bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fine-Tuning of the Plant Hormones, Polyamines and Osmolytes by Ectomycorrhizal Fungi Enhances Drought Tolerance in Pedunculate Oak
Authors: Kebert Marko , Kostić Saša , Stojnić Srđan , Čapelja Eleonora , Markić Anđelina Gavranović , Zorić Martina , Kesić Lazar , Flors Victor
Published: April 2023

The drought sensitivity of the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) poses a threat to its survival in light of climate change. Mycorrhizal fungi, which orchestrate biogeochemical cycles and particularly have an impact on the plant’s defense mechanisms and metabolism of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, are among the microbes that play a significant role in the mitigation of the effects of climate change on trees. The study’s main objectives were to determine whether ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi alleviate the effects of drought stress in pedunculate oak and to investigate their priming properties. The effects of two levels of drought (mild and severe, corresponding to 60% and 30% of field capacity, respectively) on the biochemical response of pedunculate oak were examined in the presence and absence of ectomycorrhizal fungi. To examine whether the ectomycorrhizal fungi modulate the drought tolerance of pedunculate oak, levels of plant hormones and polyamines were quantified using UPLC-TQS and HPLC-FD techniques in addition to gas exchange measurements and the main osmolyte amounts (glycine betaine-GB and proline-PRO) which were determined spectrophotometrically. Droughts increased the accumulation of osmolytes, such as proline and glycine betaine, as well as higher polyamines (spermidine and spermine) levels and decreased putrescine levels in both, mycorrhized and non-mycorrhized oak seedlings. In addition to amplifying the response of oak to severe drought in terms of inducible proline and abscisic acid (ABA) levels, inoculation with ECM fungi significantly increased the constitutive levels of glycine betaine, spermine, and spermidine regardless of drought stress. This study found that compared to non-mycorrhized oak seedlings, unstressed ECM-inoculated oak seedlings had higher levels of salicylic (SA) and abscisic acid (ABA) but not jasmonic acid (JA), indicating a priming mechanism of ECM is conveyed via these plant hormones. According to a PCA analysis, the effect of drought was linked to the variability of parameters along the PC1 axe, such as osmolytes PRO, GB, polyamines, and plant hormones such as JA, JA-Ile, SAG, and SGE, whereas mycorrhization was more closely associated with the parameters gathered around the PC2 axe (SA, ODPA, ABA, and E). These findings highlight the beneficial function of the ectomycorrhizal fungi, in particular Scleroderma citrinum, in reducing the effects of drought stress in pedunculate oak.
Effects of Nitric Oxide on the Activity of P2X and TRPV1 Receptors in Rat Meningeal Afferents of the Trigeminal Nerve
Authors: Koroleva Kseniia , Svitko Svetlana , Ananev Anton , Buglinina Anastasiia , Bogatova Ksenia , Yakovleva Olga , Nurmieva Dinara , Shaidullov Ilnar , Sitdikova Guzel
Published: April 2023

Nitric oxide is one of the endogenous molecules that play a key role in migraine. However, the interaction between NO and the main players in the nociceptive activity of the meningeal trigeminal afferents—TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors—remains unstudied. In the current project, the effects of acute and chronic NO administration on the activity of TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors in the peripheral afferents were studied using electrophysiological recording of action potentials of the trigeminal nerve in the rat hemiskull preparations. The data obtained indicate that exogenous and endogenous NO increased the activity of the trigeminal nerve independent on the inhibition of the TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors. The activity of the trigeminal nerve triggered by ATP changed neither in acute incubation in the NO donor—sodium nitroprusside (SNP) nor in the chronic nitroglycerine (NG)-induced migraine model. Moreover, the chronic NG administration did not increase in the number of degranulated mast cells in the rat meninges. At the same time, the capsaicin-induced activity of the trigeminal nerve was higher with chronic NO administration or after acute NO application, and these effects were prevented by N-ethylmaleimide. In conclusion, we suggested that NO positively modulates the activity of TRPV1 receptors by S-nitrosylation, which may contribute to the pro-nociceptive action of NO and underlie the sensitization of meningeal afferents in chronic migraine.
(±)-N-(3-Chlorophenethyl)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanamide
Authors: Manolov Stanimir , Ivanov Iliyan , Bojilov Dimitar , Nikolova Gabriela
Published: April 2023

Herein we report the synthesis of (±)-N-(3-chlorophenethyl)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanamide in the reaction between 2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-amine and (±)-naproxen. The newly obtained bio-functional hybrid molecule was fully characterized via 1H, 13C NMR, UV, IR, and mass spectral data.
Rheological and Mechanical Properties of Bentonite–Cement Paste Reinforced with Basalt Fibers
Authors: Sun Pinghe , Wei Bangdi , Habiyakare Erneste , Bin Bin , Wang Le , Peng Chunlei , Ji Wenlong , Cao Han , Yang Hanhan
Published: April 2023

