bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delivery Systems in Ocular Retinopathies: The Promising Future of Intravitreal Hydrogels as Sustained-Release Scaffolds
Authors: Rafael Diana , Guerrero Marcelo , Marican Adolfo , Arango Diego , Sarmento Bruno , Ferrer Roser , Durán-Lara Esteban F. , Clark Simon J. , Schwartz Simo
Published: May 2023

Slow-release delivery systems are needed to ensure long-term sustained treatments for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are currently treated with anti-angiogenic agents that require frequent intraocular injections. These can cause serious co-morbidities for the patients and are far from providing the adequate drug/protein release rates and required pharmacokinetics to sustain prolonged efficacy. This review focuses on the use of hydrogels, particularly on temperature-responsive hydrogels as delivery vehicles for the intravitreal injection of retinal therapies, their advantages and disadvantages for intraocular administration, and the current advances in their use to treat retinal diseases.
Polarization Snapshot Imaging Spectrometer for Infrared Range
Authors: Tao Hongcheng , Lv Jinguang , Liang Jingqiu , Zhao Baixuan , Chen Yupeng , Zheng Kaifeng , Zhao Yingze , Wang Weibiao , Qin Yuxin , Liu Guohao , Sheng Kaiyang
Published: May 2023

Infrared imaging spectrometers detect and identify targets by collecting spectral and image information. However, when detecting small temperature differences and dynamic targets, the accuracy of infrared detection is reduced, the traditional scanning structure detection time is longer, the real-time performance is poor and it is easy to introduce motion artifacts. This paper proposes an infrared polarization snapshot spectral imaging system (PSIFTIS) based on a polarizer array, a lens array and a roof-shaped stepped micromirror. Polarized light can solve the problem of small-temperature-difference target recognition by characterizing the surface properties of materials. Lens arrays utilize multi-aperture imaging to achieve snapshot detection of targets. The system can obtain 4D data information, including polarization, in a single measurement cycle. This study completed the overall optical design of a PSIFTIS and an optical simulation experiment using it. Finally, a system prototype was built in the laboratory and a polarization spectrum detection experiment was carried out. The experimental results show that the PSIFTIS could accurately obtain the polarization spectrum information for the target, the spectral resolution reached 7.8 cm−1 and the Stokes measurement error was less than 5%.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Plant-Mediated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles as Larvicidal Agents against the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti
Authors: Dhavan Pratik P. , Sonawane Vivek R. , Mishra Abhinava K.
Published: May 2023

Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for the transmission of some of the most serious vector-borne diseases affecting humans, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika. The only effective method for minimizing their transmission is vector control. In this work, an environmentally friendly method for synthesizing cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) is highlighted, and the larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti was studied. This method uses the aqueous extract of Bruguiera cylindrica leaves (BL) as an oxidizer and stabilizing agent. UV–Vis spectroscopy presented a distinctive absorbance band at 303 nm for CeO2 NPs with a band gap of 3.17 eV. The functional groups from the plant extract connected to CeO2 NPs were identified by FT-IR analysis, while X-ray diffraction revealed the cubic fluorite orientation of CeO2 NPs. Zeta potential revealed a surface charge of −20.7 mV on NPs. The formation of CeO2 NPs was confirmed by an energy dispersive spectral analysis, and TEM and DLS revealed an average diameter of 40–60 nm. The LC50 of synthesized CeO2 against Ae. aegypti fourth instar larvae was reported to be 46.28 μg/mL in 24 h. Acetylcholinesterase (47%) and glutathione S-transferase (13.51%) activity were significantly decreased in Ae. aegypti larvae exposed to synthesized CeO2 NPs versus the control larvae. All these findings propose the potential for using B. cylindrica leaves-synthesized CeO2 NPs as an efficient substitute for insecticides in the management of mosquitoes.
Cross-Compatibility in Interspecific Hybridization of Different Curcuma Accessions
Authors: Ye Yuanjun , Zhou Yiwei , Tan Jianjun , Zhu Genfa , Liu Jinmei , Xu Yechun
Published: May 2023

