bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence that Nitric Oxide is Involved in the Blood Pressure Lowering Effect of the Peptide AVFQHNCQE in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Mas-Capdevila Anna , Iglesias-Carres Lisard , Arola-Arnal Anna , Aragonès Gerard , Aleixandre Amaya , Bravo Francisca I. , Muguerza Begoña
Published: January 2019

AVFQHNCQE is an antihypertensive nonapeptide obtained from a chicken foot protein hydrolysate. The present study aims to investigate the mechanisms involved in its blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect. Male (17–20 weeks old) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used in this study. Rats were divided into two groups and orally administered water or 10 mg/kg body weight (bw) AVFQHNCQE. One hour post-administration, animals of both groups were intra-peritoneally treated with 1 mL of saline or with 1 mL of saline containing 30 mg/kg bw Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, or with 1 mL of saline containing 5 mg/kg bw indomethacin, which is an inhibitor of prostacyclin synthesis (n = 6 per group). Systolic BP was recorded before oral administration and six hours after oral administration. In an additional experiment, SHR were administered water or 10 mg/kg bw AVFQHNCQE (n = 6 per group) and sacrificed six hours post-administration to study the mechanisms underlying the peptide anti-hypertensive effect. Moreover, the relaxation caused by AVFQHNCQE in isolated aortic rings from Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated. The BP-lowering effect of the peptide was not changed after indomethacin administration but was completely abolished by L-NAME, which demonstrates that its anti-hypertensive effect is mediated by changes in endothelium-derived NO availability. In addition, AVFQHNCQE administration downregulated aortic gene expression of the vasoconstrictor factor endothelin-1 and the endothelial major free radical producer NADPH. Moreover, while no changes in plasma ACE activity were observed after its administration, liver GSH levels were higher in the peptide-treated group than in the water group, which demonstrates that AVFQHNCQE presents antioxidant properties.
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Telenutrition Weight Loss Intervention in Middle-Aged and Older Men with Multiple Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Ventura Marra Melissa , Lilly Christa L. , Nelson Kelly R. , Woofter Dominick R. , Malone James
Published: January 2019

Overweight and obesity threaten the health, functionality and quality of life of 77.2% men in West Virginia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12-week primary care referred telenutrition weight loss intervention. Fifty-nine 40–70-year-old men with obesity were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 29) or an enhanced usual care (EUC) (n = 30) group. Participants from both groups were prescribed a moderate energy restricted diet (500–750 kcal/day below energy requirements) and provided diet-related educational materials; but, only those in the intervention group received weekly support from a registered dietitian nutritionist via telephone and videoconferencing. Both groups significantly reduced body weight, waist circumference, percent body fat and caloric intake and improved diet quality from baseline (p < 0.0001). Groups did not differ after controlling for time (all p > 0.30) and none of the group by time interactions were statistically significant. At week 12, a greater proportion of participants from the intervention group than the EUC group lost at least 5% of their baseline weight, (70.4% vs. 41.4%, p = 0.035). Retention rates and participant-reported adherence and satisfaction rates were ≥80% in the telenutrition group, thereby meeting the a priori criterion for feasibility of a larger trial. Primary care referred telenutrition interventions have the potential to improve access to dietary counseling for obesity treatment in health disparate populations. A larger longer-term trial is warranted.
Prevalence of Malnutrition in Pediatric Hospitals in Developed and In-Transition Countries: The Impact of Hospital Practices
Authors: McCarthy Andrea , Delvin Edgard , Marcil Valerie , Belanger Veronique , Marchand Valerie , Boctor Dana , Rashid Mohsin , Noble Angela , Davidson Bridget , Groleau Veronique , Spahis Schohraya , Roy Claude , Levy Emile
Published: January 2019

Presently, undernutrition still goes undetected in pediatric hospitals despite its association with poor clinical outcomes and increased annual hospital costs, thus affecting both the patient and the health care system. The reported prevalence of undernutrition in pediatric patients seeking care or hospitalized varies considerably, ranging from 2.5 to 51%. This disparity is mostly due to the diversity of the origin of populations studied, methods used to detect and assess nutritional status, as well as the lack of consensus for defining pediatric undernutrition. The prevalence among inpatients is likely to be higher than that observed for the community at large, since malnourished children are likely to have a pre-existent disease or to develop medical complications. Meanwhile, growing evidence indicates that the nutritional status of sick children deteriorates during the course of hospitalization. Moreover, the absence of systematic nutritional screening in this environment may lead to an underestimation of this condition. The present review aims to critically discuss studies documenting the prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric hospitals in developed and in-transition countries and identifying hospital practices that may jeopardize the nutritional status of hospitalized children.
Substances of Interest That Support Glaucoma Therapy
Authors: Saccà Sergio Claudio , Corazza Paolo , Gandolfi Stefano , Ferrari Daniele , Sukkar Samir , Iorio Eugenio Luigi , Traverso Carlo Enrico
Published: January 2019

Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease in which pro-apoptotic signals are directed to retinal ganglion cells. During this disease the conventional outflow pathway becomes malfunctioning. Aqueous humour builds up in the anterior chamber, leading to increased intraocular pressure. Both of these events are related to functional impairment. The knowledge of molecular mechanisms allows us to better understand the usefulness of substances that can support anti-glaucoma therapy. The goal of glaucoma therapy is not simply to lower intraocular pressure; it should also be to facilitate the survival of retinal ganglion cells, as these constitute the real target tissue in this disease, in which the visual pathway is progressively compromised. Indeed, an endothelial dysfunction syndrome affecting the endothelial cells of the trabecular meshwork occurs in both normal-tension glaucoma and high-tension glaucoma. Some substances, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, can counteract the damage due to the molecular mechanisms—whether ischemic, oxidative, inflammatory or other—that underlie the pathogenesis of glaucoma. In this review, we consider some molecules, such as polyphenols, that can contribute, not only theoretically, to neuroprotection but which are also able to counteract the metabolic pathways that lead to glaucomatous damage. Ginkgo biloba extract, for instance, improves the blood supply to peripheral districts, including the optic nerve and retina and exerts a neuro-protective action by inhibiting apoptosis. Polyunsaturated fatty acids can protect the endothelium and polyphenols exert an anti-inflammatory action through the down-regulation of cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6. All these substances can aid anti-glaucoma therapy by providing metabolic support for the cells involved in glaucomatous injury. Indeed, it is known that the food we eat is able to change our gene expression.
Vitamin D in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoarthritis: From Clinical Interventions to Cellular Evidence
Authors: Park Clara Yongjoo
Published: January 2019

Older adults are recommended vitamin D to prevent fractures. Though this population is also at risk of osteoarthritis (OA), the effect of vitamin D on OA is unclear and may differ by disease state. The relationship between vitamin D and OA during OA initiation and progression were considered in this narrative review of in vivo and in vitro studies. Regarding OA initiation in humans, the small number of published observational studies suggest a lack of association between induction of OA and vitamin D status. Most randomized controlled trials were performed in White OA patients with relatively high vitamin D status (>50 nmol/L). These studies found no benefit of vitamin D supplementation on OA progression. However, subset analyses and one randomized controlled pilot trial indicated that vitamin D supplementation may alleviate joint pain in OA patients with low vitamin D status (<50 nmol/L). As the etiology of OA is recently being more fully uncovered, better animal and cell models are needed. According to currently available clinical results, evidence is lacking to set a vitamin D level to prevent OA, and increasing vitamin D status above 50 nmol/L does not seem to benefit OA patients.
Formulation and Characterization of Quercetin-loaded Oil in Water Nanoemulsion and Evaluation of Hypocholesterolemic Activity in Rats
Authors: Son Hye-Yeon , Lee Mak-Soon , Chang Eugene , Kim Seog-Young , Kang Bori , Ko Hyunmi , Kim In-Hwan , Zhong Qixin , Jo Young-Hee , Kim Chong-Tai , Kim Yangha
Published: January 2019

Due to poor water solubility and high susceptibility to chemical degradation, the applications of quercetin have been limited. This study investigated the effects of pH on the formation of quercetin-loaded nanoemulsion (NQ) and compared the hypocholesterolemic activity between quercetin and NQ to utilize the quercetin as functional food ingredient. NQ particle size exhibited a range of 207–289 nm with polydispersity index range (<0.47). The encapsulation efficiency increased stepwise from 56 to 92% as the pH increased from 4.0 to 9.0. Good stability of NQ was achieved in the pH range of 6.5–9.0 during 3-month storage at 21 and 37 °C. NQ displayed higher efficacy in reducing serum and hepatic cholesterol levels and increasing the release of bile acid into feces in rats fed high-cholesterol diet, compared to quercetin alone. NQ upregulated hepatic gene expression involved in bile acid synthesis and cholesterol efflux, such as cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1). These results suggest at least partial involvement of hepatic bile acid synthesis and fecal cholesterol excretion in nanoemulsion quercetin-mediated beneficial effect on lipid abnormalities.
Effect of Energy Restriction on Eating Behavior Traits and Psychobehavioral Factors in the Low Satiety Phenotype
Authors: Drapeau Vicky , Jacob Raphaëlle , Panahi Shirin , Tremblay Angelo
Published: January 2019