Bentonite cement paste (BCP) is among the grouting materials used widely in large-pore grouting and karst cave treatment. The mechanical properties of bentonite cement paste (BCP) will be improved by additional basalt fibers (BF). In this study, the effects of basalt fiber (BF) contents and their lengths on the rheological and mechanical properties of bentonite cement paste (BCP) have been examined. Yield stress (YS), plastic viscosity (PV), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), and splitting tensile strength (STS) were used to evaluate the rheological and mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced bentonite cement paste (BFBCP). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) characterize microstructure development. The results indicate that the Bingham model can provide the rheological behavior of basalt fibers and bentonite cement paste (BFBCP). The yield stress (YS) and plastic viscosity (PV) increase as the content and length of basalt fiber (BF) increase. The effect of fiber content on yield stress (YS) and plastic viscosity (PV) is greater than that of fiber length. The addition of basalt fiber (BF) enhanced the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) of basalt fiber-reinforced bentonite cement paste (BFBCP) at the optimum basalt fiber (BF) content of 0.6%. The optimum basalt fiber (BF) content tends to increase as curing age increases. The basalt fiber length of 9 mm is the most effective for improving unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS). The large increments in unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and splitting tensile strength (STS) were 19.17% and 28.21% for the basalt fiber-reinforced bentonite cement paste (BFBCP), with a basalt fiber length of 9 mm and content of 0.6%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the randomly distributed basalt fiber (BF) forms a spatial network structure in basalt fiber-reinforced bentonite cement paste (BFBCP), which composes a stress system under the action of cementation. Basalt fibers (BF) used in crack generation processes slow down the flow through bridging and occur in the substrate to improve the mechanical properties of basalt fiber-reinforced bentonite cement paste (BFBCP).
Characterization of New Polymer Material of Amino-β-Cyclodextrin and Sodium Alginate for Environmental Purposes
Authors: Kozieł-Trąbska Kinga , Żarska Sandra , Girek Tomasz , Ciesielski Wojciech
Published: April 2023

The β-cyclodextrin polymer (PβCD) cross-linked with pyromellitic dianhydride (PD) and functionalized with an amino group (PAβCD) was introduced into a matrix made of sodium alginate (SA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed a homogeneous surface of the composite material. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) testing of the PAβCD confirmed polymer formation. The tested polymer increased its solubility relative to the polymer without the amino group. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed the stability of the system. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed the chemical binding of PAβCD and SA. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC-SEC) showed high cross-linking of PAβCD and allowed for accurate determination of its weight. The formation of the composite material such as PAβCD introduced into a matrix made of sodium alginate (SA) has several potential environmental implications, including the use of sustainable materials, reduced waste generation, reduced toxicity, and improved solubility.
Microfluidic Chips: Emerging Technologies for Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy
Authors: Tian Yishen , Hu Rong , Du Guangshi , Xu Na
Published: April 2023

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a personalized therapy that has shown great success in treating hematologic malignancies in clinic, and has also demonstrated potential applications for solid tumors. The process of ACT involves multiple steps, including the separation of desired cells from patient tissues, cell engineering by virus vector systems, and infusion back into patients after strict tests to guarantee the quality and safety of the products. ACT is an innovative medicine in development; however, the multi-step method is time-consuming and costly, and the preparation of the targeted adoptive cells remains a challenge. Microfluidic chips are a novel platform with the advantages of manipulating fluid in micro/nano scales, and have been developed for various biological research applications as well as ACT. The use of microfluidics to isolate, screen, and incubate cells in vitro has the advantages of high throughput, low cell damage, and fast amplification rates, which can greatly simplify ACT preparation steps and reduce costs. Moreover, the customizable microfluidic chips fit the personalized demands of ACT. In this mini-review, we describe the advantages and applications of microfluidic chips for cell sorting, cell screening, and cell culture in ACT compared to other existing methods. Finally, we discuss the challenges and potential outcomes of future microfluidics-related work in ACT.
3D Bioprinting of an Endothelialized Liver Lobule-like Construct as a Tumor-Scale Drug Screening Platform
Authors: Fan Zicheng , Wei Xiaoyun , Chen Keke , Wang Ling , Xu Mingen
Published: April 2023

3D cell culture models replicating the complexity of cell–cell interactions and biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) are novel approaches for studying liver cancer, including in vitro drug screening or disease mechanism investigation. Although there have been advancements in the production of 3D liver cancer models to serve as drug screening platforms, recreating the structural architecture and tumor-scale microenvironment of native liver tumors remains a challenge. Here, using the dot extrusion printing (DEP) technology reported in our previous work, we fabricated an endothelialized liver lobule-like construct by printing hepatocyte-laden methacryloyl gelatin (GelMA) hydrogel microbeads and HUVEC-laden gelatin microbeads. DEP technology enables hydrogel microbeads to be produced with precise positioning and adjustable scale, facilitating the construction of liver lobule-like structures. The vascular network was achieved by sacrificing the gelatin microbeads at 37 °C to allow HUVEC proliferation on the surface of the hepatocyte layer. Finally, we used the endothelialized liver lobule-like constructs for anti-cancer drug (Sorafenib) screening, and stronger drug resistance results were obtained when compared to either mono-cultured constructs or hepatocyte spheroids alone. The 3D liver cancer models presented here successfully recreate liver lobule-like morphology, and may have the potential to serve as a liver tumor-scale drug screening platform.
Metal-Chelating Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Scaffolds for Modulation of Neuronal Cell Behavior
Authors: Dayob Kenana , Zengin Aygul , Garifullin Ruslan , Guler Mustafa O. , Abdullin Timur I. , Yergeshov Abdulla , Salakhieva Diana V. , Cong Hong Hanh , Zoughaib Mohamed
Published: April 2023