Curcuma is extensively cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical regions. Due to the bright bract color, distinctive inflorescence and long blooming period, it has become a new favorite in terms of the urban landscape, potted flowers and cut flowers. However, little research on breeding new cultivars using traditional plant breeding methods is available on the genus Curcuma. In the present study, pollen viability and stigma receptivity evaluation were performed, and the genetic relationship of 38 Curcuma accessions was evaluated, then 5 C. alismatifolia Gagnep. (Ca), 2 C. hybrid (Ch), 2 C. sparganiifolia Gagnep. cultivars and 4 Curcuma native species were selected as parents for subsequent interspecific cross-breeding. A total of 132 reciprocal crosses were carried out for interspecific hybridization, including 70 obverse and 62 inverse crosses. Obvious discrepancies among fruit-setting rates were manifested in different combinations and in reciprocal crosses. Results showed that the highest fruit-setting rate (87.5%) was observed in the Ca combinations. There were 87 combinations with a fruit-setting rate of 0%, which meant nearly 65.9% was incompatible. We concluded that C. alismatifolia ‘Siam Shadow’ (Ch34) was suitable as a male parent and C. petiolata Roxb. (Cpet) was suitable as a female parent to improve the fruit-setting rates. The maximum number of seeds per fruit (45.4) was obtained when C. alismatifolia ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ (Ca01) was used as a female parent followed by C. attenuata Wall. ex Baker (Catt) (42.8) and C. alismatifolia ‘Splash’ (Ca63) (39.6) as male parents. The highest germination rate was observed for the Ca group followed by Catt and C. sparganiifolia ‘Maetang Sunrise’ (Csms). The germination rates of Ca accessions ranged from 58.2% (C. alismatifolia ‘Siam Scarlet’ (Ca06) as a male parent) to 89.3% (C. alismatifolia ‘Sitone’ (Ca10) as a male parent) with an average value of 74.0%. Based on the results of hybrid identification, all the individuals from the four combinations exhibited paternal-specific bands, indicating that the true hybrid rates of crossings were 100%. Our results would facilitate the interspecific hybridization and introduction of genetic variation from wild species into the cultivars in Curcuma in the future, which could be helpful in realizing the sustainable application in urban green areas.
CaWRKY50 Acts as a Negative Regulator in Response to Colletotrichum scovillei Infection in Pepper
Authors: Li Yang , Ma Xiao , Xiao Luo-Dan , Yu Ya-Nan , Yan Hui-Ling , Gong Zhen-Hui
Published: May 2023

Chili anthracnose is one of the most common and destructive fungal pathogens that affects the yield and quality of pepper. Although WRKY proteins play crucial roles in pepper resistance to a variety of pathogens, the mechanism of their resistance to anthracnose is still unknown. In this study, we found that CaWRKY50 expression was obviously induced by Colletotrichum scovillei infection and salicylic acid (SA) treatments. CaWRKY50-silencing enhanced pepper resistance to C. scovillei, while transient overexpression of CaWRKY50 in pepper increased susceptibility to C. scovillei. We further found that overexpression of CaWRKY50 in tomatoes significantly decreased resistance to C. scovillei by SA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathways. Moreover, CaWRKY50 suppressed the expression of two SA-related genes, CaEDS1 (enhanced disease susceptibility 1) and CaSAMT1 (salicylate carboxymethyltransferase 1), by directly binding to the W-box motif in their promoters. Additionally, we demonstrated that CaWRKY50 interacts with CaWRKY42 and CaMIEL1 in the nucleus. Thus, our findings revealed that CaWRKY50 plays a negative role in pepper resistance to C. scovillei through the SA-mediated signaling pathway and the antioxidant defense system. These results provide a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding of pepper varieties resistant to anthracnose.
Pathogen Stopping and Metabolism Modulation Are Key Points to Linum usitatissimum L. Early Response against Fusarium oxysporum
Authors: Maillot Yannis , Mongelard Gaëlle , Quéro Anthony , Demailly Hervé , Guénin Stéphanie , Gutierrez Laurent , Pineau Christophe , Lecomte Sylvain , Mathiron David , Elboutachfaiti Redouan , Fontaine Jean-Xavier , Molinié Roland , Petit Emmanuel
Published: May 2023

