bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Nutritious Are French Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) from the Citizen Science Experiment?
Authors: Sinkovič Lovro , Blažica Vanja , Blažica Bojan , Meglič Vladimir , Pipan Barbara
Published: January 2024

French beans are tender, immature, edible pods that are harvested early in the plant’s growth cycle and are usually eaten cooked. The growth habits of French beans were studied for the first time in a Citizen Science experiment, and 19 pod samples were collected for further nutritional analysis. Various macronutrients (e.g., protein, ash, fat, carbohydrates, amino acids) and multi-element profiles were determined. A survey of their growing habits revealed that beans are usually planted once or twice a year in May and June at a length of 5–10 m, with a predominance of dwarf beans cultivation over climbing varieties, and pest resistance and stringless pods are the most important characteristics when deciding on a bean. Homogenised freeze-dried pod samples contained 16.1–23.1% protein, 4.5–8.2% ash, 0.1–1.1% fat, and 62.0–70.6% carbohydrates and had a caloric value of 337–363 kcal/100 g. Of the 17 free amino acids identified, 8 were essential (histidine, threonine, methionine, valine, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine) and 9 were non-essential (cysteine, aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, arginine, alanine, proline, tyrosine); meanwhile, of the 12 elements, 5 were macroelements and 7 were microelements. The predominant free amino acids were aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and serine. In the multiple comparisons (Box and Whisker plot), the parameters caloric value and iron showed the strongest response. A very strong positive significant Pearson correlation (≥0.95) was found for five pairs of variables within the free amino acids. Comparison of the nutrient data obtained in the pods showed near-perfect or high complementarity (85.2–103.4%) with the food composition databases for half of the parameters, suggesting that the home-grown French beans from the Citizen Science experiment are a highly nutritious vegetable.
Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity Comparison of Wild-Type and Yellow-Leaf gl1 Mutant of Lagerstroemia indica
Authors: Li Sumei , Yin Min , Wang Peng , Gao Lulu , Lv Fenni , Yang Rutong , Li Ya , Wang Qing , Li Linfang , Liu Yongdong , Wang Shuan
Published: January 2024

Background: The yellow-leaf gl1 mutant of Lagerstroemia indica exhibits an altered phenylpropanoid metabolism pathway compared to wild-type (WT). However, details on the metabolites associated with leaf color variation, including color-specific metabolites with bioactive constituents, are not fully understood. Methods: Chemical and metabolomics approaches were used to compare metabolite composition and antioxidant capacity between the gl1 mutant and WT leaves. Results: The mutant exhibited an irregular xylem structure with a significantly lower phenolic polymer lignin content and higher soluble phenolic compounds. Untargeted metabolomics analysis identified phenolic compounds, particularly lignans, as key differential metabolites between gl1 and WT, with a significant increase in the mutant. The neolignan derivative balanophonin-4-O-D-glu was identified as a characteristic metabolite in the gl1 mutant. The soluble phenolic compounds of the gl1 mutant exhibited higher FRAP, ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity than in WT. Correlation analysis showed a positive relationship between antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds in L. indica. Conclusions: Metabolites associated with leaf color variation in the L. indica yellow-leaf gl1 mutant demonstrated high antioxidant capacity, particularly in scavenging hydroxyl radicals.
Exogenous Spermidine and Amino-Ethoxyvinylglycine Improve Nutritional Quality via Increasing Amino Acids in Rice Grains
Authors: Liu Ying , Jiang Yi , Zhong Xiaohan , Li Chaoqing , Xu Yunji , Zhu Kuanyu , Wang Weilu , Gu Junfei , Zhang Hao , Wang Zhiqin , Liu Lijun , Zhang Jianhua , Zhang Weiyang , Yang Jianchang
Published: January 2024

Polyamines and ethylene are key regulators of the growth and development, quality formation, and stress response of cereal crops such as rice. However, it remains unclear whether the application of these regulators could improve the nutritional quality via increasing amino acids in rice grains. This study examined the role of exogenous polyamines and ethylene in regulating amino acid levels in the milled rice of earlier-flowered superior grain (SG) and later-flowered inferior grain (IG). Two rice varieties were field grown, and either 1 mmol L−1 spermidine (Spd) or 50 μmol L−1 amino-ethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) was applied to panicles at the early grain-filling stage. The control check (CK) was applied with deionized water. The results showed that the Spd or AVG applications significantly increased polyamine (spermine (Spm) and Spd) contents and decreased ethylene levels in both SG and IG and significantly increased amino acid levels in the milled rice of SG and IG relative to the CK. Collectively, the application of Spd or AVG can increase amino acid-based nutritional quality and grain yield via increasing polyamine (Spm and Spd) contents and reducing ethylene levels in both SG and IG of rice.
Allelopathy and Identification of Volatile Components from the Roots and Aerial Parts of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge
Authors: Wang Xiu , Liu Yaqi , Peng Na , Yu Haitao , Ma Yu , Zhang Mingxin , Wang Yaoyao , Wang Yi , Gao Weiwei
Published: January 2024