Synthetic peptides are promising structural and functional components of bioactive and tissue-engineering scaffolds. Here, we demonstrate the design of self-assembling nanofiber scaffolds based on peptide amphiphile (PA) molecules containing multi-functional histidine residues with trace metal (TM) coordination ability. The self-assembly of PAs and characteristics of PA nanofiber scaffolds along with their interaction with Zn, Cu, and Mn essential microelements were studied. The effects of TM-activated PA scaffolds on mammalian cell behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glutathione levels were shown. The study reveals the ability of these scaffolds to modulate adhesion, proliferation, and morphological differentiation of neuronal PC-12 cells, suggesting a particular role of Mn(II) in cell-matrix interaction and neuritogenesis. The results provide a proof-of-concept for the development of histidine-functionalized peptide nanofiber scaffolds activated with ROS- and cell-modulating TMs to induce regenerative responses.
Prognostic Value of Nutritional Assessments on Overall Survival in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors with Radiation-Induced Brain Necrosis
Authors: Pan Dong , Shen Qingyu , Li Yi , Rong Xiaoming , Li Honghong , Xu Yongteng , He Baixuan , Zuo Xuzheng , Deng Zhenhong , Tang Yamei
Published: April 2023

Malnutrition is related to worsened prognosis, but the association between nutritional risk status and overall survival in radiation-induced brain necrosis (RN) has never been studied. We included consecutive patients who had received radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) and subsequently developed RN from 8 January 2005 through to 19 January 2020. The primary outcome was overall survival. We utilized three commonly-used nutritional assessments: the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), and the COntrolling NUTritional Status (CONUT) measure, to quantify the baseline nutritional risk. A total of 398 eligible patients were included. During a median follow-up of 2.3 years, 42 (10.6%) patients died of any cause. Malnutrition at admission was associated with an increased risk of future death, as assessed by the GNRI (per 1-point decreased, HR 1.05, 95%CI 1.02–1.09, p = 0.001), the PNI (per 1-point decreased, HR 1.07, 95%CI 1.03–1.12, p = 0.002), and the CONUT (per 1-point increased, HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.08–1.37, p = 0.001). There were no nonlinear correlations between all three indices and post-RN survival. Among HNC survivors with RN, the assessment of nutritional risk by composite indices upon admission could help identify patients who might be at high risk of future death and deliver better nutritional management.
Efficacy of Dietary Intervention with Group Activities on Dietary Intakes, Frailty Status, and Working Memory: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Community Strongholds
Authors: Wu Szu-Yun , Cheng Yu-Yao , Chang Hsing-Yi , Wang Pei-Hsuan , Hsieh I-Ching , Yeh Nai-Hua , Huang Kuo-Chin , Pan Wen-Harn
Published: April 2023

Geriatric community centers often offer nutrition lectures to older adults. In order to make learning more interesting and pragmatic, we developed group activity sessions. This undertaking was tested for its efficacy in changes of frailty status and several other geriatric health parameters. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted between September 2018 and December 2019 at 13 luncheon-providing community strongholds in Taipei, Taiwan. During the 3-month intervention period, 6 experimental strongholds received a weekly 1 h exercise workout and 1 h nutrition activities aiming at achieving the recommendations of the Taiwanese Daily Food Guide for elderlies; the other 7 received a weekly 1 h exercise workout and 1 h other activities. Dietary intakes and frailty status were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included working memory and depression. The measurements were performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The nutrition intervention significantly reduced the intake of refined grains and roots (p = 0.003) and increased that of non-refined grains and roots (p = 0.008), dairy products (p < 0.0001), and seeds and nuts (at borderline, p = 0.080) at 3 months. Some, but not all, of these changes were maintained at 6 months. Performance improvements included the frailty status score (p = 0.036) and forward digit span (p = 0.004), a working memory parameter, at 3 months. Only the forward digit span remained improved (p = 0.007) at 6 months. The 3-month nutrition group activities combined with exercise sessions improved the frailty status and working memory more than exercise alone. The dietary and frailty improvements were accompanied by improved dietary intakes and advanced behavioral stages. However, the improved frailty status backslid after intervention ceased, suggesting that boosting activities are needed for maintaining the intervention effect.
Reference Range of Vitamin K Evaluating Indicators in Chinese Childbearing Women
Authors: Nie Shuhui , Yang Lichen , Feng Jie , Lu Jiaxi , Zhang Huidi , Li Weidong , Hu Yichun , Yang Xiaoguang
Published: April 2023

