bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Status and Vitamin D Supplements Use Are Not Associated with Low Back Pain in the Large UK Biobank Cohort
Authors: Sha Sha , Chen Li-Ju , Brenner Hermann , Schöttker Ben
Published: March 2024

Longitudinal studies assessing the association of vitamin D deficiency, defined by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 30 nmol/L, and vitamin D supplement (VDS) use with low back pain (LBP) are sparse. This investigation assessed the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of vitamin D status and VDS use with LBP among 135,934 participants from the UK Biobank cohort. Approximately 21.6% of the participants had vitamin D deficiency, while only 4% regularly took VDS. In the month before study enrollment, 3.8% of the population reported experiencing LBP. An additional 3.3% of the population were diagnosed with LBP by their general practitioners for the first time during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Vitamin D deficiency and VDS use were cross-sectionally associated with LBP in age- and sex-adjusted models, but these associations were not evident in comprehensively adjusted models. In longitudinal analyses, both vitamin D deficiency and VDS use were not associated with LBP in any model after correction for multiple testing. In conclusion, not unexpectedly due to the fact that LBP is multifactorial, our findings provide no evidence for the role of the vitamin D status in the etiology of LBP.
Unity Is Strength: The Mutual Alliance between CFTR and SLC26A6 as Therapeutic Opportunity in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Pariano Marilena , Antognelli Cinzia , Romani Luigina , Costantini Claudio
Published: March 2024

Patients with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) have recently experienced an unprecedented breakthrough with the adoption of modulator therapy in clinical practice. This remarkable achievement has led to the reconsideration of disease management as the increased life expectancy has gradually shifted the attention over a spectrum of extra-pulmonary manifestations that become prevalent in the aging population. It comes to be that complementary approaches that target patient co-morbidities are needed for the optimal clinical management of PwCF. A strategy would be to adjuvate the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in performing its functions in the different organs in which it is expressed. Solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) members appear ideal in this context. Indeed, they not only cooperate with CFTR in the organ-dependent regulation of ion fluxes but physically interact with it to reciprocally modulate their function. In this opinion, we summarize available evidence pointing to a physical and functional interaction between CFTR and SLC26 members, with a particular focus on SLC26A6 for its wider expression and broader anion selectivity, and then discuss how restoring the physical interaction between CFTR and SLC26A6 might be beneficial in the treatment of PwCF in the era of modulator therapy.
Exploring Variability in Rifampicin Plasma Exposure and Development of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug-Induced Liver Injury among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis from the Pharmacogenetic Perspective
Authors: Kivrane Agnija , Ulanova Viktorija , Grinberga Solveiga , Sevostjanovs Eduards , Viksna Anda , Ozere Iveta , Bogdanova Ineta , Zolovs Maksims , Ranka Renate
Published: March 2024

Genetic polymorphisms can exert a considerable impact on drug pharmacokinetics (PK) and the development of adverse drug reactions (ADR). However, the effect of genetic polymorphisms on the anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) drug, and particularly rifampicin (RIF), exposure or anti-TB drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remains uncertain. Here, we evaluated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the RIF pharmacogenes (AADAC, SLCO1B1, SLCO1B3, ABCB1, and NR1I2) and RIF PK parameters, as well as anti-TB treatment-associated DILI. In total, the study enrolled 46 patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB. The RIF plasma concentration was measured using the LC-MS/MS method in the blood samples collected pre-dose and 2 and 6 h post-dose, whilst the DILI status was established using the results from blood biochemical analysis performed before and 10–12 days after treatment onset. The genotyping was conducted using a targeted NGS approach. After adjustment for confounders, the patients carrying the rs3732357 GA/AA genotype of the NR1I2 gene were found to have significantly lower RIF plasma AUC0–6 h in comparison to those with GG genotype, while the difference in RIF plasma Cmax was insignificant. None of the analyzed SNPs was related to DILI. Hence, we are the first to report NR1I2 intronic SNP rs3732357 as the genetic component of variability in RIF exposure. Regarding anti-TB treatment-associated DILI, the other preexisting factors promoting this ADR should be considered.
Fano Resonance Thermo-Optic Modulator Based on Double T-Bus Waveguides-Coupled Micro-Ring Resonator
Authors: Li Hongpeng , Lu Lidan , Chen Guang , Wang Shuai , Ou Jianzhen , Zhu Lianqing
Published: March 2024

For the silicon optical computing chip, the optical convolution unit based on the micro-ring modulator has been demonstrated to have high integration and large computing density. To further reduce power consumption, a novel, simple Fano resonant thermo-optic modulator is presented with numerical simulation and experimental demonstration. This designed Fano resonator comprises double T-shaped waveguides and a micro-ring with a radius of 10 μm. Compared with the free use of bus waveguides, our double T-shaped waveguides generate a phase shift, along with a Fano-like line shape. The experimental results show that the resonant wavelength shift of the designed modulator is 2.4 nm with a driven power of 20 mW. In addition, the maximum spectral resolution and the extinction ratio are 70.30 dB/nm and 12.69 dB, respectively. For our thermo-optic modulator, the optical intensity power consumption sensitivity of 7.60 dB/mW is three times as large as that of the micro-ring modulator. This work has broad potential to provide a low-power-consumption essential component for large-scale on-chip modulation for optical computing with compatible metal oxygen semiconductor processes.
Second-Order Sidebands and Group Delays in Coupled Optomechanical Cavity System with a Cubic Nonlinear Harmonic Oscillator
Authors: Zhao Qiwen , He Ying , Yang Yanfang , Zhang Huifang , Xu Yi
Published: March 2024