The volatile compounds produced by plants play an important role in plant growth, plant communication, and resistance to biological and abiotic stresses. Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (AM) is a perennial herbaceous plant (Leguminosae) that is widely cultivated in northwest China. The bioactive compounds in its root have shown various pharmacological activities. Root rot disease caused by Fusarium spp. often occurs in AM planting with increasing severity in continuous monoculture. It is currently still unclear what are the effects of the volatile compounds produced by fresh AM on itself, other crops cultivated on the same field after AM, pathogen, and rhizobia. In this study, we found that seed germination and seedling growth of AM, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) could be affected if they were in an enclosed space with fresh AM tissue. Additionally, 90 volatile compounds were identified by SPME-GC-MS from whole AM plant during the vegetative growth, 36 of which were specific to aerial parts of AM (stems and leaves, AMA), 17 to roots (AMR), and 37 were found in both AMA and AMR. To further identify the allelopathic effects of these volatile compounds, five compounds (1-hexanol, (E)-2-hexenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, hexanal, and eugenol) with relatively high content in AM were tested on three receptor plants and two microorganisms. We found that (E,E)-2,4-decadienal and (E)-2-hexenal showed significant inhibitory effects on the growth of AM and lettuce. One-hexanol and hexanal suppressed the growth of wheat, while eugenol showed a similar effect on all three plant species. Moreover, the activities of these compounds were dose dependent. Notably, we discovered that (E)-2-hexenal and eugenol also inhibited the growth of the pathogen Fusarium solani by as high as 100%. Meanwhile, all five compounds tested suppressed the rhizobia Sinorhizobium fredii. In summary, this study furthered our understanding of the comprehensive allelopathic effects of the main volatile components of AM.
Nematocidal Potential of Phenolic Acids: A Phytochemical Seed-Coating Approach to Soybean Cyst Nematode Management
Authors: Yates Ping , Janiol Juddy , Li Changbao , Song Bao-Hua
Published: January 2024

Soybeans, one of the most valuable crops worldwide, are annually decimated by the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, resulting in massive losses in soybean yields and economic revenue. Conventional agricultural pesticides are generally effective in the short term; however, they pose growing threats to human and environmental health; therefore, alternative SCN management strategies are urgently needed. Preliminary findings show that phenolic acids are significantly induced during SCN infection and exhibit effective nematocidal activities in vitro. However, it is unclear whether these effects occur in planta or elicit any negative effects on plant growth traits. Here, we employed a phytochemical-based seed coating application on soybean seeds using phenolic acid derivatives (4HBD; 2,3DHBA) at variable concentrations and examined SCN inhibition against two SCN types. Moreover, we also examined plant growth traits under non-infected or SCN infected conditions. Notably, 2,3DHBA significantly inhibited SCN abundance in Race 2-infected plants with increasingly higher chemical doses. Interestingly, neither compound negatively affected soybean growth traits in control or SCN-infected plants. Our findings suggest that a phytochemical-based approach could offer an effective, more environmentally friendly solution to facilitate current SCN management strategies and fast-track the development of biopesticides to sustainably manage devastating pests such as SCN.
NPF and NRT2 from Pisum sativum Potentially Involved in Nodule Functioning: Lessons from Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus
Authors: Morère-Le Paven Marie-Christine , Clochard Thibault , Limami Anis M.
Published: January 2024

In addition to absorbing nitrogen from the soil, legumes have the ability to use atmospheric N2 through symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Therefore, legumes have developed mechanisms regulating nodulation in response to the amount of nitrate in the soil; in the presence of high nitrate concentrations, nodulation is inhibited, while low nitrate concentrations stimulate nodulation and nitrogen fixation. This allows the legumes to switch from soil nitrogen acquisition to symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Recently, particular interest has been given to the nitrate transporters, such as Nitrate Transporter1/Peptide transporter Family (NPF) and Nitrate Transporter 2 (NRT2), having a role in the functioning of nodules. Nitrate transporters of the two model plants, Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula, shown to have a positive and/or a negative role in nodule functioning depending on nitrate concentration, are presented in this article. In particular, the following transporters were thoroughly studied: (i) members of NPF transporters family, such as LjNPF8.6 and LjNPF3.1 in L. japonicus and MtNPF1.7 and MtNPF7.6 in M. truncatula, and (ii) members of NRT2 transporters family, such as LjNRT2.4 and LjNRT2.1 in L. japonicus and MtNRT2.1 in M. truncatula. Also, by exploiting available genomic and transcriptomic data in the literature, we have identified the complete PsNPF family in Pisum sativum (69 sequences previously described and 21 new that we have annotated) and putative nitrate transporters candidate for playing a role in nodule functioning in P. sativum.
Recent Advances in the Specialized Metabolites Mediating Resistance to Insect Pests and Pathogens in Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis)
Authors: Zhang Jin , Yu Yongchen , Qian Xiaona , Zhang Xin , Li Xiwang , Sun Xiaoling
Published: January 2024