Background: Vitamin K is an essential fat-soluble vitamin for the human body and its functions, such as promoting blood coagulation, bone health and preventing atherosclerosis, have attracted increasing attention. However, there is no recognized indicator and corresponding reference range for evaluating vitamin K status of different populations at present. The aim of this study is to establish a reference range for vitamin K evaluating indicators in healthy women of childbearing age in China. Methods: The population sample in this study was from the Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (CACDNS) 2015–2017. A total of 631 healthy women of childbearing age (18–49 years) were included using a series of strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. The concentrations of VK1, MK-4 and MK-7 in serum were detected by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The other commonly-reported indicators evaluating vitamin K nutritional status, including undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), osteocalcin (OC), matrix Gla protein (MGP), desphosphorylated undercaboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP) and protein induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The reference range was obtained by calculating the 2.5% to 97.5% interval of the vitamin K evaluating indicators in the reference population. Results: The reference ranges of VK1, MK-4 and MK-7 in serum were 0.21–3.07 ng/mL, 0.02–0.24 ng/mL and 0.12–3.54 ng/mL, respectively. The reference ranges of ucOC, %ucOC, dp-ucMGP and PIVKA-II were 1.09–2.51 ng/mL, 5.80–22.78%, 2.69–5.88 ng/mL and 3.98–8.40 ng/mL, respectively. The cut-off values that can be used to evaluate subclinical vitamin K deficiency were as follows: VK1 < 0.21 ng/mL, MK-7 < 0.12 ng/mL, ucOC > 2.51 ng/mL, %ucOC > 22.78%, dp-ucMGP > 5.88 ng/mL and PIVKA-II > 8.40 ng/mL. Conclusion: The reference range of VK1, MK-4, MK-7 and vitamin K-related indicators for healthy women of childbearing age established in this study could be used to assess the nutritional and health status of this population.
Cardiovascular Safety and Benefits of Testosterone Implant Therapy in Postmenopausal Women: Where Are We?
Authors: Renke Guilherme , Tostes Francisco
Published: April 2023

We discuss the CV safety and efficacy data for subcutaneous testosterone therapy (STT) in postmenopausal women. We also highlight new directions and applications of correct dosages performed in a specialized center. To recommend STT, we propose innovative criteria (IDEALSTT) according to total testosterone (T) level, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and calculated SCORE for a 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite all the controversies, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with T has gained prominence in treating pre and postmenopausal women in the last decades. HRT with silastic and bioabsorbable testosterone hormone implants has gained prominence recently due to its practicality and effectiveness in treating menopausal symptoms and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. A recent publication on the complications of STT, looking at a large cohort of patients over seven years, demonstrated its long-term safety. However, the cardiovascular (CV) risk and safety of STT in women are still controversial.
Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products for Age-Related Macular Degeneration; Scaffold Fabrication and Delivery Methods
Authors: Khalili Hanieh , Kashkoli Hamid Heidari , Weyland David Edward , Pirkalkhoran Sama , Grabowska Wiktoria Roksana
Published: April 2023

Retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represent a leading cause of blindness, resulting in permanent damage to retinal cells that are essential for maintaining normal vision. Around 12% of people over the age of 65 have some form of retinal degenerative disease. Whilst antibody-based drugs have revolutionised treatment of neovascular AMD, they are only effective at an early stage and cannot prevent eventual progression or allow recovery of previously lost vision. Hence, there is a clear unmet need to find innovative treatment strategies to develop a long-term cure. The replacement of damaged retinal cells is thought to be the best therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with retinal degeneration. Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are a group of innovative and complex biological products including cell therapy medicinal products, gene therapy medicinal products, and tissue engineered products. Development of ATMPs for the treatment of retinal degeneration diseases has become a fast-growing field of research because it offers the potential to replace damaged retinal cells for long-term treatment of AMD. While gene therapy has shown encouraging results, its effectiveness for treatment of retinal disease may be hampered by the body’s response and problems associated with inflammation in the eye. In this mini-review, we focus on describing ATMP approaches including cell- and gene-based therapies for treatment of AMD along with their applications. We also aim to provide a brief overview of biological substitutes, also known as scaffolds, that can be used for delivery of cells to the target tissue and describe biomechanical properties required for optimal delivery. We describe different fabrication methods for preparing cell-scaffolds and explain how the use of artificial intelligence (AI) can aid with the process. We predict that combining AI with 3D bioprinting for 3D cell-scaffold fabrication could potentially revolutionise retinal tissue engineering and open up new opportunities for developing innovative platforms to deliver therapeutic agents to the target tissues.
In Vivo Acute Toxicity and Immunomodulation Assessment of a Novel Nutraceutical in Mice
Authors: Onisei Tatiana , Tihăuan Bianca-Maria , Dolete Georgiana , Axinie (Bucos) Mădălina , Răscol Manuela , Isvoranu Gheorghița
Published: April 2023