The generation of second-order sidebands and its associated group delay is an important subject in optical storage and switch. In this work, the efficiency of second-order sideband generation in a coupled optomechanical cavity system with a cubic nonlinear harmonic oscillator is theoretically investigated. It is found that the efficiency of second-order sideband generation can be effectively enhanced with the decrease in decay rate of optomechanical cavity, the increase in coupling strength between two cavities and the power of probe field. The slow light effect (i.e., positive group delay) is also observed in the proposed optomechanical cavity system, and can be controlled with the power of control field.
Is Africa Ready to Use Phycoremediation to Treat Domestic Wastewater as an Alternative Natural Base Solution? A Case Study
Authors: Oberholster Paul J. , Schoeman Yolandi , Botha Anna-Maria
Published: March 2024

This review outlines the potential of phycoremediation as a natural, cost-effective solution for domestic wastewater treatment in Africa, particularly focusing on its application in less densely populated and rural areas. The urgency of improving sanitation access, a key objective in both the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2015–2030), is underscored by the fact that half of Africa’s population suffers from diseases linked to inadequate water and sanitation facilities. South Africa, a focal point of this study, faces significant challenges in wastewater management. These include the limited capacity of wastewater treatment plants to handle the burgeoning wastewater volumes due to population growth, unregulated discharges causing fluctuating pollution levels, and high operational costs leading to improper sludge disposal and odor issues. Compounding these problems are frequent power outages, financial constraints impacting wastewater treatment plant operations and maintenance across Africa, and a lack of skilled personnel to manage these facilities.
Identification of Genomic Regions for Traits Associated with Flowering in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Authors: Baguma Julius K. , Mukasa Settumba B. , Nuwamanya Ephraim , Alicai Titus , Omongo Christopher Abu , Ochwo-Ssemakula Mildred , Ozimati Alfred , Esuma Williams , Kanaabi Michael , Wembabazi Enoch , Baguma Yona , Kawuki Robert S.
Published: March 2024

Flowering in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is crucial for the generation of botanical seed for breeding. However, genotypes preferred by most farmers are erect and poor at flowering or never flower. To elucidate the genetic basis of flowering, 293 diverse cassava accessions were evaluated for flowering-associated traits at two locations and seasons in Uganda. Genotyping using the Diversity Array Technology Pty Ltd. (DArTseq) platform identified 24,040 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed on the 18 cassava chromosomes. Population structure analysis using principal components (PCs) and kinships showed three clusters; the first five PCs accounted for 49.2% of the observed genetic variation. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) estimation averaged 0.32 at a distance of ~2850 kb (kilo base pairs). Polymorphism information content (PIC) and minor allele frequency (MAF) were 0.25 and 0.23, respectively. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis uncovered 53 significant marker–trait associations (MTAs) with flowering-associated traits involving 27 loci. Two loci, SNPs S5_29309724 and S15_11747301, were associated with all the traits. Using five of the 27 SNPs with a Phenotype_Variance_Explained (PVE) ≥ 5%, 44 candidate genes were identified in the peak SNP sites located within 50 kb upstream or downstream, with most associated with branching traits. Eight of the genes, orthologous to Arabidopsis and other plant species, had known functional annotations related to flowering, e.g., eukaryotic translation initiation factor and myb family transcription factor. This study identified genomic regions associated with flowering-associated traits in cassava, and the identified SNPs can be useful in marker-assisted selection to overcome hybridization challenges, like unsynchronized flowering, and candidate gene validation.
Salinity Mitigates the Negative Effect of Elevated Temperatures on Photosynthesis in the C3-C4 Intermediate Species Sedobassia sedoides
Authors: Shuyskaya Elena , Rakhmankulova Zulfira , Prokofieva Maria , Lunkova Nina , Voronin Pavel
Published: March 2024