Tea is the second most popular nonalcoholic beverage consumed in the world, made from the buds and young leaves of the tea plants (Camellia sinensis). Tea trees, perennial evergreen plants, contain abundant specialized metabolites and suffer from severe herbivore and pathogen attacks in nature. Thus, there has been considerable attention focusing on investigating the precise function of specialized metabolites in plant resistance against pests and diseases. In this review, firstly, the responses of specialized metabolites (including phytohormones, volatile compounds, flavonoids, caffeine, and L-theanine) to different attacks by pests and pathogens were compared. Secondly, research progress on the defensive functions and action modes of specialized metabolites, along with the intrinsic molecular mechanisms in tea plants, was summarized. Finally, the critical questions about specialized metabolites were proposed for better future research on phytohormone-dependent biosynthesis, the characteristics of defense responses to different stresses, and molecular mechanisms. This review provides an update on the biological functions of specialized metabolites of tea plants in defense against two pests and two pathogens.
Codon Optimization Enables the Geneticin Resistance Gene to Be Applied Efficiently to the Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Tang Maoyao , Wang Yangyizhou , Wang Kexin , Zhou Yuanhang , Zhao Enshuang , Zhang Hao , Zhang Mingzhe , Yu Hang , Zhao Xi , Li Guihua
Published: January 2024

Botrytis cinerea can infect almost all of the important horticultural crops and cause severe economic losses globally every year. Modifying candidate genes and studying the phenotypic changes are among the most effective ways to unravel the pathogenic mechanism of this crop killer. However, few effective positive selection markers are used for B. cinerea genetic transformation, which limits multiple modifications to the genome, especially genes involving redundant functions. Here, we optimized a geneticin resistance gene, BcNPTII, based on the codon usage preference of B. cinerea. We found that BcNPTII can greatly increase the transformation efficiency of B. cinerea under G418 selection, with approximately 30 times higher efficiency than that of NPTII, which is applied efficiently to transform Magnaporthe oryzae. Using the gene replacement method, we successfully knocked out the second gene BOT2, with BcNPTII as the selection marker, from the mutant ΔoahA, in which OAHA was first replaced by the hygromycin resistance gene HPH in a field strain. We obtained the double knockout mutant ΔoahA Δbot2. Our data show that the codon-optimized BcNPTII is an efficient positive selection marker for B. cinerea transformation and can be used for various genetic manipulations in B. cinerea, including field wild-type strains.
Physiological Mechanism through Which Al Toxicity Inhibits Peanut Root Growth
Authors: Shi Jianning , Zhao Min , Zhang Feng , Feng Didi , Yang Shaoxia , Xue Yingbin , Liu Ying
Published: January 2024

Al (Aluminum) poisoning is a significant limitation to crop yield in acid soil. However, the physiological process involved in the peanut root response to Al poisoning has not been clarified yet and requires further research. In order to investigate the influence of Al toxicity stress on peanut roots, this study employed various methods, including root phenotype analysis, scanning of the root, measuring the physical response indices of the root, measurement of the hormone level in the root, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). This research aimed to explore the physiological mechanism underlying the reaction of peanut roots to Al toxicity. The findings revealed that Al poisoning inhibits the development of peanut roots, resulting in reduced biomass, length, surface area, and volume. Al also significantly affects antioxidant oxidase activity and proline and malondialdehyde contents in peanut roots. Furthermore, Al toxicity led to increased accumulations of Al and Fe in peanut roots, while the contents of zinc (Zn), cuprum (Cu), manganese (Mn), kalium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) decreased. The hormone content and related gene expression in peanut roots also exhibited significant changes. High concentrations of Al trigger cellular defense mechanisms, resulting in differentially expressed antioxidase genes and enhanced activity of antioxidases to eliminate excessive ROS (reactive oxygen species). Additionally, the differential expression of hormone-related genes in a high-Al environment affects plant hormones, ultimately leading to various negative effects, for example, decreased biomass of roots and hindered root development. The purpose of this study was to explore the physiological response mechanism of peanut roots subjected to aluminum toxicity stress, and the findings of this research will provide a basis for cultivating Al-resistant peanut varieties.
Influence of β-Ionone in the Phytotoxicity of the Rhizome of Iris pallida Lam
Authors: Sothearith Yourk , Appiah Kwame Sarpong , Sophea Chhin , Smith Jady , Samal Say , Motobayashi Takashi , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: January 2024

Iris pallida Lam., also known as Sweetie Iris, is a perennial ornamental and medicinal plant that produces a wide range of secondary metabolites. The Sweetie Iris was recently reported to have high allelopathic properties with the potential to be explored in sustainable weed management. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the contributions of compounds involved in the inhibitory effects of the rhizome of Sweetie Iris. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine the content of β-ionone in the rhizome of Sweetie Iris. The phytotoxicity of β-ionone was evaluated on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and other test plants. The content of β-ionone in the crude extract of Sweetie Iris rhizome was found to be 20.0 mg g−1 by HPLC analysis. The phytotoxicity bioassay showed that β-ionone had strong inhibitory activity on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and the other test plants, including Taraxacum officinale, Stellaria media, Eleusine indica, Amaranthus hybridus, Vicia villosa, and Brassica napus. At a concentration of 23.0 µg mL−1, β-ionone inhibited the growth of all test plant species treated. Therefore, β-ionone is an active compound among the other allelopathic substances contained in the rhizome of Sweetie Iris.
Changes in Biologically Active Compounds in Pinus sylvestris Needles after Lymantria monacha Outbreaks and Treatment with Foray 76B
Authors: Čėsna Vytautas , Čėsnienė Ieva , Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė Vaida , Marčiulynienė Diana
Published: January 2024