Studies have shown that individuals with low satiety efficiency may be more susceptible to weight gain, but little is known about the effect of weight loss intervention outcomes in these individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an energy-restricted weight loss intervention on eating behavior traits and psychobehavioral factors in individuals differing in their satiety responsiveness. A pooled cohort of individuals who were overweight or obese (n = 100; aged 39 ± 9 years) participating in a 12- to 15-week weight loss program targeting an energy deficit of 500–700 kcal/day were included in this study. Satiety responsiveness was determined by a median split of the mean satiety quotient based on appetite sensations measured in response to a test meal at baseline (low satiety responsiveness (LSR) vs. high satiety responsiveness (HSR)). Anthropometric variables, eating behavior traits, psychobehavioral factors, and ad libitum energy intake were assessed before and after the intervention. Although similar weight loss was observed between the LSR and HSR groups (−3.5 ± 3.2 vs. −3.8 ± 2.8 kg, p = 0.64) in response to an energy-restricted weight loss intervention, changes in eating behavior traits were different between groups. Individuals with LSR had a higher increase in cognitive restraint (+5.5 ± 4.1 vs. +3.5 ± 3.5, p = 0.02) and some of its subscales and a lower decrease in situational susceptibility to disinhibition (−0.6 ± 1.1 vs. −1.2 ± 1.3, p = 0.02) in response to the intervention compared to the HSR group. In conclusion, energy-restricted weight loss intervention seems to trigger undesirable changes in some eating behavior traits in individuals more vulnerable to overeating, which could increase their susceptibility to weight regain.
Pilot Study of Novel Intermittent Fasting Effects on Metabolomic and Trimethylamine N-oxide Changes During 24-hour Water-Only Fasting in the FEELGOOD Trial
Authors: Washburn Rachel L. , Cox James E. , Muhlestein Joseph B. , May Heidi T. , Carlquist John F. , Le Viet T. , Anderson Jeffrey L. , Horne Benjamin D.
Published: January 2019

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been connected with health benefits such as weight loss, lower risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes, increased longevity, and improved quality of life. However, the mechanisms of these IF benefits in humans require further investigation. This study sought to elucidate some of these mechanisms through secondary analyses of the Fasting and ExprEssion of Longevity Genes during fOOD abstinence (FEELGOOD) trial, in which apparently healthy participants were randomized in a Latin square design to a 24-h water-only fast and a 24-h ad libitum fed day. Two pathways were investigated, with trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels measured due to their association with elevated risk of CAD, along with conductance of a broad panel of metabolic analytes. Measurements were made at baseline, at the end of the fasting day, and at the end of the fed day. A fasting mean of 14.3 ng in TMAO was found versus the baseline mean of 27.1 ng with p = 0.019, although TMAO levels returned to baseline on refeeding. Further, acute alterations in levels of proline, tyrosine, galactitol, and urea plasma levels were observed along with changes in 24 other metabolites during the fasting period. These acute changes reveal short-term mechanisms which, with consistent repeated episodes of IF, may lead to improved health and reduced risk of CAD and diabetes.
Fermented Portulaca oleracea L. Juice: A Novel Functional Beverage with Potential Ameliorating Effects on the Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Injury
Authors: Di Cagno Raffaella , Filannino Pasquale , Vincentini Olimpia , Cantatore Vincenzo , Cavoski Ivana , Gobbetti Marco
Published: January 2019

P. oleracea L. contains high level of nutrients and biologically active compounds. Recently, lactic fermentation has been proposed as a biotechnological option to enrich the profile of biogenic compounds of Portulaca oleracea L. puree. This study investigated the capability of fermentation by selected lactic acid bacteria to enhance the restoring features of Portulaca oleracea juice towards intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. Lactic acid fermentation markedly increased the total antioxidant capacity of P. oleracea juice, preserved the inherent levels of vitamins C, A, and E, and increased the bioavailability of the level of vitamin B2 and that of phenolics. The effects of fermented P. oleracea juice on a Caco-2 cell line were investigated using an in vitro model closest to the in vivo conditions. Fermented P. oleracea juice strongly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species. It also counteracted the disruption of the Caco-2 cell monolayers treated with the inflammatory stimulus. We used a diversified spectrum of lactic acid bacteria species, and some effects appeared to be strains- or species-specific. Fermentation with Lactobacillus kunkeei B7 ensured the best combination for the content of bioactive compounds and the ability to counteract the intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury.
Common Ingredient Profiles of Multi-Ingredient Pre-Workout Supplements
Authors: Jagim Andrew R. , Harty Patrick S. , Camic Clayton L.
Published: January 2019

Multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements are a popular class of dietary supplements which are purported to improve exercise performance. However, the composition of these products varies substantially between formulations, thus making comparisons challenging. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify a common ingredient profile of top-selling pre-workout supplements and to compare ingredient dosages to established efficacious values. The top 100 commercially available pre-workout products were analyzed for listed ingredients and amounts, if available, from the supplement facts panel. The mean ± SD number of ingredients per supplement (n = 100) was 18.4 ± 9.7 with 8.1 ± 9.9 of these ingredients included in a proprietary blend at undisclosed quantities. Relative prevalence and average amounts of the top ingredients amounted to: Beta-alanine (87%; 2.0 ± 0.8 g), Caffeine (86%; 254.0 ± 79.5 mg), Citrulline (71%; 4.0 ± 2.5 g), Tyrosine (63%; 348.0 ± 305.7 mg), Taurine (51%; 1.3 ± 0.6 g), and Creatine (49%; 2.1 ± 1.0 g). Nearly half (44.3%) of all ingredients were included as part of a proprietary blend with undisclosed amounts of each ingredient. The average amount of beta-alanine per serving size was below the recommended efficacious dose. The average caffeine content was near the low end for an effective relative dose for a 70 kg individual (3–6 mg·kg−1 of bodyweight).
Hop Compounds: Extraction Techniques, Chemical Analyses, Antioxidative, Antimicrobial, and Anticarcinogenic Effects
Authors: Knez Hrnčič Maša , Španinger Eva , Košir Iztok Jože , Knez Željko , Bren Urban
Published: January 2019