The adaptation of plants to combined stresses requires unique responses capable of overcoming both the negative effects of each individual stress and their combination. Here, we studied the C3-C4 (C2) halophyte Sedobassia sedoides in response to elevated temperature (35 °C) and salinity (300 mM NaCl) as well as their combined effect. The responses we studied included changes in water–salt balance, light and dark photosynthetic reactions, the expression of photosynthetic genes, the activity of malate dehydrogenase complex enzymes, and the antioxidant system. Salt treatment led to altered water–salt balance, improved water use efficiency, and an increase in the abundance of key enzymes involved in intermediate C3-C4 photosynthesis (i.e., Rubisco and glycine decarboxylase). We also observed a possible increase in the activity of the C2 carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM), which allowed plants to maintain high photosynthesis intensity and biomass accumulation. Elevated temperatures caused an imbalance in the dark and light reactions of photosynthesis, leading to stromal overreduction and the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In response, S. sedoides significantly activated a metabolic pathway for removing excess NADPH, the malate valve, which is catalyzed by NADP-MDH, without observable activation of the antioxidant system. The combined action of these two factors caused the activation of antioxidant defenses (i.e., increased activity of SOD and POX and upregulation of FDI), which led to a decrease in oxidative stress and helped restore the photosynthetic energy balance. Overall, improved PSII functioning and increased activity of PSI cyclic electron transport (CET) and C2 CCM led to an increase in the photosynthesis intensity of S. sedoides under the combined effect of salinity and elevated temperature relative to high temperature alone.
The Impact of Peach Rootstocks and Winter Cover Crops on Reproduction of Ring Nematode
Authors: GC Sagar , Alarcon-Mendoza Ivan , Harshman David , Khanal Churamani
Published: March 2024

Two peach rootstocks (‘Guardian’ and ‘MP-29’) and ten winter cover crops (rye, wheat, barley, triticale, oat, Austrian winter pea, crimson clover, balansa clover, hairy vetch, and daikon radish) were evaluated in a greenhouse environment to determine their suitability to host ring nematode, Mesocriconema xenoplax. Each crop was inoculated with 500 ring nematodes, and the experiments were terminated 60 days after inoculation. The reproduction factor (ratio of final and initial nematode population) ranged from 0 to 13.8, indicating the crops greatly varied in their host suitability to ring nematode. ‘Guardian’ has been known to tolerate ring nematode; however, results from the current study suggest the tolerance statement is anecdotal. Another peach rootstock, ‘MP-29’, was also a good host for ring nematode, suggesting an urgency to develop ring nematode-resistant peach rootstocks. Wheat supported the least to no nematode reproduction while pea supported the greatest reproduction. The rest of the cover crops were poor to good hosts to ring nematodes. Although planting cover crops in peach orchards is not common, employing non or poor host crops can help suppress nematodes in addition to having soil health benefits. Furthermore, peach breeding programs should focus on finding and introgressing ring nematode resistance in commercial rootstocks.
Bioassay-Guided Fractionation of Pittosporum angustifolium and Terminalia ferdinandiana with Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy Exploratory Study
Authors: Mani Janice , Johnson Joel , Hosking Holly , Schmidt Luke , Batley Ryan , du Preez Ryan , Broszczak Daniel , Walsh Kerry , Neilsen Paul , Naiker Mani
Published: March 2024

Bioprospecting native Australian plants offers the potential discovery of latent and novel bioactive compounds. The promising cytotoxic and antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts of Pittosporum angustifolium and Terminalia ferdinandiana led to further fractionation and isolation using our laboratory’s bioassay-guided fractionation protocol. Hence, the aim of this study was to further evaluate the bioactivity of the fractions and subfractions and characterize bioactive compounds using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography MS (GC-MS). Compounds tentatively identified in P. angustifolium Fraction 1 using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS were chlorogenic acid and/or neochlorogenic acid, bergapten, berberine, 8′-epitanegool and rosmarinic acid. GC-MS analysis data showed the presence of around 100 compounds, mainly comprising carboxylic acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, amino acids and monoalkylglycerols. Furthermore, the fractions obtained from T. ferdinandiana flesh extracts showed no cytotoxicity, except against HT29 cell lines, and only Fraction 2 exhibited some antibacterial activity. The reduced bioactivity observed in the T. ferdinandiana fractions could be attributed to the potential loss of synergy as compounds become separated within the fractions. As a result, the further fractionation and separation of compounds in these samples was not pursued. However, additional dose-dependent studies are warranted to validate the bioactivity of T. ferdinandiana flesh fractions, particularly since this is an understudied species. Moreover, LC-MS/GC-MS studies confirm the presence of bioactive compounds in P. angustifolium Fraction 1/subfractions, which helps to explain the significant acute anticancer activity of this plant. The screening process designed in this study has the potential to pave the way for developing scientifically validated phytochemical/bioactivity information on ethnomedicinal plants, thereby facilitating further bioprospecting efforts and supporting the discovery of novel drugs in modern medicine.
Quantifying the Individual and Combined Effects of Short-Term Heat Stress at Booting and Flowering Stages on Nonstructural Carbohydrates Remobilization in Rice
Authors: Mahmood Aqib , Wang Wei , Raza Muhammad Ali , Ali Iftikhar , Liu Bing , Liu Leilei , Zhu Yan , Tang Liang , Cao Weixing
Published: March 2024