Due to climate warming, the occurrence of Lymantria monacha outbreaks is predicted to become more frequent, causing repeated and severe damage to conifer trees. Currently, the most effective way to control the outbreaks is aerial spraying with the bioinsecticide Foray 76B. The present study aimed to determine the impact of both: (i) L. monacha outbreaks and (ii) treatment with Foray 76B on tree resistance through the synthesis of polyphenols (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and soluble sugars (TSS) in Pinus sylvestris needles. Samples were collected from visually healthy (control), damaged/untreated, and damaged/Foray 76B-treated plots in 2020 and 2021 (following year after the outbreaks). The results revealed that L. monacha outbreaks contributed to the increase in TPC by 34.1% in 2020 and 26.7% in 2021. TFC negatively correlated with TPC, resulting in 17.6% and 11.1% lower concentrations in L. monacha-damaged plots in 2020 and 2021, respectively. A decrease in MDA was found in the damaged plots in both 2020 and 2021 (10.2% and 23.3%, respectively), which was associated with the increased synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in 2021. The research results also showed that in the following year after the outbreaks, the increase in the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments was also affected by the treatment with Foray 76B. Moreover, the increase in the synthesis of TPC and photosynthetic pigments in the damaged plots in 2021 illustrates the ability of pines to keep an activated defense system to fight biotic stress. Meanwhile, a higher synthesis of photosynthetic pigments in Foray 76B-treated plots indicates a possible effect of the treatment on faster tree growth and forest recovery after L. monacha outbreaks.
A Study of PLA Thin Film on SS 316L Coronary Stents Using a Dip Coating Technique
Authors: Macías-Naranjo Mariana , Sánchez-Domínguez Margarita , Rubio-Valle J. F. , Rodríguez Ciro A. , Martín-Alfonso J. E. , García-López Erika , Vazquez-Lepe Elisa
Published: January 2024

The dip coating process is one of the recognized techniques used to generate polymeric coatings on stents in an easy and low-cost way. However, there is a lack of information about the influence of the process parameters of this technique on complex geometries such as stents. This paper studies the dip coating process parameters used to provide a uniform coating of PLA with a 4–10 µm thickness. A stainless-steel tube (AISI 316L) was laser-cut, electropolished, and dip-coated in a polylactic acid (PLA) solution whilst changing the process parameters. The samples were characterized to examine the coating’s uniformity, thickness, surface roughness, weight, and chemical composition. FTIR and Raman investigations indicated the presence of PLA on the stent’s surface, the chemical stability of PLA during the coating process, and the absence of residual chloroform in the coatings. Additionally, the water contact angle was measured to determine the hydrophilicity of the coating. Our results indicate that, when using entry and withdrawal speeds of 500 mm min−1 and a 15 s immersion time, a uniform coating thickness was achieved throughout the tube and in the stent with an average thickness of 7.8 µm.
Polysaccharide Composite Alginate–Pectin Hydrogels as a Basis for Developing Wound Healing Materials
Authors: Davydova Galina A. , Chaikov Leonid L. , Melnik Nikolay N. , Gainutdinov Radmir V. , Selezneva Irina I. , Perevedentseva Elena V. , Mahamadiev Muhriddin T. , Proskurin Vadim A. , Yakovsky Daniel S. , Mohan Aurel George , Rau Julietta V.
Published: January 2024

This article presents materials that highlight the bioengineering potential of polymeric systems of natural origin based on biodegradable polysaccharides, with applications in creating modern products for localized wound healing. Exploring the unique biological and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides offers a promising avenue for the atraumatic, controlled restoration of damaged tissues in extensive wounds. The study focused on alginate, pectin, and a hydrogel composed of their mixture in a 1:1 ratio. Atomic force microscopy data revealed that the two-component gel exhibits greater cohesion and is characterized by the presence of filament-like elements. The dynamic light scattering method indicated that this structural change results in a reduction in the damping of acoustic modes in the gel mixture compared to the component gels. Raman spectroscopy research on these gels revealed the emergence of new bonds between the components’ molecules, contributing to the observed effects. The biocompatibility of the gels was evaluated using dental pulp stem cells, demonstrating that all the gels exhibit biocompatibility.
Statistical Analysis of the Role of Cavity Flexibility in Thermostability of Proteins
Authors: Hong So Yeon , Yoon Jihyun , An Young Joo , Lee Siseon , Cha Haeng-Geun , Pandey Ashutosh , Yoo Young Je , Joo Jeong Chan
Published: January 2024