Hop plants comprise a variety of natural compounds greatly differing in their structure and properties. A wide range of methods have been developed for their isolation and chemical analysis, as well as for determining their antioxidative, antimicrobial, and antigenotoxic potentials. This contribution provides an overview of extraction and fractionation techniques of the most important hop compounds known for their health-promoting features. Although hops remain the principal ingredient for providing the taste, stability, and antimicrobial protection of beer, they have found applications in the pharmaceutical and other food industries as well. This review focuses on numerous health-promoting effects of hops raging from antioxidative, sedative, and anti-inflammatory potentials, over anticarcinogenic features to estrogenic activity. Therefore, hops should be exploited for the prevention and even healing of several prevalent diseases like cardiovascular disorders and various cancer types. New ideas for future studies on hops are finally presented: computational investigations of chemical reactivities of hop compounds, nanoencapsulation, and synergistic effects leading to a higher bioavailability of biologically active substances as well as the application of waste hop biomass from breweries for the production of high-added-value products in accordance with the biorefinery concept.
The Association between Breastmilk Glucocorticoid Concentrations and Macronutrient Contents Throughout the Day
Authors: Hollanders Jonneke J. , Kouwenhoven Stefanie M. P. , van der Voorn Bibian , van Goudoever Johannes B. , Rotteveel Joost , Finken Martijn J. J.
Published: January 2019

Background: Glucocorticoids (GCs) in breastmilk follow the maternal hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis activity and may affect the offspring’s growth and neurodevelopment. There is some evidence suggesting that macronutrients in breastmilk also fluctuate throughout the day. We aimed to research whether GCs and macronutrients are correlated in multiple breastmilk samples obtained over a 24-h period. Methods: A total of 10 mothers provided 45 breastmilk samples collected over a 24-h period. Cortisol and cortisone levels were determined by LC–MS/MS, and macronutrients were measured with mid-infrared spectroscopy. Correlations between breastmilk GCs and macronutrients were assessed with Pearson correlations and linear mixed models. Results: No associations were found between breastmilk GCs and macronutrients (cortisol: β-0.1 (95% confidence interval: −1.0 to 0.7), −4.9 (−12.9 to 3.1) for fat, protein, and carbohydrates, respectively; and −0.3 (−5.6 to 5.0) and cortisone: 0.0 (−2.5 to 2.5), −17.4 (−39.8 to 5.0), and −2.7 (−17.7 to 12.3)) for fat, protein, and carbohydrates, respectively. Adjusting for the time of collection to account for GC rhythmicity did not change the results. Conclusion: We found no associations between GCs and macronutrients in human breastmilk. The excretion of GCs in breastmilk and the effects of breastmilk GCs on offspring are, therefore, likely independent of the excretion and effects of the macronutrients.
The Effects of Dietary Pattern during Intensified Training on Stool Microbiota of Elite Race Walkers
Authors: Murtaza Nida , Burke Louise M. , Vlahovich Nicole , Charlesson Bronwen , O’ Neill Hayley , Ross Megan L. , Campbell Katrina L. , Krause Lutz , Morrison Mark
Published: January 2019

We investigated extreme changes in diet patterns on the gut microbiota of elite race walkers undertaking intensified training and its possible links with athlete performance. Numerous studies with sedentary subjects have shown that diet and/or exercise can exert strong selective pressures on the gut microbiota. Similar studies with elite athletes are relatively scant, despite the recognition that diet is an important contributor to sports performance. In this study, stool samples were collected from the cohort at the beginning (baseline; BL) and end (post-treatment; PT) of a three-week intensified training program during which athletes were assigned to a High Carbohydrate (HCHO), Periodised Carbohydrate (PCHO) or ketogenic Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet (post treatment). Microbial community profiles were determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The microbiota profiles at BL could be separated into distinct “enterotypes,” with either a Prevotella or Bacteroides dominated enterotype. While enterotypes were relatively stable and remained evident post treatment, the LCHF diet resulted in a greater relative abundance of Bacteroides and Dorea and a reduction of Faecalibacterium. Significant negative correlations were observed between Bacteroides and fat oxidation and between Dorea and economy test following LCHF intervention.
In Vitro Comparison of Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Selected Fluoroquinolones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Masadeh Majed M. , Alzoubi Karem H. , Ahmed Wesam S. , Magaji Aisha S.
Published: January 2019