Rice production is threatened by climate change, particularly heat stress (HS). Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) remobilization is a key physiological mechanism that allows rice plants to cope with HS. To investigate the impact of short-term HS on the remobilization of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) in rice, two cultivars (Huaidao-5 and Wuyunjing-24) were subjected to varying temperature regimes: 32/22/27 °C as the control treatment, alongside 40/30/35 °C and 44/34/39 °C, for durations of 2 and 4 days during the booting, flowering, and combined stages (booting + flowering) within phytotrons across the years 2016 and 2017. The findings revealed that the stem’s NSC concentration increased, while the panicle’s NSCs concentration, the efficiency of NSCs translocation from the stem, and the stem NSC contribution to grain yield exhibited a consistent decline. Additionally, sugar and starch concentrations increased in leaves and stems during late grain filling and maturity stages, while in panicles, the starch concentration decreased and sugar concentration increased. The heat-tolerant cultivar, Wuyunjing-24, exhibited higher panicle NSC accumulation under HS than the heat-sensitive cultivar, Huaidao-5, which had more stem NSC accumulation. The flowering stage was the most vulnerable to HS, followed by the combined and booting stages. Heat degree days (HDDs) were utilized to quantify the effects of HS on NSC accumulation and translocation, revealing that the flowering stage was the most affected. These findings suggest that severe HS makes the stem the primary carbohydrate storage sink, and alleviation under combined HS aids in evaluating NSC accumulation, benefiting breeders in developing heat-tolerant rice varieties.
Assembly and Repair of Photosystem II in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Mehra Himanshu S. , Wang Xiaozhuo , Russell Brandon P. , Kulkarni Nidhi , Ferrari Nicholas , Larson Brent , Vinyard David J.
Published: March 2024

Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms use Photosystem II (PSII) to oxidize water and reduce plastoquinone. Here, we review the mechanisms by which PSII is assembled and turned over in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This species has been used to make key discoveries in PSII research due to its metabolic flexibility and amenability to genetic approaches. PSII subunits originate from both nuclear and chloroplastic gene products in Chlamydomonas. Nuclear-encoded PSII subunits are transported into the chloroplast and chloroplast-encoded PSII subunits are translated by a coordinated mechanism. Active PSII dimers are built from discrete reaction center complexes in a process facilitated by assembly factors. The phosphorylation of core subunits affects supercomplex formation and localization within the thylakoid network. Proteolysis primarily targets the D1 subunit, which when replaced, allows PSII to be reactivated and completes a repair cycle. While PSII has been extensively studied using Chlamydomonas as a model species, important questions remain about its assembly and repair which are presented here.
In Silico Analysis of Glutamate Receptors in Capsicum chinense: Structure, Evolution, and Molecular Interactions
Authors: León-García Fabiola , García-Laynes Federico , Estrada-Tapia Georgina , Monforte-González Miriam , Martínez-Estevez Manuel , Echevarría-Machado Ileana
Published: March 2024

Plant glutamate receptors (GLRs) are integral membrane proteins that function as non-selective cation channels, involved in the regulation of developmental events crucial in plants. Knowledge of these proteins is restricted to a few species and their true agonists are still unknown in plants. Using tomato SlGLRs, a search was performed in the pepper database to identify GLR sequences in habanero pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.). Structural, phylogenetic, and orthology analysis of the CcGLRs, as well as molecular docking and protein interaction networks, were conducted. Seventeen CcGLRs were identified, which contained the characteristic domains of GLR. The variation of conserved residues in the M2 transmembrane domain between members suggests a difference in ion selectivity and/or conduction. Also, new conserved motifs in the ligand-binding regions are reported. Duplication events seem to drive the expansion of the species, and these were located in the evolution by using orthologs. Molecular docking analysis allowed us to identify differences in the agonist binding pocket between CcGLRs, which suggest the existence of different affinities for amino acids. The possible interaction of some CcGLRs with proteins leads to suggesting specific functions for them within the plant. These results offer important functional clues for CcGLR, probably extrapolated to other Solanaceae.
Nitrogen Application Timing and Levels Affect the Fate and Budget of Fertilizer Nitrogen in the Apple–Soil System
Authors: Wang Fen , Wang Chaoran , Yang Binghao , Luo Xinyu , Qi Gaowei , Ji Fajin , Guo Xinkai , Yang Tao , Zhao Xuehui , Li Ming , Jiang Qianqian , Peng Ling , Cao Hui
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to determine the effects of the nitrogen (N) application period and level on the fate of fertilizer N and the contribution of N absorption and translocation to apple organ N. Two N application periods (labeled by the 15N tracer technique in spring and summer, represented by SP and SU, respectively) and three N levels (N0, MN, and HN) were used to determine the physiological indexes and aboveground, root, and soil 15N content of 4-year-old dwarf (‘Red Fuji’/M9T337) and arborized (‘Red Fuji’/Malus hupehensis Rehd.) apple trees. The results showed that HN led to shoot overgrowth, which was not conducive to the growth of the apple root system (root length, root tips, root surface area, and root volume) or the improvement of root activity. The contribution of soil N to apple organ N accounted for more than 50%, and the contribution of N application in summer to fruit N was higher than that in spring. Under HN treatment, the proportion of soil N absorbed by trees decreased, while that of fertilizer N increased; however, the highest proportion was still less than 50%, so apple trees were highly dependent on soil N. Under MN treatment, fertilizer N residue was similar to soil N consumption, and soil N fertility maintained a basic balance. Under HN treatment, fertilizer N residue was significantly higher than soil N consumption, indicating that excessive N application increased fertilizer N residue in the soil. Overall, the 15N utilization rate of arborized trees (17.33–22.38%) was higher than that of dwarf trees (12.89–16.91%). A total of 12.89–22.38% of fertilizer 15N was absorbed by trees, 30.37–35.41% of fertilizer 15N remained in the soil, and 44.65–54.46% of fertilizer 15N was lost. The 15N utilization rate and 15N residual rate of summer N application were higher than those of spring N application, and the 15N loss rate was lower than that of spring N application. High microbial biomass N (MBN) may be one of the reasons for the high N utilization rate and the low loss rate of N application in summer.
The Role of Terroir on the Ripening Traits of V. vinifera cv ‘Glera’ in the Prosecco Area
Authors: Belfiore Nicola , Amato Alessandra , Gardiman Massimo , Gaiotti Federica , Zenoni Sara , Tornielli Giovanni Battista , Fasoli Marianna , Bavaresco Luigi
Published: March 2024

The grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is widely cultivated worldwide owing to the substantial commercial value of the grapes and other products derived from their processing, wines in particular. The grapevine is characterized by a remarkable phenotypic plasticity within the same variety, which shapes the final berry quality attributes hence reflecting the complex interactions between the plant and the environment leading to the expression of wine typicity. In this study, we explored the metabolomic and transcriptomic basis of the plasticity of Glera, a white berry grapevine variety particularly renowned for the production of wine Prosecco. The two selected vineyards varied for site altitude and pedoclimatic conditions. We highlighted that these environments determined different berry ripening dynamics at the level of both technological parameters and the total abundance and intrafamily distribution of phenolic compounds. Moreover, a clear impact on the grape aroma profile was observed. The genome-wide gene expression analysis of the berries revealed remarkable differences in the ripening transcriptomic program, reflecting the differences in water status, light exposure, and temperature experienced by the plants while growing at the two sites. Overall, this survey portrayed how the quality attributes of the cv ‘Glera’ grape berries may be affected by different environmental conditions within the typical area of Prosecco wine production.
Preparation and Characterization of Guaiacol-Furfuramine Benzoxazine and Its Modification of Bisphenol A-Aniline Oxazine Resin
Authors: Wang Jing , Xu Riwei
Published: March 2024

A new type of benzoxazine resin has been synthesized using a natural phenol source, guaiacol, and a biomass amines, furfuramine. The synthesis conditions were optimized; when the reaction molar ratio of guaiacol, furfuramine, and polyformaldehyde was 1:1:4, the highest synthetic yield was reached. The product was characterized via testing using transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), mass spectrogram (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) to confirm its molecular structure. A differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test was conducted to analyze the thermodynamic properties of the product, and the results showed that the product decomposed and evaporated at around 180 °C, making it impossible to achieve self-curing. However, the prepared guaiacol-furfuramine benzoxazine resin (GFZ) can be blended and cured in certain proportions with bisphenol A-aniline oxazine resin (BAZ) as a GFZ/BAZ binary system (5:95, 10:90, 20:80, and 40:60). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) test results showed that when the content of GFZ was 10%, the storage modulus of the copolymer resin was greatly improved. After conducting impact strength tests on the copolymer resin, it was found that the toughness of the copolymer resin had improved, and the maximum impact strength had increased by nearly three times. This indicates that the flexible long-chain structure in GFZ can effectively improve the toughness of the cured copolymer system. The reaction of active groups on benzoxazine molecules with other resins can not only improve the mechanical properties of their cured products, but also has important significance in the preparation of low-cost and environmentally friendly sustainable composite materials with excellent comprehensive performance.
Recent Progress in Cellulose Hydrophobization by Gaseous Plasma Treatments
Authors: Primc Gregor , Vesel Alenka , Zaplotnik Rok , Gorjanc Marija , Gselman Peter , Lehocký Marián , Mozetič Miran
Published: March 2024

Cellulose is an abundant natural polymer and is thus promising for enforcing biobased plastics. A broader application of cellulose fibers as a filler in polymer composites is limited because of their hydrophilicity and hygroscopicity. The recent scientific literature on plasma methods for the hydrophobization of cellulose materials is reviewed and critically evaluated. All authors focused on the application of plasmas sustained in fluorine or silicon-containing gases, particularly tetrafluoromethane, and hexamethyldisiloxane. The cellulose materials should be pre-treated with another plasma (typically oxygen) for better adhesion of the silicon-containing hydrophobic coating. In contrast, deposition of fluorine-containing coatings does not require pre-treatment, which is explained by mild etching of the cellulose upon treatment with F atoms and ions. The discrepancy between the results reported by different authors is explained by details in the gas phase and surface kinetics, including the heating of samples due to exothermic surface reactions, desorption of water vapor, competition between etching and deposition, the influence of plasma radiation, and formation of dusty plasma. Scientific and technological challenges are highlighted, and the directions for further research are provided.
Study on Non-Spherical Deformation Velocity of a Single Cavitation Bubble
Authors: Ding Qingmiao , Li Xiaoman , Cui Yanyu , Lv Junda , Shan Yunlong , Liu Yongqiang
Published: March 2024