Conventional statistical investigations have primarily focused on the comparison of the simple one-dimensional characteristics of protein cavities, such as number, surface area, and volume. These studies have failed to discern the crucial distinctions in cavity properties between thermophilic and mesophilic proteins that contribute to protein thermostability. In this study, the significance of cavity properties, i.e., flexibility and location, in protein thermostability was investigated by comparing structural differences between homologous thermophilic and mesophilic proteins. Three dimensions of protein structure were categorized into three regions (core, boundary, and surface) and a comparative analysis of cavity properties using this structural index was conducted. The statistical analysis revealed that cavity flexibility is closely related to protein thermostability. The core cavities of thermophilic proteins were less flexible than those of mesophilic proteins (averaged B’ factor values, −0.6484 and −0.5111), which might be less deleterious to protein thermostability. Thermophilic proteins exhibited fewer cavities in the boundary and surface regions. Notably, cavities in mesophilic proteins, across all regions, exhibited greater flexibility than those in thermophilic proteins (>95% probability). The increased flexibility of cavities in the boundary and surface regions of mesophilic proteins, as opposed to thermophilic proteins, may compromise stability. Recent protein engineering investigations involving mesophilic xylanase and protease showed results consistent with the findings of this study, suggesting that the manipulation of flexible cavities in the surface region can enhance thermostability. Consequently, our findings suggest that a rational or computational approach to the design of flexible cavities in surface or boundary regions could serve as an effective strategy to enhance the thermostability of mesophilic proteins.
Durable Surface Modification of Low-Density Polyethylene/Nano-Silica Composite Films with Bacterial Antifouling and Liquid-Repelling Properties for Food Hygiene and Safety
Authors: Song Sang Ha , Bae Michael , Oh Jun Kyun
Published: January 2024

The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial strains has increased the demand for preventing biological deterioration on the surfaces of films used in applications involving food contact materials (FCMs). Herein, we prepared superhydrophobic film surfaces using a casting process that involved the combination of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with solutions containing surface energy-reducing silica (SRS). The bacterial antifouling properties of the modified film surfaces were evaluated using Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus epidermidis via the dip-inoculation technique. The reduction in bacterial populations on the LDPE film embedded with SRS was confirmed to be more than 2 log-units, which equates to over 99%, when compared to the bare LDPE film. Additionally, the modified film demonstrated liquid-repelling properties against food-related contaminants, such as blood, beverages, and sauces. Moreover, the modified film demonstrated enhanced durability and robustness compared to one of the prevalent industry methods, dip-coating. We anticipate that the developed LDPE/nano-silica composite film represents a promising advancement in the multidisciplinary aspects of food hygiene and safety within the food industry, particularly concerning FCMs.
Thermodynamics of the Glassy Polymer State: Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Aspects
Authors: Panayiotou Costas
Published: January 2024

This work examines, first, the non-equilibrium character of the glassy state of polymer systems and its significance in the development of novel materials for important technological applications. Subsequently, it summarizes the essentials of the generalized lattice fluid approach for the description of this highly complex non-equilibrium behavior with an approximate and simple, yet analytically powerful formalism. The working equations are derived in a straightforward and consistent manner by clearly defining the universal and specific variables needed to describe the discussed properties. The role of the non-random distribution of molecular species and free volume in the glassy system is also examined, as is the role of strong specific interactions, such as hydrogen-bonding networks. This work also reports examples of applications in a variety of representative systems, including glass densification, retrograde vitrification, increase in glass-transition temperature in hydrogen-bonded polymer mixtures, and hysteresis phenomena in sorption–desorption from glassy polymer matrices.
Preparation and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene with Alternating Lamellar Stems Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Hussain Mohammed Althaf , Yamamoto Takashi , Adil Syed Farooq , Yao Shigeru
Published: January 2024

Mechanical recycling is the most efficient way to reduce plastic pollution due to its ability to maintain the intrinsic properties of plastics as well as provide economic benefits involved in other types of recycling. On the other hand, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide key insights into structural deformation, lamellar crystalline axis (c-axis) orientations, and reorganization, which are essential for understanding plastic behavior during structural deformations. To simulate the influence of structural deformations in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) during mechanical recycling while paying attention to obtaining an alternate lamellar orientation, the authors examine a specific way of preparing stacked lamella-oriented HDPE united atom (UA) models, starting from a single 1000 UA (C1000) chain of crystalline conformations and then packing such chain conformations into 2-chain, 10-chain, 15-chain, and 20-chain semi-crystalline models. The 2-chain, 10-chain, and 15-chain models yielded HDPE microstructures with the desired alternating lamellar orientations and entangled amorphous segments. On the other hand, the 20-chain model displayed multi-nucleus crystal growth instead of the lamellar-stack orientation. Structural characterization using a one-dimensional density profile and local order parameter {P2(r)} analyses demonstrated lamellar-stack orientation formation. All semi-crystalline models displayed the total density (ρ) and degree of crystallinity (χ) range of 0.90–0.94 g/cm−3 and ≥42–45%, respectively. A notable stress yield (σ_yield) ≈ 100–120 MPa and a superior elongation at break (ε_break) ~250% was observed under uniaxial strain deformation along the lamellar-stack orientation. Similarly, during the MD simulations, the microstructure phase change represented the average number of entanglements per chain (). From the present study, it can be recommended that the 10-chain alternate lamellar-stack orientation model is the most reliable miniature model for HDPE that can mimic industrially relevant plastic behavior in various conditions.
Scribal Revelations in Ancient Judaism
Authors: Fröhlich Ida
Published: January 2024

