A. flavus, particularly the compounds with acyclic substituents; five out of eight studied triazines could be applied as systematic herbicides, while the other three triazines could be used as contact herbicides; the compounds with acyclic substituents could be more suitable for application for various crops protection than triazines with cyclic substituents.
Planting Age Identification and Yield Prediction of Apple Orchard Using Time-Series Spectral Endmember and Logistic Growth Model
Authors: Gao Xiang , Han Wenchao , Hu Qiyuan , Qin Yuting , Wang Sijia , Lun Fei , Sun Jing , Wu Jiechen , Xiao Xiao , Lan Yang , Li Hong
Published: January 2023

In response to significant shifts in dietary and lifestyle preferences, the global demand for fruits has increased dramatically, especially for apples, which are consumed worldwide. Growing apple orchards of more productive and higher quality with limited land resources is the way forward. Precise planting age identification and yield prediction are indispensable for the apple market in terms of sustainable supply, price regulation, and planting management. The planting age of apple trees significantly determines productivity, quality, and yield. Therefore, we integrated the time-series spectral endmember and logistic growth model (LGM) to accurately identify the planting age of apple orchard, and we conducted planting age-driven yield prediction using a neural network model. Firstly, we fitted the time-series spectral endmember of green photosynthetic vegetation (GV) with the LGM. By using the four-points method, the environmental carrying capacity (ECC) in the LGM was available, which serves as a crucial parameter to determine the planting age. Secondly, we combined annual planting age with historical apple yield to train the back propagation (BP) neural network model and obtained the predicted apple yields for 12 counties. The results show that the LGM method can accurately estimate the orchard planting age, with Mean Absolute Error (MAE) being 1.76 and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) being 2.24. The strong correlation between orchard planting age and apple yield was proved. The results of planting age-driven yield prediction have high accuracy, with the MAE up to 2.95% and the RMSE up to 3.71%. This study provides a novel method to accurately estimate apple orchard planting age and yields, which can support policy formulation and orchard planning in the future.
Joint Radar and Communications Waveform Design Based on Complementary Sequence Sets
Authors: Li Haichuan , Liu Yongjun , Liao Guisheng , Chen Yufeng
Published: January 2023

The joint radar and communications (JRC) waveform often has a high range sidelobe, which will degrade the target detection performance of an automotive JRC system. To solve this problem, a joint radar and communications complementary waveform group (JRC-CWG) design method is proposed in this paper by exploiting the philosophy of the complementary sequence. In the JRC-CWG, the traditional unimodular communications waveforms, such as the binary phase shift keying (BPSK) waveform, are used to perform the communications function. The sum of the autocorrelation function (SACF) of JRC-CWG is optimized to minimize the sidelobe level. Furthermore, considering that the JRC-CWG has poor Doppler resilience, a Doppler-resilient joint radar and communications complementary waveform (DR-JRC-CWG) design method is proposed to improve the Doppler resilience. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed JRC-CWG and DR-JRC-CWG have superior radar performances without the degradation in communications performance in terms of the bit error rate (BER).
A Bi-Temporal-Feature-Difference- and Object-Based Method for Mapping Rice-Crayfish Fields in Sihong, China
Authors: Ma Siqi , Wang Danyang , Yang Haichao , Hou Huagang , Li Cheng , Li Zhaofu
Published: January 2023

Rice-crayfish field (i.e., RCF) distribution mapping is crucial for the adjustment of the local crop cultivation structure and agricultural development. The single-temporal images of two phenological periods in the year were classified separately, and then the areas where the water disappeared were identified as RCFs in previous studies. However, due to the differences in the segmentation of lakes and rivers between the two images, the incorrect extraction of RCFs is unavoidable. To solve this problem, a bi-temporal-feature-difference-coupling object-based (BTFDOB) algorithm was proposed in order to map RCFs in Sihong County. We mapped RCFs by segmenting the bi-temporal images simultaneously based on the object-based method and selecting appropriate feature differences as the classification features. To evaluate the applicability, the classification results of the previous two years obtained using the single-temporal- and object-based (STOB) method were compared with the results of the BTFDOB method. The results suggested that spectral feature differences showed high feature importance, which could effectively distinguish the RCFs from non-RCFs. Our method worked well, with an overall accuracy (OA) of 96.77%. Compared with the STOB method, OA was improved by up to 2.18% across three years of data. The RCFs were concentrated in the low-lying eastern and southern regions, and the cultivation scale was expanded in Sihong. These findings indicate that the BTFDOB method can accurately identify RCFs, providing scientific support for the dynamic monitoring and rational management of the pattern.
Local Adaptive Illumination-Driven Input-Level Fusion for Infrared and Visible Object Detection
Authors: Wu Jiawen , Shen Tao , Wang Qingwang , Tao Zhimin , Zeng Kai , Song Jian
Published: January 2023

Remote sensing object detection based on the combination of infrared and visible images can effectively adapt to the around-the-clock and changeable illumination conditions. However, most of the existing infrared and visible object detection networks need two backbone networks to extract the features of two modalities, respectively. Compared with the single modality detection network, this greatly increases the amount of calculation, which limits its real-time processing on the vehicle and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms. Therefore, this paper proposes a local adaptive illumination-driven input-level fusion module (LAIIFusion). The previous methods for illumination perception only focus on the global illumination, ignoring the local differences. In this regard, we design a new illumination perception submodule, and newly define the value of illumination. With more accurate area selection and label design, the module can more effectively perceive the scene illumination condition. In addition, aiming at the problem of incomplete alignment between infrared and visible images, a submodule is designed for the rapid estimation of slight shifts. The experimental results show that the single modality detection algorithm based on LAIIFusion can ensure a large improvement in accuracy with a small loss of speed. On the DroneVehicle dataset, our module combined with YOLOv5L could achieve the best performance.
Expansion of Eucalyptus Plantation on Fertile Cultivated Lands in the North-Western Highlands of Ethiopia
Authors: Molla Gashaw , Addisie Meseret B. , Ayele Gebiaw T.
Published: January 2023

Converting fertile, cultivated land into Eucalyptus plantations has become a common practice in Ethiopia. Integrating geospatial techniques with socio-economic data analysis can be a useful method to evaluate the expansion of Eucalyptus and its underlying factors. The objective of this study is to detect the spatio-temporal patterns and main factors contributing to Eucalyptus expansion in the Mecha district of Ethiopia. To quantify the spatial extents of Eucalyptus plantations, the study employed Landsat images from 1991 to 2021 with supervised image classification in ERDAS Imagine 2015. In addition, 120 households were chosen using random sampling technique to incorporate socioeconomic factors related to Eucalyptus expansion. The result shows that, Eucalyptus plantations expanded significantly across the study area during the last three decades. Eucalyptus plantation covered 908.87 ha, 3719.05 ha, and 26261.9 ha in 1991, 2006, and 2021, respectively. The increment was mostly at the expense of fertile cultivated land use. The main reasons for its expansion are linked with farmer’s expectations of a better source of income, apprehension about the detrimental effects on nearby cropland, and its affordable production cost. In conclusion, the study area faces challenges from the uncontrolled expansion of Eucalyptus plantations on productive lands. Therefore, careful management and intervention strategies should be established to manage its rapid expansion.