Cavitation bubbles commonly exist in shipbuilding engineering, ocean engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical industry, and aerospace. Asymmetric deformation of the bubble occurs near the boundary and then has strong destructiveness, such as high amplitude loading. Therefore, the research on non-spherical deformation is of great significance, and the objective of this paper is to investigate the non-spherical collapse dynamics of laser-induced cavitation bubbles when near different boundaries. In this study, experimental data, such as the bubble pulsation process and bubble surface velocity distribution, were obtained by high-speed camera techniques and full-field velocity calculations. Near the different boundaries, the results show that the bubbles appeared to have different collapse shapes, such as near-hemispherical, near-ellipsoidal, near-cone, and near-pea shapes, and the surface velocity distribution is extremely non-uniform. When the bubble near the free surface or rigid boundary collapses, the smaller the stand-off r is, the more obvious the repulsive effect of the free surface or the attractive effect of the rigid boundary is. As the stand-off r decreases, the larger the Bjerknes force and the bubble surface velocity difference and the more pronounced the non-spherical shape becomes.
Environmentally Friendly Leaching of Antimony from Mining Residues Using Deep Eutectic Solvents: Optimization and Sustainable Extraction Strategies
Authors: Sudová Michaela , Sisol Martin , Kanuchova Maria , Marcin Michal , Kurty Jakub
Published: March 2024

This paper focuses on the environmental leaching of antimony, a critical mineral, using deep eutectic solvents. Mining residues often contain embedded antimony, posing environmental risks. Deep eutectic solvents, known for being low in toxicity, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, present a promising avenue for sustainable antimony extraction. The study focuses on optimizing the leaching process through experimental analysis by considering variables such as temperature, time, and percentage of solids. Different deep eutectic solvent (DES) compositions are being studied, including choline chloride with malonic acid, thiourea, and ethylene glycol in different molar ratios, to identify the most effective solvent system for antimony extraction. A sample, originally obtained from mining waste produced via the flotation of antimonite ore, was used to test these three types of DESs. By optimizing the leaching process by changing the ratio of solid and liquid components, as well as the amount of oxidizing agent up to 3 g, iodine, yields of up to 100% were achieved after leaching for 4 h at 100 °C. The aim of the study is to advance sustainable resource management by providing knowledge on an ecological and feasible method of extracting antimony from mine waste, leading to more conscious and efficient resource practices in the mining sector.
Optimization of Giant Magnetoimpedance Effect of Amorphous Microwires by Postprocessing
Authors: Zhukova Valentina , Corte-Leon Paula , Talaat Ahmed , Ipatov Mihail , García-Gomez Alfonso , González Alvaro , Blanco Juan Maria , Zhukov Arcady
Published: March 2024

Magnetic microwires with amorphous structures can present a unique combination of excellent magnetic softness and giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effects together with reduced dimensions and good mechanical properties. Such unique properties make them suitable for various technological applications. The high GMI effect, observed in as-prepared Co-rich microwires, can be further optimized by postprocessing. However, unexpected magnetic hardening and a transformation of the linear hysteresis loop into a rectangular loop with a coercivity on the order of 90 A/m were observed in several Co-rich microwires upon conventional annealing. Several routes to improve magnetic softness and GMI effect in Fe- and Co-rich magnetic microwires are provided. We observed that stress annealing could remarkably improve the magnetic softness and GMI ratio of Co-rich microwires. Thus, almost unhysteretic loops with a coercivity of 2 A/m and a magnetic anisotropy field of about 70 A/m are achieved in Co-rich microwires stress annealed at appropriate conditions. The observed change in hysteresis loops and the GMI effect is explained by stress-annealing-induced anisotropy, which is affected by the stresses applied during annealing and by the annealing temperature. While as-prepared Fe-rich amorphous microwires present a low GMI effect, appropriate postprocessing (annealing and stress annealing) allows for a remarkable GMI ratio improvement (an order of magnitude). The evaluated dependence of the maximum GMI ratio on frequency allows the identification of the optimal frequency band for the studied samples. The origin of stress-annealing-induced anisotropy and related changes in hysteresis loops and the GMI effect are discussed in terms of the relaxation of internal stresses, “back-stresses”, as well as structural anisotropy.
The Art of Neighboring beyond the Nation: Ethnic and Religious Pluralism in Southwest China
Authors: Wu Keping
Published: March 2024

Northwest Yunnan is nested in the border areas of Tibet, Myanmar, and Southwest China. The religiously and ethnically diverse region has astonishingly seen a lack of “conflict”, as is often assumed in regions of ethnic and religious differences. This paper argues that there is an organic form of pluralism through frequent inter-ethnic and inter-religious marriages, multi-lingual daily interactions, and strategic ethnicity registrations. Ethnic and religious boundaries are made permanently or temporarily permeable through the celebration of boundary-crossing rituals such as weddings and funerals and other shared experiences such as collective labor and migrant work. Despite an increasingly strong push to be integrated into the state power through various top-down developmental projects, minority peoples here still use kinship, collective rituals, and other shared experiences to foster group formation that is fluid, porous, and malleable, instilling empathy and obligation as the basis of this pluralistic borderland society. This organic form of pluralism presents an alternative to the nation as the standard modern form of community. This paper ultimately argues that this specific type of plurality requires us to think beyond the normative liberal notions of religious tolerance and diversity that are still promoted within the frame of the exclusivist nation-state.
‘Let Us Just Be Humans’: Reading Allard Pierson’s True Humanity through the Lens of Caputo’s Religion without Religion
Authors: Wolsink Sabine
Published: March 2024