Revelations, visions and their interpretations create in themselves authority. In early Jewish Aramaic tradition, however, this is increased by the role of writing. Enoch receives revelations of the secrets of heaven from heavenly tablets by the Holy Watchers. The Fallen Watchers teach the earthly women magic and sorcery from tablets stolen from the heaven. Scribalism in Second Temple period Judaism and Enoch is becoming more and more researched. As is known, Enoch has a Mesopotamian scholarly tradition behind it, which saw the movement of the celestial bodies as a heavenly writing, the transmission of the will of the gods. Enochic scribes had a good familiarity with the Mesopotamian scribal tradition that took place in the sanctuaries from the Persian period onwards and whose purpose was to record astronomical observations, write diaries, prepare astronomical tables and produce almanacs recording events. Scholarly texts were considered as “secret” or “exclusive” knowledge. The omen list Enūma Anu Enlil, based on a 360-day calendar, was the pinnacle of the scribal tradition and the basis of Mesopotamian astral magic. The Mesopotamian revelatory form in Enoch serves to assert the authority of a calendrical system of its own, the 364-day year and the Holy Watchers and other angelic beings who govern it. The scribal form of revelation is known in Daniel 7 (also in Aramaic), in which the books opened in heaven contain a revelation about the fate of the fourth empire. The book-revelation of cyclic and linear time is present together in the book of Jubilees, whose chronology is based on the 364-day year, and in which Enoch keeps a record of earthly events on heavenly tablets.
A Choral Meditation: Fusing Past and Present in the Sacred Music of Eoghan Desmond
Authors: Sheils Laura
Published: January 2024

Choral music and the sacred have been intertwined since the Middle Ages. With the increasing secularisation of society, it is notable that the sacred choral canon continues to expand and attract audiences in religious and secular spaces, underlining the enduring importance of tradition and the human desire to search for something beyond our existence. The practice of setting sacred texts to music abounds in the work of contemporary composers, continuing the historic tradition into the present day via a wide range of compositional and stylistic approaches. In his sacred works, Irish composer Eoghan Desmond achieves a sound that fuses the past and present, exhibiting both the visceral and meditative aspects associated with the texts that he sets. This article focuses on the composer’s choral work Nothing in Vain (2021), a setting of John Henry Newman’s ‘A Meditation on Trust in God’. Through critical score analysis, I highlight Desmond’s ability to reflect Newman’s devotion to God and to evoke a sense of the spiritual through his formal organisation and application of harmonic, rhythmic, and textural techniques, drawing on influences from the Renaissance tradition, the contemporary style of ambient music, and the work of well-known composer James MacMillan. Desmond’s synthesis of ancient and contemporary compositional practices invites all listeners to engage in this musical meditation and contemplate the message of the spiritual text.
A Standing Invitation to the Gods: Philosophy of Religion and the Phenomenology of the Sacred
Authors: Nordlander Andreas
Published: January 2024

Does philosophy of religion, specifically, have anything to contribute to the cultural debate about the modern crisis of meaning, and particularly to attempts at retrieving a sense of enchantment beyond human construction? Suggesting a methodological rapprochement between philosophy of religion and phenomenology, I explore a recent popular attempt to reenchant the world through a retrieval of the sacred: All Things Shining: Reading the Western Classics to Find Meaning in a Secular Age (2011) by Hubert Dreyfus and Sean Dorrance Kelly. Using their work as a foil, I discuss the relation between phenomenology and metaphysics in the experience of the sacred, specifically the possibility of a pluralism that is nonetheless realist; the necessity of social embeddedness and pedagogy in the constitution of sacred meaning; and finally, the problem of moral discrimination within this sphere. Through this critical discussion a constructive argument emerges: philosophy of religion done in a phenomenological mode has resources to address these difficult issues, and thus to explore experiences of the sacred in ways that are metaphysically sophisticated, attentive to historical tradition and pedagogy in the constitution of meaning, as well as to the need of communal moral deliberation in the sphere of the sacred.
One Hundred Years of Echoes: The Influence of the Jesuit Aleni on the Spiritual Life of the Manchu Prince Depei
Authors: Pan Dawei
Published: January 2024