Achieving and maintaining a well-balanced immune system has righteously become an insightful task for the general population and an even more fundamental goal for those affected by immune-related diseases. Since our immune functions are indispensable in defending the body against pathogens, diseases and other external attacks, while playing a vital role in maintaining health and modulating the immune response, we require an on-point grasp of their shortcoming as a foundation for the development of functional foods and novel nutraceuticals. Seeing that immunoceuticals are considered effective in improving immune functions and reducing the incidence of immunological disorders, the main focus of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory properties and possible acute toxicity of a novel nutraceutical with active substances of natural origin on C57BL/6 mice for 21 days. We evaluated the potential hazards (microbial contamination and heavy metals) of the novel nutraceutical and addressed the acute toxicity according to OECD guidelines of a 2000 mg/kg dose on mice for 21 days. The immunomodulatory effect was assessed at three concentrations (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) by determining body and organ indexes through a leukocyte analysis; flow cytometry immunophenotyping of lymphocytes populations and their subpopulations (T lymphocytes (LyCD3+), cytotoxic suppressor T lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+), helper T lymphocytes (CD3+CD4+), B lymphocytes (CD3−CD19+) and NK cells (CD3−NK1.1.+); and the expression of the CD69 activation marker. The results obtained for the novel nutraceutical referred to as ImunoBoost indicated no acute toxicity, an increased number of lymphocytes and the stimulation of lymphocyte activation and proliferation, demonstrating its immunomodulatory effect. The safe human consumption dose was established at 30 mg/day.
Temperature Responsive Diblock Polymer Brushes as Nanoreactors for Silver Nanoparticles Catalysis
Authors: Yu Liang , Li Ziwei , Hua Chen , Chen Kaimin , Guo Xuhong
Published: April 2023

Metal nanoparticles are widely used in catalysis. Loading metal nanoparticles into polymer brushes has aroused wide attention, but regulation of catalytic performance still needs to be improved. The novel diblock polymer brushes, polystyrene@sodium polystyrene sulfonate-b-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PSV@PSS-b-PNIPA) and PSV@PNIPA-b-PSS with reversed block sequence, were prepared by surface initiated photoiniferter-mediated polymerization (SI-PIMP) and used as nanoreactors to load silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The block sequence caused the difference of conformation and further affected the catalytic performance. PSV@PNIPA-b-PSS@Ag was found to be able to control the amount of AgNPs exposed to external reactant of 4-nitrophenol at different temperatures to achieve regulation of the reaction rate due to the hydrogen bonds and further physical crosslinking between PNIPA and PSS.
Construction and Performance Evaluation of Nicandra physalodes (Linn.) Gaertn. Polysaccharide-Based Nanogel
Authors: Liu Fangyan , Shen Chen , Chen Xuelian , Gao Fei , Chen Yin
Published: April 2023

The nanogels made from these polysaccharides and their derivatives are often used to construct drug delivery systems owing to their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, water-soluble, and bioactive characteristics. In this work, a novel pectin with unique gelling properties was extracted from the seed of Nicandra physalodes (NPGP). The structural research indicated that NPGP was a low methoxyl pectin with a high content of galacturonic acid. NPGP-based nanogels (NGs) were accomplished employing the water in oil (W/O) nano-emulsion method. The cysteamine containing reduction-responsive bond and integrin-targeting RGD peptide were also grafted onto NPGP. The anti-tumor drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was loaded during the formation of NGs, and the performance of DOX delivery was studied. The NGs were characterized by UV-vis, DLS, TEM, FT-IR, and XPS. The results showed that the prepared NGs were nanosized (167.6 ± 53.86 nm), had excellent encapsulation efficiency (91.61 ± 0.85%), and possessed a fine drug loading capacity (8.40 ± 0.16%). The drug release experiment showed that DOX@NPGP-SS-RGD had good redox-responsive performance. Furthermore, the results of cell experiments revealed good biocompatibility of prepared NGs, along with selective absorption by HCT-116 cells through integrin receptor-mediated endocytosis to play an anti-tumor effect. These studies indicated the potential application of NPGP-based NGs as targeted drug delivery systems.
Evaluating Self-Healing Behaviour of Asphalt Binders Modified with Phase-Change Materials, Polymers and Recycled Glass Powder
Authors: Almutairi Haya , Baaj Hassan
Published: April 2023