Fusarium oxysporum is the one of the most common and impactful pathogens of flax. Cultivars of flax that show resistance to this pathogen have previously been identified. To better understand the mechanisms that are responsible for this resistance, we conducted time-lapse analysis of one susceptible and one resistant cultivar over a two-week period following infection. We also monitored changes in some metabolites. The susceptible cultivar showed a strong onset of symptoms from 6 to 8 days after inoculation, which at this time point, was associated with changes in metabolites in both cultivars. The resistant cultivar maintained its height and normal photosynthetic capacity but showed a reduced growth of its secondary stems. This resistance was correlated with the containment of the pathogen at the root level, and an increase in some metabolites related to the phenylpropanoid pathway.
Plant–Environment Response Pathway Regulation Uncovered by Investigating Non-Typical Legume Symbiosis and Nodulation
Authors: Wilkinson Helen , Coppock Alice , Richmond Bethany L. , Lagunas Beatriz , Gifford Miriam L.
Published: May 2023

Nitrogen is an essential element needed for plants to survive, and legumes are well known to recruit rhizobia to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In this widely studied symbiosis, legumes develop specific structures on the roots to host specific symbionts. This review explores alternate nodule structures and their functions outside of the more widely studied legume–rhizobial symbiosis, as well as discussing other unusual aspects of nodulation. This includes actinorhizal-Frankia, cycad-cyanobacteria, and the non-legume Parasponia andersonii-rhizobia symbioses. Nodules are also not restricted to the roots, either, with examples found within stems and leaves. Recent research has shown that legume–rhizobia nodulation brings a great many other benefits, some direct and some indirect. Rhizobial symbiosis can lead to modifications in other pathways, including the priming of defence responses, and to modulated or enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. With so many avenues to explore, this review discusses recent discoveries and highlights future directions in the study of nodulation.
Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant Activity of Tanacetum vulgare L. Wild-Growing in Latvia
Authors: Šukele Renāte , Lauberte Liga , Kovalcuka Liga , Logviss Konstantins , Bārzdiņa Ance , Brangule Agnese , Horváth Zoltán Márk , Bandere Dace
Published: May 2023