This paper reveals the interweaving of three traditions—Christian, Manchu, and Han Chinese—in the work of an unduly neglected figure in early modern China, Aisin-Gioro Depei 愛新覺羅·德沛 (1688–1752), who was a Manchu prince, neo-Confucian philosopher, and likely, a hidden Christian. The analysis demonstrates that Depei developed a particular syncretic philosophy based on the rational theology that he learned from the works of a significant Jesuit missionary, Giulio Aleni (1582–1649, 艾儒略), notably Aleni’s Xingxue cushu 性學觕述 (A Brief Introduction to the Study of Human Nature). Using resources from Christian and Confucian traditions, Depei puts forward an approach, which marks the continuation of the cross-cultural interpretation movement launched by the missionaries since the late Ming.
Making It Matter: Hagiology in a 21st-Century Classroom
Authors: Hoel Nikolas O.
Published: January 2024

In the early twenty-first century, the humanities are facing attacks on their value. At the same time, colleges and universities in the United States are pressured to retain students as funding models have shifted and become more dependent on tuition dollars, at least in public institutions of higher education. The two go hand in hand because, in this environment, faculty members need to justify what they teach as being relevant to their students, and research has shown that students are more likely to thrive and strive when they see themselves in the curriculum. This is particularly true at Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving Institutions. This essay is based on the following question: how do we help students recognize that hagiological texts are relevant to them in a modern world in order to meet both aims? It provides the Life of Anskar as a case study to show that when hagiology is read and analyzed in the classroom in accordance with principles of culturally relevant pedagogy, through comparison and the co-creation of knowledge, the texts provide a way for students to better understand themselves, their world, and the possibility for social justice; in other words, they, the students, matter.
Analysis of Atmospheric Elements in Near Space Based on Meteorological-Rocket Soundings over the East China Sea
Authors: Song Yuyang , He Yang , Leng Hongze
Published: January 2024

As an important means of in situ detection in near space, meteorological rockets can provide a high-precision distribution analysis of atmospheric elements. However, there are currently few studies on the principles of meteorological-rocket detection and the application of rocket-sounding data. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by providing a detailed introduction to the detection principle of a meteorological rocket launched in the East China Sea in November 2022. Moreover, empirical models, satellite data, and reanalysis data were selected for comparison and verification with the rocket-sounding data. Furthermore, the accuracy of these widely used datasets was studied based on the rocket-sounding data in the near space over the East China Sea. Additionally, gravity-wave power–frequency spectra were extracted using the maximum entropy method from both the rocket-sounding data and the remote-sensing data. Furthermore, the relationship between gravity waves and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) was investigated by analyzing the gravity-wave energy and the Richardson number. The research findings indicate that among the remote-sensing data describing the atmospheric environment over the launch site, the COSMIC occultation data is more accurate compared with the SABER data. The wind-field distribution derived from rocket detection is consistent with the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis data, while also providing a more detailed description of the wind field. The main wavelengths of gravity waves extracted from rocket-sounding data are consistently smaller than those obtained from satellite remote-sensing data, indicating that rocket sounding is capable of capturing more intricate structures of gravity waves. The good correspondence between the peaks of gravity-wave energy and the regions where KHI occurs indicates that there is a strong interaction between gravity waves and KHI in the middle atmosphere.
An Off-Grid Compressive Sensing Algorithm Based on Sparse Bayesian Learning for RFPA Radar
Authors: Wang Ju , Shan Bingqi , Duan Song , Zhao Yi , Zhong Yi
Published: January 2024

In the application of Compressive Sensing (CS) theory for sidelobe suppression in Random Frequency and Pulse Repetition Interval Agile (RFPA) radar, the off−grid issues affect the performance of target parameter estimation in RFPA radar. Therefore, to address this issue, this paper presents an off−grid CS algorithm named Refinement and Generalized Double Pareto (GDP) distribution based on Sparse Bayesian Learning (RGDP−SBL) for RFPA radar that utilizes a coarse−to−fine grid refinement approach, allowing precise and cost−effective signal recovery while mitigating the impact of off−grid issues on target parameter estimation. To obtain a high-precision signal recovery, especially in scenarios involving closely spaced targets, the RGDP−SBL algorithm makes use of a three−level hierarchical prior model. Furthermore, the RGDP−SBL algorithm efficiently utilizes diagonal elements during the coarse search and exploits the convexity of the grid energy curve during the fine search, therefore significantly reducing computational complexity. Simulation results demonstrate that the RGDP−SBL algorithm significantly improves signal recovery performance while maintaining low computational complexity in multiple scenarios for RFPA radar.
A Spatial–Spectral Transformer for Hyperspectral Image Classification Based on Global Dependencies of Multi-Scale Features
Authors: Ma Yunxuan , Lan Yan , Xie Yakun , Yu Lanxin , Chen Chen , Wu Yusong , Dai Xiaoai
Published: January 2024