An in vitro overview of the inhibitory effects of selected fluoroquinolones against planktonic and biofilm cells of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain American type culture collection (ATCC) 43300 and the Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain ATCC 27853 was carried out. Biofilm cells of both strains were less susceptible to the selected antibiotics than their planktonic counterparts. In addition, certain antibiotics were more effective against biofilm cells, while others performed better on the planktonic cells. Against P. aeruginosa, ciprofloxacin was the most potent on both planktonic and biofilm cells, whereas ofloxacin was the least potent on both biofilm and planktonic cells. Moxifloxacin and gatifloxacin were the most potent against both planktonic and biofilm MRSA bacteria, however, not in the same order of activity. Norfloxacin was the least active when tested against both planktonic and biofilm cells. The results of this work are expected to provide insight into the efficacy of various fluoroquinolones against MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. This study could form the basis for future clinical studies that could recommend special guidelines for the management of infections that are likely to involve bacteria in their biofilm state.
Cationic Niosomes as Non-Viral Vehicles for Nucleic Acids: Challenges and Opportunities in Gene Delivery
Authors: Grijalvo Santiago , Puras Gustavo , Zárate Jon , Sainz-Ramos Myriam , Qtaish Nuseibah A. L. , López Tania , Mashal Mohamed , Attia Noha , Díaz Díaz David , Pons Ramon , Fernández Eduardo , Pedraz José Luis , Eritja Ramon
Published: January 2019

Cationic niosomes have become important non-viral vehicles for transporting a good number of small drug molecules and macromolecules. Growing interest shown by these colloidal nanoparticles in therapy is determined by their structural similarities to liposomes. Cationic niosomes are usually obtained from the self-assembly of non-ionic surfactant molecules. This process can be governed not only by the nature of such surfactants but also by others factors like the presence of additives, formulation preparation and properties of the encapsulated hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules. This review is aimed at providing recent information for using cationic niosomes for gene delivery purposes with particular emphasis on improving the transportation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), aptamers and plasmids (pDNA).
Differential Expression Proteins Contribute to Race-Specific Resistant Ability in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Ma Shiwei , Lin Shoukai , Wang Menglin , Zou Yang , Tao Huan , Liu Wei , Zhang Lina , Liang Kangjing , Ai Yufang , He Huaqin
Published: January 2019

Rice blast, caused by the fungus, Magnaporthe grisea (M. grisea), lead to the decrease of rice yields widely and destructively, threatening global food security. Although many resistant genes had been isolated and identified in various rice varieties, it is still not enough to clearly understand the mechanism of race-specific resistant ability in rice, especially on the protein level. In this research, proteomic methods were employed to analyze the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in susceptible rice variety CO39 and its two near isogenic lines (NILs), CN-4a and CN-4b, in response to the infection of two isolates with different pathogenicity, GUY11 and 81278ZB15. A total of 50 DEPs with more than 1.5-fold reproducible change were identified. At 24 and 48 hpi of GUY11, 32 and 16 proteins in CN-4b were up-regulated, among which 16 and five were paralleled with the expression of their corresponding RNAs. Moreover, 13 of 50 DEPs were reported to be induced by M. grisea in previous publications. Considering the phenotypes of the three tested rice varieties, we found that 21 and 23 up-regulated proteins were responsible for the rice resistant ability to the two different blast isolates, 81278ZB15 and GUY11, respectively. Two distinct branches corresponding to GUY11 and 81278ZB15 were observed in the expression and function of the module cluster of DEPs, illuminating that the DEPs could be responsible for race-specific resistant ability in rice. In other words, DEPs in rice are involved in different patterns and functional modules’ response to different pathogenic race infection, inducing race-specific resistant ability in rice.
Fabrication and Application of Black Phosphorene/Graphene Composite Material as a Flame Retardant
Authors: Ren Xinlin , Mei Yi , Lian Peichao , Xie Delong , Deng Weibin , Wen Yaling , Luo Yong
Published: January 2019

A simple and novel route is developed for fabricating BP-based composite materials to improve the thermo-stability, flame retardant performances, and mechanical performances of polymers. Black phosphorene (BP) has outstanding flame retardant properties, however, it causes the mechanical degradation of waterborne polyurethane (WPU). In order to solve this problem, the graphene is introduced to fabricate the black phosphorene/graphene (BP/G) composite material by high-pressure nano-homogenizer machine (HNHM). The structure, thermo-stability, flame retardant properties, and mechanical performance of composites are analyzed by a series of tests. The structure characterization results show that the BP/G composite material can distribute uniformly into the WPU. The addition of BP/G significantly improves the residues of WPU in both of TG analysis (5.64%) and cone calorimeter (CC) test (12.50%), which indicate that the BP/G can effectively restrict the degradation of WPU under high temperature. The CC test indicates that BP/G/WPU has a lower peak release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR), which decrease by 48.18% and 38.63%, respectively, than that of the pure WPU, respectively. The mechanical analysis presents that the Young’s modulus of the BP/G/WPU has an increase of seven times more than that of the BP/WPU, which indicates that the introduce of graphene can effectively improve the mechanical properties of BP/WPU.
Synthesis and Study of Zinc Orotate and Its Synergistic Effect with Commercial Stabilizers for Stabilizing Poly(Vinyl Chloride)
Authors: Ye Feng , Ye Qiufeng , Zhan Haihua , Ge Yeqian , Ma Xiaotao , Xu Yingying , Wang Xu
Published: January 2019