The Tanacetum vulgare L. (Tansy) has several ethnobotanical uses, mostly related to the essential oil and sesquiterpene lactones, whereas information regarding other compounds is scarce. This research is designed to characterize the phenolic compounds (flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins) to analyze the thujone (which is toxic in high concentrations) content and to detect the antioxidant activity (DPPH assay) of extracts. The main highlights of our work provide a chemical profile of phenolic compounds of T. vulgare harvested from different regions of Latvia, as well as simultaneously support the ethnomedicinal uses for wild T. vulgare through the integration of phenolic compounds as one of the value constituents of leaves and flowers. The extraction yield was 18 to 20% for leaves and 8 to 16% for flowers. The total phenol content in the extracts of T. vulgare as well as their antioxidant activity was different between collection regions and the aerial parts ranging from 134 to 218 mg GAE/g and 32 to 182 mg L−1, respectively. A remarkable variation in the thujone (α + β) content (0.4% up to 6%) was detected in the extracts. T. vulgare leaf extracts were rich in tannins (up to 19%). According to the parameters detected, the extracts of T. vulgare could be considered promising for the development of new herbal products.
Performance of Hop Cultivars Grown with Artificial Lighting under Subtropical Conditions
Authors: Leles Nathalia Rodrigues , Sato Alessandro Jefferson , Rufato Leo , Jastrombek Jessiane Mary , Marques Viviani Vieira , Missio Robson Fernando , Fernandes Nelson Luis Mello , Roberto Sergio Ruffo
Published: May 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the duration of the main phenological stages, plant growth development, yield, and cone quality of hop cultivars grown under artificial light (17 h per day) during vegetative development (early season) in a subtropical climate region. The study was conducted in Palotina, Paraná, Brazil (24° S), during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons. The plants were cultivated in a 5.5 m high trellis system with artificial light supplementation during vegetative development. The hop cultivars Hallertau Mittelfrüher, Mapuche, Northern Brewer, Spalter, and Yakima Gold were used in the treatments. The duration of the phenological stages, vegetative growth (plant height, fresh mass of the plants, number of lateral branches per plant), components of productive yield (number of cones per side branch, number of cones per plant, fresh mass, length, and width of the cone, production of fresh cones per plant, and yield), and chemical components of the cones (alpha- and beta-acid contents, and essential oil concentrations) were recorded. The duration of the phenological stages was visually evaluated, and plant growth was analyzed using non-linear log-logistic regression. The remaining data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means were compared using Tukey’s test. The data were also subjected to multivariate analysis using the principal components test, correlation analysis, and hierarchical grouping. The cultivar Mapuche was considered an early hop in both seasons, and the cultivars Spalter and Yakima Gold were considered early cultivars in the second season. In both seasons, the productive yield components were positively correlated with the precocity of the cultivars, in which Mapuche in the 2021 season and Mapuche, Spalter, and Yakima Gold in the 2022 season had the highest mean of the number of cones per side branch and per plant, production per plant, and productivity. The cultivar Yakima Gold had a positive correlation with the chemical quality of cones, alpha and beta acid contents, and essential oil concentrations, for both seasons.
Research of Potential Catalysts for Two-Component Silyl-Terminated Prepolymer/Epoxy Resin Adhesives
Authors: Berzins Ritvars , Merijs-Meri Remo , Zicans Janis
Published: May 2023

The current research is devoted to the research of potential catalysts for the two-component silyl-terminated prepolymer/epoxy resin system. The catalyst system must catalyze the prepolymer of the opposite component while not curing the prepolymer in the component in which the catalyst is located. Mechanical and rheological characterization of the adhesive was performed. The results of the investigation showed that certain alternative catalyst systems, which are less toxic, may be used instead of traditional catalysts for individual systems. Two-component systems, obtained by using these catalysts systems, cure in an acceptable time scale and demonstrate relatively high tensile strength and deformation values.
An Overview of the Emerging Technologies and Composite Materials for Supercapacitors in Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Adedoja Oluwaseye Samson , Sadiku Emmanuel Rotimi , Hamam Yskandar
Published: May 2023

Energy storage is one of the challenges currently confronting the energy sector. However, the invention of supercapacitors has transformed the sector. This modern technology’s high energy capacity, reliable supply with minimal lag time, and extended lifetime of supercapacitors have piqued the interest of scientists, and several investigations have been conducted to improve their development. However, there is room for improvement. Consequently, this review presents an up-to-date investigation of different supercapacitor technologies’ components, operating techniques, potential applications, technical difficulties, benefits, and drawbacks. In addition, it thoroughly highlights the active materials used to produce supercapacitors. The significance of incorporating every component (electrode and electrolyte), their synthesis approach, and their electrochemical characteristics are outlined. The research further examines supercapacitors’ potential in the next era of energy technology. Finally, concerns and new research prospects in hybrid supercapacitor-based energy applications that are envisaged to result in the development of ground-breaking devices, are highlighted.
Parylene C as a Multipurpose Material for Electronics and Microfluidics
Authors: Coelho Beatriz J. , Pinto Joana V. , Martins Jorge , Rovisco Ana , Barquinha Pedro , Fortunato Elvira , Baptista Pedro V. , Martins Rodrigo , Igreja Rui
Published: May 2023