The Dutch intellectual Allard Pierson (1831–1896) is often considered to be an example of secularism. In 1865, he resigned as a minister from the Dutch Reformed Church in order to promote true humanity in society at large. This article explores how Pierson’s true humanity can be considered as an ultimate concern (Tillich) or a religion without religion (Caputo) by reading him through the lens of John D. Caputo’s thinking. Both Caputo and Tillich developed a non-institutional and undogmatic understanding of religion, in which religion is related to a universal human love, passion, or ultimate concern that is not necessarily linked to a religious institution or doctrine. After an elaboration of Caputo’s religion without religion, the article discusses Pierson’s thinking in the context of nineteenth-century theological modernism and debates on the modernist’s right to stay in the church. Then, Pierson’s reasons for his resignation and his true humanity are examined. It becomes clear that Pierson did not choose secularism over religion, but rather surpassed the religious-secular divide by a focus on our common human nature. Being human was more important than being Christian, which exemplifies the late-nineteenth-century move from a theistic Christianity towards a humanistic religiosity or humanism.
From Aslamat al-Maᶜrifa to al-Takāmul al-Maᶜrifī: A Study of the Shift from Islamization to Integration of Knowledge
Authors: Laabdi Mourad , Elbittioui Aziz
Published: March 2024

Over the past half-century, the study of Islam in the Muslim world has been preoccupied with three global projects: maqāṣid al-sharīᶜa (the higher objectives of revealed law), al-wasaṭiyya al-islāmiyya (Islamic moderation), and aslamat al-maᶜrifa (Islamization of knowledge). Of these three, the latter has been the most substantial enterprise due to its ambitious work plan, extensive scope, and far-reaching influence. However, in recent decades, the Islamization of knowledge project has undergone significant developments culminating in its reformulation as ‘knowledge integration’ (al-takāmul al-maᶜrifī). This paper traces and analyzes the key manifestations of this notable transformation. Firstly, it surveys the various contexts of eschewing the concept of ‘Islamization’ and adopting ‘integration’. Secondly, it examines the conceptualization of the construct of ‘al-takāmul al-maᶜrifī’ within pre-modern and contemporary Islamic contexts. Thirdly, it investigates the practical implementation of knowledge integration with a special focus on the domain of higher education. The question that brings all three sections together is whether the knowledge integration model embodies a true paradigm shift or is a mere name change while bearing on the old rationale and approach of Islamization. The present paper argues that, under the banner of al-takāmul al-maᶜrifī, a shift from an internally focused intellectual effort to one that envisions new opportunities for epistemological renewal is recognizable at the individual level. However, institutionally, the application of this paradigm is still pending full and effective realization.
Pedro de la Piñuela’s Bencao Bu and the Cultural Exchanges between China and the West
Authors: Ye Junyang
Published: March 2024

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholic missionaries in China adopted the strategy of cultural accommodation and engaged in extensive interactions with Chinese literati and the general population in order to integrate into Chinese society. They left numerous writings in the Chinese language, objectively promoting cultural exchanges between the East and the West. This article focuses on the pharmacological work Bencao Bu (本草補, Supplement to Chinese Materia Medica) by Spanish Franciscan Pedro de la Piñuela (石鐸琭, Shi Duolu, 1650–1704). The article argues that, in addition to questioning whether the works in Chinese left by missionaries have contributed to the progress of Chinese society in science, medicine, humanities and other aspects, we should also explore the process of encounter between two different cultures. Although Bencao Bu did not significantly advance Chinese medicine, la Piñuela incorporated elements of Chinese culture into the book and made an initial attempt to apply Chinese medical concepts in diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, the book not only introduced certain Western scientific knowledge and pharmaceutical techniques but also could be considered the epitome of the global exchange of botanical knowledge and medical experiences, promoting mutual understanding between different parts of the world. This underscores the cultural significance beyond religious purposes found in Bencao Bu as well as other scientific and cultural works by missionaries during the Ming and Qing periods in China.
AL-MRIS: An Active Learning-Based Multipath Residual Involution Siamese Network for Few-Shot Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Yang Jinghui , Qin Jia , Qian Jinxi , Li Anqi , Wang Liguo
Published: March 2024