Zinc orotate (ZnOr2), which is a new kind of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) stabilizer, is prepared in this work through the precipitation method, and its impact on the thermal stability of PVC is measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), Congo red test, and discoloration test. The results exhibit that the thermal stability of PVC is positively enhanced after the addition of ZnOr2. In contrast with a commercial thermal stabilizer, zinc stearate (ZnSt2), a noteworthy improvement was observed that ZnOr2 could postpone the “zinc burning” of PVC. This is principally ascribed to the Or anion in the structure of ZnOr2 being able to absorb the HCl released by PVC, and to supersede unstable chlorine atoms in the structure of PVC. In addition, blending ZnOr2 with calcium stearate (CaSt2) in diverse mass ratios can significantly accelerate the thermal stability of PVC. Optimum performance was achieved with a CaSt2:ZnOr2 ratio of 1.8:1.2. Moreover, an outstanding synergistic effect can be observed when CaSt2/ZnOr2 is coupled with other commercial auxiliary stabilizers. The initial color and long-term stability of PVC including CaSt2/ZnOr2 is significantly increased when pentaerythritol (PER) is added, while dibenzoylmethane (DBM) can only improve its long-term thermal stability.
Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Properties of a Series of Heterotri-, Tetra- and Pentanuclear LnIII–CoII Compounds
Authors: Xu Yun , Luo Feng , Zheng Ji-Min
Published: January 2019

Three types of Ln(III)–Co(II) heterometallic compounds, LnCo2(L1)7(bipy)2 (Ln = Pr-1, Eu-2, Sm-3, Gd-4, Tb-5, Dy-6) (L1 = 4-chlorobenzoate, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine), Ln2Co2(L2)10(bipy)2 (Ln = Sm-7, Gd-8, Tb-9, Dy-10, Ho-11, Er-12, Yb-13), (L2 = 2,4-dichlorobenzoate, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), and Ln2Co3(L1)12(bipy)2 (Ln = Ho-14, Er-15, Yb-16), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. Structural analyses revealed that 14–16 take on a unique linear pentanuclear structural motif. Interestingly, the Ho-containing compound 14 exhibits magnetic relaxation behavior.
Flexible Epoxy Resins Formed by Blending with the Diblock Copolymer PEO-b-PCL and Using a Hydrogen-Bonding Benzoxazine as the Curing Agent
Authors: Su Wei-Chen , Tsai Fang-Chang , Huang Chih-Feng , Dai Lizong , Kuo Shiao-Wei
Published: January 2019

In this study, we enhanced the toughness of epoxy resin by blending it with the diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide–b–ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL) with a benzoxazine monomer (PA-OH) as the thermal curing agent. After thermal curing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that intermolecular hydrogen bonding existed between the OH units of the epoxy–benzoxazine copolymer and the C–O–C (C=O) units of the PEO (PCL) segment. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the glass transition temperature and storage modulus of the epoxy–benzoxazine matrix decreased significantly upon increasing the concentration of PEO-b-PCL. The Kwei equation predicted a positive value of q, consistent with intermolecular hydrogen bonding in this epoxy–benzoxazine/PEO-b-PCL blend system. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a wormlike structure with a high aspect ratio for PEO-b-PCL as the dispersed phase in the epoxy–benzoxazine matrix; this structure was responsible for the improved toughness.
Functionalization of Neutral Polypropylene by Using Low Pressure Plasma Treatment: Effects on Surface Characteristics and Adhesion Properties
Authors: Mandolfino Chiara , Lertora Enrico , Gambaro Carla , Pizzorni Marco
Published: January 2019

Polyolefins are considered among the most difficult polymeric materials to treat because they have poor adhesive properties and high chemical barrier responses. In this paper, an in-depth study is reported for the low pressure plasma (LPP) treatment of neutral polypropylene to improve adhesion properties. Changes in wettability, chemical species, surface morphology and roughness of the polypropylene surfaces were evaluated by water contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and, furthermore, atomic force microscopy (AFM). Finally, the bonded joints were subjected to tensile tests, in order to evaluate the practical effect of changes in adhesion properties. The results indicate that plasma is an effective treatment for the surface preparation of polypropylene for the creation of bonded joints: contact angles decreased significantly depending on the plasma-parameter setup, surface morphology was also found to vary with plasma power, exposure time and working gas.
Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Grafting and Molecular Dilution: Study of a Class of Conjugated Graft Copolymers
Authors: Jarosz Tomasz , Kepska Kinga , Ledwon Przemyslaw , Procek Marcin , Domagala Wojciech , Stolarczyk Agnieszka
Published: January 2019

A type of graft copolymer based on polysiloxane and regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) has been synthesised and its properties have been studied alongside those of its parent conjugated polymer—regioregular P3HT. Electrochemical analysis has revealed more significant changes in conformation of the copolymer film than was observed for P3HT. UV-Vis-NIR spectroelectrochemical investigation provided evidence of improved doping reversibility of the copolymer, despite its marginally increased band gap, as also confirmed by electroconductometric analysis. Evidence has been shown, indicating that polaron mobilities in both P3HT and the copolymer are higher than those of bipolaronic charge carriers, even though both systems exhibit standard doping/dedoping patterns. The grafted copolymer was tested in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Preliminary studies show a great potential of these polymers for application in photovoltaics. Power conversion efficiency of up to 2.46% was achieved despite the dilution of the P3HT chains in the copolymer.
Prayers of Cow Dung: Women Sculpturing Fertile Environments in Rural Rajasthan (India)
Authors: Notermans Catrien
Published: January 2019