Poly(p-xylylene) derivatives, widely known as Parylenes, have been considerably adopted by the scientific community for several applications, ranging from simple passive coatings to active device components. Here, we explore the thermal, structural, and electrical properties of Parylene C, and further present a variety of electronic devices featuring this polymer: transistors, capacitors, and digital microfluidic (DMF) devices. We evaluate transistors produced with Parylene C as a dielectric, substrate, and encapsulation layer, either semitransparent or fully transparent. Such transistors exhibit steep transfer curves and subthreshold slopes of 0.26 V/dec, negligible gate leak currents, and fair mobilities. Furthermore, we characterize MIM (metal–insulator–metal) structures with Parylene C as a dielectric and demonstrate the functionality of the polymer deposited in single and double layers under temperature and AC signal stimuli, mimicking the DMF stimuli. Applying temperature generally leads to a decrease in the capacitance of the dielectric layer, whereas applying an AC signal leads to an increase in said capacitance for double-layered Parylene C only. By applying the two stimuli, the capacitance seems to suffer from a balanced influence of both the separated stimuli. Lastly, we demonstrate that DMF devices with double-layered Parylene C allow for faster droplet motion and enable long nucleic acid amplification reactions.
The Long-Term Interfacial Evolution and Prediction of Carbon- and Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Rods under a Hygrothermal Environment
Authors: Liu Xiaodong , Wang Binwu , Su Qingyong , Zuo Qingfu , Song Xiaopeng
Published: May 2023

In order to promote the engineering applications of carbon- and glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy hybrid rods, it is necessary to fully understand its long-term hygrothermal durability. In the present study, the water absorption behaviors of a hybrid rod in a water immersion environment are studied experimentally, the degradation rules of the mechanical properties are obtained, and establishing a life prediction model is attempted. The water absorption of the hybrid rod confirms to the classical Fick’s diffusion model, and the water absorption concentration is determined by radial position, immersion temperature, and immersion time. In addition, the radial position of water molecules diffused into the rod is positively correlated with the diffusion concentration. The short-beam shear strength of the hybrid rod decreased significantly after 360 days of exposure; this is because water molecules interact with the polymer through hydrogen bonds to produce bound water during the immersion process, leading to resin matrix hydrolysis and plasticization, as well as interfacial debonding. In addition, the ingression of water molecules caused degradation in the viscoelastic behavior of the resin matrix in hybrid rods. The glass transition temperature of hybrid rods decreased by 17.4% after exposure at 80 °C for 360 days. The Arrhenius equation was used calculate the long-term life of short-beam shear strength in the actual service temperature based on the time–temperature equivalence theory. The stable strength retention for SBSS was found to be 69.38%, which is a useful durability design parameter for hybrid rods in civil engineering structures.
Practical Preparation of Elastomer-Immobilized Nonclose-Packed Colloidal Photonic Crystal Films with Various Uniform Colors
Authors: Kobori Momoko , Hirano Yuna , Tanaka Mikako , Kanai Toshimitsu
Published: May 2023

Colloidal photonic crystals, which are three-dimensional periodic structures of monodisperse submicron-sized particles, are expected to be suitable for novel photonic applications and color materials. In particular, nonclose-packed colloidal photonic crystals immobilized in elastomers exhibit significant potential for use in tunable photonic applications and strain sensors that detect strain based on color change. This paper reports a practical method for preparing elastomer-immobilized nonclose-packed colloidal photonic crystal films with various uniform Bragg reflection colors using one kind of gel-immobilized nonclose-packed colloidal photonic crystal film. The degree of swelling was controlled by the mixing ratio of the precursor solutions, which used a mixture of solutions with high and low affinities for the gel film as the swelling solvent. This facilitated color tuning over a wide range, enabling the facile preparation of elastomer-immobilized nonclose-packed colloidal photonic crystal films with various uniform colors via subsequent photopolymerization. The present preparation method can contribute to the development of practical applications of elastomer-immobilized tunable colloidal photonic crystals and sensors.
Broiler White Striping: A Review of Its Etiology, Effects on Production, and Mitigation Efforts
Authors: Lee Jessie , Mienaltowski Michael J.
Published: May 2023