In hyperspectral image (HSI) classification scenarios, deep learning-based methods have achieved excellent classification performance, but often rely on large-scale training datasets to ensure accuracy. However, in practical applications, the acquisition of hyperspectral labeled samples is time consuming, labor intensive and costly, which leads to a scarcity of obtained labeled samples. Suffering from insufficient training samples, few-shot sample conditions limit model training and ultimately affect HSI classification performance. To solve the above issues, an active learning (AL)-based multipath residual involution Siamese network for few-shot HSI classification (AL-MRIS) is proposed. First, an AL-based Siamese network framework is constructed. The Siamese network, which has relatively low demand for sample data, is adopted for classification, and the AL strategy is integrated to select more representative samples to improve the model’s discriminative ability and reduce the costs of labeling samples in practice. Then, the multipath residual involution (MRIN) module is designed for the Siamese subnetwork to obtain the comprehensive features of the HSI. The involution operation was used to capture the fine-grained features and effectively aggregate the contextual semantic information of the HSI through dynamic weights. The MRIN module comprehensively considers the local features, dynamic features and global features through multipath residual connections, which improves the representation ability of HSIs. Moreover, a cosine distance-based contrastive loss is proposed for the Siamese network. By utilizing the directional similarity of high-dimensional HSI data, the discriminability of the Siamese classification network is improved. A large number of experimental results show that the proposed AL-MRIS method can achieve excellent classification performance with few-shot training samples, and compared with several state-of-the-art classification methods, the AL-MRIS method obtains the highest classification accuracy.
Monitoring and Analysis of the Collapse at Xinjing Open-Pit Mine, Inner Mongolia, China, Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing
Authors: Zhang Nianbin , Wang Yunjia , Zhao Feng , Wang Teng , Zhang Kewei , Fan Hongdong , Zhou Dawei , Zhang Leixin , Yan Shiyong , Diao Xinpeng , Song Rui
Published: March 2024

The collapse of open-pit coal mine slopes is a kind of severe geological hazard that may cause resource waste, economic loss, and casualties. On 22 February 2023, a large-scale collapse occurred at the Xinjing Open-Pit Mine in Inner Mongolia, China, leading to the loss of 53 lives. Thus, monitoring of the slope stability is important for preventing similar potential damage. It is difficult to fully obtain the temporal and spatial information of the whole mining area using conventional ground monitoring technologies. Therefore, in this study, multi-source remote sensing methods, combined with local geological conditions, are employed to monitor the open-pit mine and analyze the causes of the accident. Firstly, based on GF-2 data, remote sensing interpretation methods are used to locate and analyze the collapse area. The results indicate that high-resolution remote sensing can delineate the collapse boundary, supporting the post-disaster rescue. Subsequently, multi-temporal Radarsat-2 and Sentinel-1A satellite data, covering the period from mining to collapse, are integrated with D-InSAR and DS-InSAR technologies to monitor the deformation of both the collapse areas and the potential risk to dump slopes. The D-InSAR result suggests that high-intensity open-pit mining may be the dominant factor affecting deformation. Furthermore, the boundary between the collapse trailing edge and the non-collapse area could be found in the DS-InSAR result. Moreover, various data sources, including DEM and geological data, are combined to analyze the causes and trends of the deformation. The results suggest that the dump slopes are stable. Meanwhile, the deformation trends of the collapse slope indicate that there may be faults or joint surfaces of the collapse trailing edge boundary. The slope angle exceeding the designed value during the mining is the main cause of the collapse. In addition, the thawing of soil moisture caused by the increase in temperature and the reduction in the mechanical properties of the rock and soil due to underground voids and coal fires also contributed to the accident. This study demonstrates that multi-source remote sensing technologies can quickly and accurately identify potential high-risk areas, which is of great significance for pre-disaster warning and post-disaster rescue.
Characterizing Water Composition with an Autonomous Robotic Team Employing Comprehensive In Situ Sensing, Hyperspectral Imaging, Machine Learning, and Conformal Prediction
Authors: Waczak John , Aker Adam , Wijeratne Lakitha O. H. , Talebi Shawhin , Fernando Ashen , Dewage Prabuddha M. H. , Iqbal Mazhar , Lary Matthew , Schaefer David , Lary David J.
Published: March 2024

Inland waters pose a unique challenge for water quality monitoring by remote sensing techniques due to their complicated spectral features and small-scale variability. At the same time, collecting the reference data needed to calibrate remote sensing data products is both time consuming and expensive. In this study, we present the further development of a robotic team composed of an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) providing in situ reference measurements and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a hyperspectral imager. Together, this team is able to address the limitations of existing approaches by enabling the simultaneous collection of hyperspectral imagery with precisely collocated in situ data. We showcase the capabilities of this team using data collected in a northern Texas pond across three days in 2020. Machine learning models for 13 variables are trained using the dataset of paired in situ measurements and coincident reflectance spectra. These models successfully estimate physical variables including temperature, conductivity, pH, and turbidity as well as the concentrations of blue–green algae, colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM), chlorophyll-a, crude oil, optical brighteners, and the ions Ca2+, Cl−, and Na+. We extend the training procedure to utilize conformal prediction to estimate 90% confidence intervals for the output of each trained model. Maps generated by applying the models to the collected images reveal small-scale spatial variability within the pond. This study highlights the value of combining real-time, in situ measurements together with hyperspectral imaging for the rapid characterization of water composition.