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the fatigue resistance and self-healing properties of asphalt binders modified with different types of additives (Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS), Glass Powder (GP) and Phase-Change Materials blended with Glass Powder (GPCM)). Two base binders were used in this study: a PG 58-28 straight-run asphalt binder and a PG 70-28 Polymer modified with 3%SBS. Moreover, the GP was added to the two base binders at two different percentages of 3.5% and 5% by binder weight. However, the GPCM was added with two different percentages of 5% and 7% by binder weight. In this paper, the fatigue resistance and self-healing properties were evaluated using Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) test. Two different procedures were adopted. In the first procedure, the load was applied continuously until failure (without a rest period), whereas, in the second procedure, rest periods of 5 and 30 min were introduced. The obtained results of the experimental campaign were ranked based on three different categories: Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS), Pure Linear Amplitude Sweep (PLAS) and modified Pure Linear Amplitude Sweep (PLASH). The addition of GPCM appears to positively impact the fatigue performance of both straight-run and polymer-modified asphalt binders. Furthermore, when a short rest period of 5 min was introduced, the use of GPCM did not appear to improve the healing potential. However, a better healing capacity was observed when the 30 min rest period was applied. Moreover, the addition of GP alone to the base binder was not beneficial in improving fatigue performance based on LAS and PLAS methods. However, there was a slight reduction in the fatigue performance based on the PLAS method. Finally, unlike the PG 58-28, the healing capacity of the GP 70-28 was negatively affected by the addition of the GP.
CRYSTAF, DSC and SAXS Study of the Co-Crystallization, Phase Separation and Lamellar Packing of the Blends with Different Polyethylenes
Authors: Yao Xuerong , Shi Ying , Tang Yujing , Luo Chunxia , Hou Liping , Ren Minqiao , Zheng Cui , Liu Li-Zhi
Published: April 2023

The crystallization of polyethylene (PE) blends is a highly complex process, owing to the significant differences in crystallizability of the various PE components and the varying PE sequence distributions resulting from short- or long-chain branching. In this study, we examined both the resins and their blends through crystallization analysis fractionation (CRYSTAF) to understand the PE sequence distribution and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to investigate the non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the bulk materials. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was utilized to study the crystal packing structure. The results showed that the PE molecules in the blends crystallize at different rates during cooling, resulting in a complicated crystallization behavior characterized by nucleation, co-crystallization, and fractionation. We compared these behaviors to those of reference immiscible blends and found that the extent of the differences is related to the disparity in crystallizability between components. Furthermore, the lamellar packing of the blends is closely associated with their crystallization behaviors, and the crystalline structure varies significantly depending on the components’ compositions. Specifically, the lamellar packing of the HDPE/LLDPE and HDPE/LDPE blends is similar to that of the HDPE component owing to its strong crystallizability, while the lamellar packing of the LLDPE/LDPE blend is approximately an average of the two neat components.
Understanding Responses to Worship Regulations in the Pandemic Era: Text Data Mining Analysis in the Indonesian Context
Authors: Adil Muhammad , Huda Miftachul
Published: April 2023

This paper aims to examine the critical discourse on responses to worship regulations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Diverse responses emanated from the media, religious leaders, and civil society organizations in the Indonesian context. The wide range of responses to worship regulations is reflected in continuous debate, demonstrating two primary groups, one in support of the government regulations and the other opposed to limitations on congregational worship activities. This shows the need for the proper messaging of content and dissemination to promote behavioral changes relative to relevant health issues. In order to achieve the main objective, we employed a qualitative method involving a discourse analysis of several leading online news sources’ viewpoints, religious leaders’ viewpoints, and religious organizations’ public statements. This study found two main factors associated with the response to worship regulations in the pandemic era. The main finding involved supportive and contradictive orientations. The supportive path indicated a supportive response, referring to the enhancement of the proper analysis of public worship regulations, while the contradictive one referred to the continuation of life as normal, free of restrictions and regulations. This study suggests that clear details on the reasons for restrictions and regulations are required on all forms of social media in order to provide all parties with a better understanding of the need for these measures.
Impact Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Karez in Turpan Basin of China
Authors: Li Qian , Guo Huadong , Luo Lei , Wang Xinyuan , Yang Shu
Published: April 2023

Karez systems are ancient hydraulic works that use underground waterways to divert water by gravity and have historically been popular in arid regions across Central Asia. Karez systems have undergone thousands of years of development and have been used for irrigation in 40 countries and regions worldwide. Although there are different opinions about the origin of karezes, the role and significance of karezes are similar. The Turpan Basin is a relatively closed inland basin in China, far from the ocean, with a very dry climate and high evaporation rates. However, due to the ice and snow meltwater of the Tianshan Mountains, the groundwater resources in the basin are abundant. Karezes are an important support for Turpan’s farming civilization and tourism culture and represent a great masterpiece of how people in arid areas have used the natural environment. This study used historical CORONA images to visually interpret the karez system in the 1970s and compared it with the karez system in 2020 to analyze the spatial distribution variation characteristics of the karezes. The impact of land use/land cover change on the karezes was also analyzed. The results showed that from 1970 to 2020, as the population grew, there was an increase in arable land and built-up areas while the water area decreased. In general, the increase in arable land and built-up areas, the decrease in water area, and the increase in the number of electromechanical wells have combined to reduce the number of karez systems. Based on the CORONA image from 1970, it is possible to visualize the shaft area that existed in 1970 but did not exist in 2020. Some karez shafts that existed in bare terrain areas in 1970 were truncated when the land use/land cover type changed to arable land. The area where the disappeared karez shafts were located is approximately 87.77 square kilometers. Through the study of the changes in the spatial distribution of karezes and the impact of land use/land cover change on karezes, this research provides a valuable reference for the construction of karez conservation areas or urban planning. The investigation of the distribution of historical karezes is of great significance for studying the changes in karezes and excavating the historical and cultural value of karezes.
Using Landsat Image Series to Identify and Characterize Persistent Oceanographic Structures in a Dynamic Marine Protected Area (North of San Jorge Gulf, Argentinian Patagonia)
Authors: Olmedo-Masat O. Magalí , Pisoni Juan Pablo , Rodríguez-Pérez Daniel , Sánchez-Carnero Noela
Published: April 2023