In line with the special issue’s focus on material religion and ritualistic objects, this article focuses on the multi-sensory prayers that certain groups of Hindu women craft in cow dung at the doorstep of their residences during Divali. This yearly ritual of kneading and praying with cow dung is known as the Govardhan puja (worship of Mount Govardhan). It is generally said to be the worship of the popular cowherd god Krishna and the natural environment he inhabits. Ethnographic research into the multiple meaningful layers of women’s cow dung sculptures in the rural villages nearby Udaipur (Rajasthan) reveals the ritual is more than that. The cow dung sculptures not only reflect Krishna’s body and sacred landscape but also the local environment women share with families, animals and (other) gods. Therefore, the article seeks to answer the following questions: how are women’s cow dung sculptures built up as ritual objects, what different images are expressed in them, and what do these images reveal about women’s intimate and gendered connections with their human and non-human environment? To answer these questions the article focuses on the iconography of women’s sculptures, the performance of the ritual, and the doorstep as the location where women’s beautification of the cow dung takes place.
Comparison of Two Synergy Approaches for Hybrid Cropland Mapping
Authors: Chen Di , Lu Miao , Zhou Qingbo , Xiao Jingfeng , Ru Yating , Wei Yanbing , Wu Wenbin
Published: January 2019

Cropland maps at regional or global scales typically have large uncertainty and are also inconsistent with each other. The substantial uncertainty in these cropland maps limits their use in research and management efforts. Many synergy approaches have been developed to generate hybrid cropland maps with higher accuracy from existing cropland maps. However, few studies have compared the advantages, disadvantages, and regional suitability of these approaches. To close this knowledge gap, this study aims to compare two representative synergy methods of cropland mapping: Geographically weighted regression (GWR) and modified fuzzy agreement scoring (MFAS). We assessed how the sample size, quality of input satellite-based maps, and various landscapes influence the accuracy of the synergy maps based on these two methods. The GWR model is a regression analysis predominantly dependent on the cropland percentage of the training samples, while the MFAS method is largely influenced by the consistency of input datasets, and the training samples only play an auxiliary role. Therefore, the GWR method was relatively more sensitive to the number of training samples than the MFAS method. The quality of input maps had a significant impact on both methods, particularly on MFAS. In regions with heterogeneous landscapes and high elevations, the croplands are generally more fragmented, and the consistency of the input satellite-based maps was lower; the application of cropland percentage samples could compensate for the low dataset consistency. Therefore, GWR is more suitable for regions with heterogeneous landscapes, while MFAS is more appropriate for regions with homogeneous landscapes. The MFAS method uses cropland area from the agricultural statistics to calibrate the initial synergy maps, while the GWR model only considers the spatial distribution of cropland and does not make use of the distribution information of cropland area. The MFAS method showed a higher correlation with the statistical data, while GWR model exhibited a stronger relationship with cropland percentage. Our study reveals the advantages, disadvantages, and regional suitability of the two main types of synergy methods (regression analysis methods and data consistency scoring methods) and can inform future synergy cropland mapping efforts.
End-to-End Simulation of WCOM IMI Sea Surface Salinity Retrieval
Authors: Li Yan , Liu Hao , Zhang Aili
Published: January 2019

The Water Cycle Observation Mission (WCOM) is an Earth science mission focused on the observation of the water cycle global climate change intensity through three different payloads. WCOM’s main payload is an interferometric microwave imager (IMI). IMI is a tri-frequency, one-dimensional aperture synthesis microwave radiometer operating at the L-, S-, and C-bands to perform measurements of soil moisture and ocean salinity. Focusing on sea surface salinity (SSS), an end-to-end simulator of WCOM/IMI has been realized and tested on climatological data. Results indicate a general agreement between original and retrieved SSS, with a single measurement root mean square error of 0.26 psu and with an orbital measurement of 0.17 psu in open sea. In accordance with previous studies, good results are obtained in open sea, while strong contamination is observed in coastal areas.
Fusion of Multiscale Convolutional Neural Networks for Building Extraction in Very High-Resolution Images
Authors: Sun Genyun , Huang Hui , Zhang Aizhu , Li Feng , Zhao Huimin , Fu Hang
Published: January 2019

Extracting buildings from very high resolution (VHR) images has attracted much attention but is still challenging due to their large varieties in appearance and scale. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have shown effective and superior performance in automatically learning high-level and discriminative features in extracting buildings. However, the fixed receptive fields make conventional CNNs insufficient to tolerate large scale changes. Multiscale CNN (MCNN) is a promising structure to meet this challenge. Unfortunately, the multiscale features extracted by MCNN are always stacked and fed into one classifier, which make it difficult to recognize objects with different scales. Besides, the repeated sub-sampling processes lead to a blurred boundary of the extracted features. In this study, we proposed a novel parallel support vector mechanism (SVM)-based fusion strategy to take full use of deep features at different scales as extracted by the MCNN structure. We firstly designed a MCNN structure with different sizes of input patches and kernels, to learn multiscale deep features. After that, features at different scales were individually fed into different support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to produce rule images for pre-classification. A decision fusion strategy is then applied on the pre-classification results based on another SVM classifier. Finally, superpixels are applied to refine the boundary of the fused results using region-based maximum voting. For performance evaluation, the well-known International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Potsdam dataset was used in comparison with several state-of-the-art algorithms. Experimental results have demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed methodology in extracting complex buildings in urban districts.
Evaluating the Effects of Image Texture Analysis on Plastic Greenhouse Segments via Recognition of the OSI-USI-ETA-CEI Pattern
Authors: Yao Yao , Wang Shixin
Published: January 2019