Vision transformers (ViTs) are increasingly utilized for HSI classification due to their outstanding performance. However, ViTs encounter challenges in capturing global dependencies among objects of varying sizes, and fail to effectively exploit the spatial–spectral information inherent in HSI. In response to this limitation, we propose a novel solution: the multi-scale spatial–spectral transformer (MSST). Within the MSST framework, we introduce a spatial–spectral token generator (SSTG) and a token fusion self-attention (TFSA) module. Serving as the feature extractor for the MSST, the SSTG incorporates a dual-branch multi-dimensional convolutional structure, enabling the extraction of semantic characteristics that encompass spatial–spectral information from HSI and subsequently tokenizing them. TFSA is a multi-head attention module with the ability to encode attention to features across various scales. We integrated TFSA with cross-covariance attention (CCA) to construct the transformer encoder (TE) for the MSST. Utilizing this TE to perform attention modeling on tokens derived from the SSTG, the network effectively simulates global dependencies among multi-scale features in the data, concurrently making optimal use of spatial–spectral information in HSI. Finally, the output of the TE is fed into a linear mapping layer to obtain the classification results. Experiments conducted on three popular public datasets demonstrate that the MSST method achieved higher classification accuracy compared to state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods.
Dual-Interference Channels Static Fourier Transform Imaging Spectrometer Based on Stepped Micro-Mirror: Data Processing and Experiment Research
Authors: Liu Guohao , Liang Jingqiu , Lv Jinguang , Zhao Baixuan , Zhao Yingze , Zheng Kaifeng , Chen Yupeng , Qin Yuxin , Wang Weibiao , Wang Shurong , Sheng Kaiyang
Published: January 2024

The use of a dual-interference channels static Fourier transform imaging spectrometer based on stepped micro-mirror (D-SIFTS) for environmental gas monitoring has the advantages of high throughput, a compact structure, and a stable performance. It also has the characteristics of both a broad spectral range and high spectral resolution. However, its unique structural features also bring many problems for subsequent data processing, mainly including the complex distribution of the interference data, the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of infrared scene images, and a unique inversion process of material information. To this end, this paper proposes a method of image and spectra information processing and gas concentration inversion. A multiscale enhancement algorithm for infrared images incorporating wavelet denoising is used to obtain high-quality remote sensing scene images, and spectral reconstruction optimization algorithms, such as interference intensity sequence resampling, are used to obtain accurate spectral information; the quantitative calibration model of the detected gas concentration is established to achieve high-precision inversion of gas concentration, and its distribution is visualized in combination with the scene image. Finally, the effectiveness and accuracy of the data processing algorithm are verified through the use of several experiments, which provide essential theoretical guidance and technical support for the practical applications of D-SIFTS.
Manifestation of Gas Seepage from Bottom Sediments on the Sea Surface: Theoretical Model and Experimental Observations
Authors: Ermoshkin Aleksey , Kapustin Ivan , Molkov Aleksandr , Semiletov Igor
Published: January 2024

The key area of the Arctic Ocean for atmospheric venting of CH4 is the East Siberian Arctic Shelf (ESAS). Leakage of methane through shallow ESAS waters needs to be considered in interactions between the biogeosphere and a warming Arctic climate. The development of remote sensing techniques for gas seepage detection and mapping is crucially needed for further applications in the ESAS and other areas of interest. Given the extent of the seepage areas and the magnitude of current and potential future emissions, new approaches are required to effectively, rapidly, and quantitatively survey the large seepage areas. Here, we consider the main features of gas seep detection on the sea surface in the characteristics of wind waves and radar signals. The kinematics of wave packets based on the kinetic equation for the spectral density of the wave action of surface waves is described. The results of a full-scale experiment on the remote radar observation of a model gas seep to the sea surface in the radar equipment signals are considered. The characteristic radar signatures of the gas seep in a wide range of hydrometeorological conditions, the parameters of which were recorded synchronously with the radar mapping, were determined. The results of the first radar observations of natural methane seeps on the ESAS are presented, and their radar contrasts are evaluated. The theoretical conclusions are in good qualitative agreement with the results of the model experiment and field studies and can be used for further research in aquatic areas with potential gas seepage, both of natural or anthropogenic origin, such as bubbling release from broken underwater gas pipelines.
Assessing Regional Public Service Facility Accessibility Using Multisource Geospatial Data: A Case Study of Underdeveloped Areas in China
Authors: Huang Chunlin , Feng Yaya , Wei Yao , Sun Danni , Li Xianghua , Zhong Fanglei
Published: January 2024

Promoting the accessibility of basic public service facilities is key to safeguarding and improving people’s lives. Effective public service provision is especially important for the sustainable development of less developed regions. Lincang in Yunnan Province is a typical underdeveloped region in China. In parallel, multisource remote sensing data with higher spatial resolution provide more precise results for small-scale regional accessibility assessment. Thus, we use an assessment method to measure and evaluate the accessibility of three types of infrastructure in Lincang based on multisource geospatial data. We further analyze the matching between public service facility accessibility and the socioeconomic attributes of inhabitant clusters and different poverty groups. The results show that the accessibility of educational facilities is currently better than that of health facilities in Lincang and that of sanitation facilities is relatively poor. Public service facility accessibility varies significantly among different types of inhabitant clusters, with better accessibility in inhabitant clusters with high levels of population density, aging, and income. Accessibility to healthcare, education, and sanitation is negatively correlated to varying degrees of poverty levels of poor groups, and the mean values of accessibility to various types of public facilities vary significantly across poor groups. Our findings can help inform policy formulation and provide theoretical support for planning and optimizing the layout of public facilities.