Coastal oceanographic processes, like up- and downwelling, topographic fronts, etc., have consequences in biological communities. In some cases, these processes show up as surface structures observable in satellite imagery at different scales. In this work, we focus on the persistent structures observed in the coastal marine protected area of Parque Interjurisdiccional Marino-Costero Patagonia Austral (PIMCPA), one of the most relevant areas of the Argentine coast in terms of biodiversity and productivity. Using 80 Landsat-8 30 m-resolution images from the years 2017–2021, more than 20 structures were identified in the PIMCPA that appear consistently across seasons in approximately the same areas. We focus on four of them, those that are persistent and of medium scale, whose dimensions do not extend in most cases more than 10 km from their region of generation, and describe their location and shape in detail, and analyze their dependence on forcing variables such as tides, wind, bathymetry, and seasonality. Tidal currents prove to be the most significant variable in the formation and evolution of the structures described, above wind or seasonal stratification, which play only a secondary role.
Analysis of Geometric Characteristics and Coverage for Moon-Based/Spaceborne Bistatic SAR Earth Observation
Authors: Zhang Ke , Guo Huadong , Jiang Di , Han Chunming
Published: April 2023

With the rapid development of Earth system science, a new understanding of the complete Earth system has highlighted the crucial importance of integrated observations, especially in research involving large-scale geoscience phenomena. As an active sensor with all-time and all-weather capabilities, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) has been widely used in recent decades for Earth observation. However, the existing spaceborne, airborne, and ground-based SAR systems have difficulty providing temporally consistent and spatially continuous Earth observation data on a global scale. As Earth’s only natural satellite, the Moon is a very promising Earth observation platform. By deploying a transmitter on the Moon and a receiver on the high-orbit satellite, a Moon-based/spaceborne bistatic synthetic aperture radar (MS-BiSAR) can be formed. In this paper, the MS-BiSAR geometric model of Earth observation was established using ephemeris and orbit propagators with reference system transformations, and three different MS-BiSAR configurations were used to calculate and analyze their geometric characteristics and Earth observation coverage. The results show that with the advantage of wide swaths, continuous observation capabilities, and large coverage, such an MS-BiSAR could significantly contribute to monitoring and understanding large-scale geoscience phenomena.
A Machine-Learning Model Based on the Fusion of Spectral and Textural Features from UAV Multi-Sensors to Analyse the Total Nitrogen Content in Winter Wheat
Authors: Li Zongpeng , Zhou Xinguo , Cheng Qian , Fei Shuaipeng , Chen Zhen
Published: April 2023

Timely and accurate monitoring of the nitrogen levels in winter wheat can reveal its nutritional status and facilitate informed field management decisions. Machine learning methods can improve total nitrogen content (TNC) prediction accuracy by fusing spectral and texture features from UAV-based image data. This study used four machine learning models, namely Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Random Forest Regression (RFR), Ridge Regression (RR), and Elastic Network Regression (ENR), to fuse data and the stacking ensemble learning method to predict TNC during the winter wheat heading period. Thirty wheat varieties were grown under three nitrogen treatments to evaluate the predictive ability of multi-sensor (RGB and multispectral) spectral and texture features. Results showed that adding texture features improved the accuracy of TNC prediction models constructed based on spectral features, with higher accuracy observed with more features input into the model. The GPR, RFR, RR, and ENR models yielded coefficient of determination (R2) values ranging from 0.382 to 0.697 for TNC prediction accuracy. Among these models, the ensemble learning approach produced the best TNC prediction performance (R2 = 0.726, RMSE = 3.203 mg·g−1, MSE = 10.259 mg·g−1, RPD = 1.867, RPIQ = 2.827). Our findings suggest that accurate TNC prediction based on UAV multi-sensor spectral and texture features can be achieved through data fusion and ensemble learning, offering a high-throughput phenotyping approach valuable for future precision agriculture research.
An Improved SAR Image Semantic Segmentation Deeplabv3+ Network Based on the Feature Post-Processing Module
Authors: Li Qiupeng , Kong Yingying
Published: April 2023