Compared to multispectral or panchromatic bands, fusion imagery contains both the spectral content of the former and the spatial resolution of the latter. Even though the Estimation of Scale Parameter (ESP), the ESP 2 tool, and some segmentation evaluation methods have been introduced to simplify the choice of scale parameter (SP), shape, and compactness, many challenges remain, including obtaining the natural border of plastic greenhouses (PGs) from a GaoFen-2 (GF-2) fusion imagery, accelerating the progress of follow-up texture analysis, and accurately evaluating over-segmentation and under-segmentation of PG segments in geographic object-based image analysis. Considering the features of high-resolution images, the heterogeneity of fusion imagery was compressed using texture analysis before calculating the optimal scale parameter in ESP 2 in this study. As a result, we quantified the effects of image texture analysis, including increasing averaging operator size (AOS) and decreasing greyscale quantization level (GQL) on PG segments via recognition of a proposed Over-Segmentation Index (OSI)-Under-Segmentation Index (USI)-Error Index of Total Area (ETA)-Composite Error Index (CEI) pattern. The proposed pattern can be used to reasonably evaluate the quality of PG segments obtained from GF-2 fusion imagery and its derivative images, showing that appropriate texture analysis can effectively change the heterogeneity of a fusion image for better segmentation. The optimum setup of GQL and AOS are determined by comparing CEI and visual analysis.
Pre-Constrained Machine Learning Method for Multi-Year Mapping of Three Major Crops in a Large Irrigation District
Authors: Wen Yeqiang , Shang Songhao , Rahman Khalil Ur
Published: January 2019

The accurate mapping of crops can provide effective information for regional agricultural management, which is helpful to improve crop production efficiency. Recently, remote sensing data offers a comprehensive approach to achieve crop identification on a regional scale. However, the classification methods for multi-year mapping needs further study in regions with a complex planting structure, due to the mixed pixels at a spatial distribution and the high error in different years at a temporal scale. The objective of this study is to map the multi-year spatial distribution of three main crops (maize, sunflower, and wheat) in the Hetao irrigation district of China for the period 2012–2016 based on a pre-constrained classification method. The pre-constrained method integrates a parameterized phenology-based vegetation indexes classifier and two non-parametric machine learning algorithms—support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF). Results indicated that the performance of the pre-constrained classification method was excellent in the multi-year mapping of major crops in the study area, with absolute relative errors mainly less than 14% in the whole irrigation district and less than 20% in the five counties. The corresponding overall accuracy was 87.9%, and the Kappa coefficient was 0.80. Mapping results showed that maize is mainly distributed in Hangjinhouqi, southern Linhe, northern Wuyuan, and eastern Wulateqianqi, while wheat is relatively less and scatteredly distributed in Hangjinhouqi and Wuyuan. Moreover, the sunflower planting area increased significantly and expanded spatially from Wuyuan and western Wulateqianqi to northern Hangjinhouqi and Linhe from 2012 to 2016. In addition, the phenology-based vegetation indexes classifier was found to be effective in improving the classification accuracy based on the contribution analysis.
Retrieval of High Spatiotemporal Resolution Leaf Area Index with Gaussian Processes, Wireless Sensor Network, and Satellite Data Fusion
Authors: Yin Gaofei , Verger Aleixandre , Qu Yonghua , Zhao Wei , Xu Baodong , Zeng Yelu , Liu Ke , Li Jing , Liu Qinhuo
Published: January 2019

Many applications, including crop growth and yield monitoring, require accurate long-term time series of leaf area index (LAI) at high spatiotemporal resolution with a quantification of the associated uncertainties. We propose an LAI retrieval approach based on a combination of the LAINet observation system, the Consistent Adjustment of the Climatology to Actual Observations (CACAO) method, and Gaussian process regression (GPR). First, the LAINet wireless sensor network provides temporally continuous field measurements of LAI. Then, the CACAO approach generates synchronous reflectance data at high spatiotemporal resolution (30-m and 8-day) from the fusion of multitemporal MODIS and high spatial resolution Landsat satellite imagery. Finally, the GPR machine learning regression algorithm retrieves the LAI maps and their associated uncertainties. A case study in a cropland site in China showed that the accuracy of LAI retrievals is 0.36 (12.7%) in terms of root mean square error and R2 = 0.88 correlation with ground measurements as evaluated over the entire growing season. This paper demonstrates the potential of the joint use of newly developed software and hardware technologies in deriving concomitant LAI and uncertainty maps with high spatiotemporal resolution. It will contribute to precision agriculture, as well as to the retrieval and validation of LAI products.