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can provide rich feature information under all-weather and day-night conditions because it is not affected by climatic conditions. However, multiplicative speckle noise exists in SAR images, which makes it difficult to accurately identify some fuzzy targets in SAR images, such as roads and rivers, during semantic segmentation. This paper proposes an improved Deeplabv3+ network that can be effectively applied to the semantic segmentation task of SAR images. Firstly, this paper added the attention mechanism and, combined with the idea of an image pyramid, proposed the Feature Post-Processing Module (FPPM) to post-process the network output feature map, obtain better fine image features, and solve the problem of fuzzy texture and spectral features of SAR images. Compared to the original Deeplabv3+ network, the segmentation accuracy has been improved by 3.64% and mIoU improved by 1.09%. Secondly, to solve the problems of limited SAR image data and an unbalanced sample, this paper used the focal loss function to improve the backbone function of the network, which increased the mIoU by 1.01%. Finally, the Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling (ASPP) module was improved and the 3 × 3 void convolution in ASPP was decomposed into 2D, which can maintain the void ratio and effectively reduce the calculation amount of the module, shorten the training time by 19 ms and improve the semantic segmentation effect.
Multi-LEO Satellite Stereo Winds
Authors: Carr James L. , Wu Dong L. , Friberg Mariel D. , Summers Tyler C.
Published: April 2023

The stereo-winds method follows trackable atmospheric cloud features from multiple viewing perspectives over multiple times, generally involving multiple satellite platforms. Multi-temporal observations provide information about the wind velocity and the observed parallax between viewing perspectives provides information about the height. The stereo-winds method requires no prior assumptions about the thermal profile of the atmosphere to assign a wind height, since the height of the tracked feature is directly determined from the viewing geometry. The method is well developed for pairs of Geostationary (GEO) satellites and a GEO paired with a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite. However, neither GEO-GEO nor GEO-LEO configurations provide coverage of the poles. In this paper, we develop the stereo-winds method for multi-LEO configurations, to extend coverage from pole to pole. The most promising multi-LEO constellation studied consists of Terra/MODIS and Sentinel-3/SLSTR. Stereo-wind products are validated using clear-sky terrain measurements, spaceborne LiDAR, and reanalysis winds for winter and summer over both poles. Applications of multi-LEO polar stereo winds range from polar atmospheric circulation to nighttime cloud identification. Low cloud detection during polar nighttime is extremely challenging for satellite remote sensing. The stereo-winds method can improve polar cloud observations in otherwise challenging conditions.
Geophysical Surveys for Geotechnical Model Reconstruction and Slope Stability Modelling
Authors: Innocenti Agnese , Rosi Ascanio , Tofani Veronica , Pazzi Veronica , Gargini Elisa , Masi Elena Benedetta , Segoni Samuele , Bertolo Davide , Paganone Marco , Casagli Nicola
Published: April 2023

Performing a reliable stability analysis of a landslide slope requires a good understanding of the internal geometries and an accurate characterisation of the geotechnical parameters of the identified strata. Geotechnical models are commonly based on geomorphological data combined with direct and intrusive geotechnical investigations. However, the existence of numerous empirical correlations between seismic parameters (e.g., S-wave velocity) and geotechnical parameters in the literature has made it possible to investigate areas that are difficult to reach with direct instrumentation. These correlations are often overlooked even though they enable a reduction in investigation costs and time. By means of geophysical tests, it is in fact possible to estimate the N-SPT value and derive the friction angle from results obtained from environmental seismic noise measurements. Despite the empirical character and a certain level of uncertainty derived from the estimation of geotechnical parameters, these are particularly useful in the preliminary stages of an emergency, when straight data are not available and on all those soils where other direct in situ tests are not reliable. These correlations were successfully applied to the Theilly landslide (Western Alps, Italy), where the geotechnical model was obtained by integrating the results of a multi-parameter geophysical survey (H/V seismic noise and ground-penetrating radar) with stratigraphic and geomorphological observations, digital terrain model and field survey data. The analysis of the triggering conditions of the landslide was conducted by means of hydrological–geotechnical modelling, evaluating the behaviour of the slope under different rainfall scenarios and considering (or not) the stabilisation interventions present on the slope. The results of the filtration analyses for all events showed a top-down saturation mechanism, which led to the formation of a saturated face with a maximum thickness of 5 m. Stability analyses conducted for the same events showed the development of a shallow landslide in the first few metres of saturated soil. The modelling results are compatible with the actual evolution of the phenomenon and allow us to understand the triggering mechanism, providing models to support future interventions.
Compression of GNSS Data with the Aim of Speeding up Communication to Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Rakhmanov Amnon , Wiseman Yair
Published: April 2023

Autonomous vehicles contain many sensors, enabling them to drive by themselves. Autonomous vehicles need to communicate with other vehicles (V2V) wirelessly and with infrastructures (V2I) like satellites with diverse connections as well, to implement safety, reliability, and efficiency. Information transfer from remote communication appliances is a critical task and should be accomplished quickly, in real time and with maximum reliability. A message that arrives late, arrives with errors, or does not arrive at all can create an unsafe situation. This study aims at employing data compression to efficiently transmit GNSS information to an autonomous vehicle or other infrastructure such as a satellite with maximum accuracy and efficiency. We developed a method for compressing NMEA data. Furthermore, our results were better than other ones in current studies, while supporting error tolerance and data omission.