With an increase in the demand and production of chicken products, broilers have been bred to grow larger at a faster rate. This has led to several myopathies, one of which being white striping, which is now common to almost all broilers and is characterized as the deposition of fat within the broiler breast muscles. The purposes of this review are to examine the change in chicken production over the years, and to consider normal muscle growth physiology and the suspected pathological process and causes of white striping, as well as white striping visualization and detection in fast-growing broilers. With the increase in growth rate and size, multiple biochemical processes are affected in broilers, leading to hypoxia and inflammation, subsequent formation of foam cells from macrophages, and the deposition of fat in the form of white stripes along the muscle tissues. The negative effects of white striping include increased fat content and calories and decreased protein content, as well as reductions in palatability and drip loss. Thus, this review also explores the effects of white striping on meat quality, and finally evaluates several strategies attempted to mitigate white striping.
Simple and Economical Downstream Process Development for Edible Oil Production from Oleaginous Yeast Lipomyces starkeyi
Authors: Taki Hiroya , Mine Kentaro , Matsuo Shinji , Kumagai Kazuo , Matsuyama Hideto
Published: May 2023

The production of palm oil, which is used in various foods, is associated with environmental destruction and climate change risks; therefore, there is an urgent need for sustainable alternatives. “Yeast oil” produced by Lipomyces starkeyi, an oil-producing yeast, is expected to solve these problems because its fatty acid composition is similar to that of palm oil. To date, we have successfully developed yeast oil as an edible alternative to palm oil. However, conventional processes, including cell collection and lyophilization, are difficult to industrialize in terms of equipment and cost. Therefore, a method for extracting yeast oil from the emulsified liquid generated by crushing the culture was investigated. It is presumed that the emulsified state is stable owing to the components derived from yeast cells and metabolites; thus, solid–liquid filtration separation was attempted before extraction. The extraction recovery ratio of yeast oil was 98.2% when a hexane/ethanol mixture (3:1) was added to the residue after filtration. Furthermore, the energy consumption and processing cost of this new process were estimated to be 26% and 34%, respectively, of that of conventional methods, suggesting that the new process has potential for practical applications.
Study on Adaptive Parameter Internal Mode Control Method for Argon–Oxygen Refining Ferrochrome Alloy
Authors: Qu Na , Han Shunjie , You Wen , Wang Yifan
Published: May 2023

In order to determine a way to be able to shorten the smelting time of low-carbon ferrochrome alloys and to strengthen the temperature control capability of the AOD converter during the smelting process, this article establishes a mechanism model of the rate of oxygen supply and carbon content change in the smelting process as well as the temperature of the reaction fluid in the converter. The physical and chemical reactions of the smelting process and the actual smelting data are used as the basis. The temperature and carbon content in the smelting converter are considered as the output quantity and the rate of oxygen supply is considered as the input quantity. An expert internal model control framework is built. In addition, an adaptive parameter adjustment mechanism is added to the control framework, taking into account data such as the maximum gas supply rate and the maximum limiting temperature of the actual production process. This method improves the smelting speed and smelting accuracy compared to the general internal mode control method. Finally, according to this method, with the use of the built low-carbon ferrochrome alloy centralized control system for smelting, the system shortens the smelting time by 12.79% compared with the general method and controls the converter temperature below 1950 K, which achieves the expected goal according to the simulation and actual smelting results.
Hydrothermal Leaching of Amylose from Native, Oxidized and Heat-Treated Starches
Authors: Nikolenko Mykola V. , Myrhorodska-Terentieva Viktoriia D. , Sakhno Yuriy , Jaisi Deb P. , Likozar Blaž , Kostyniuk Andrii
Published: May 2023

The kinetics of amylose leaching in hot, excess water from native, oxidized-by-potassium permanganate and heat-treated potato starch at temperatures of 62–90 °C was investigated in isothermal conditions. For the first time, it was proposed to describe the kinetic data by the Kroger–Ziegler equation. It was found that for native starch in the range of 62–70 °C, the activation energy of the amylose leaching process is 192.3 kJ/mol, and at a temperature of 80–90 °C, it decreases to 22 kJ/mol. Similar patterns were established for modified starches. In the kinetic mode, the activation energy was 102.5 kJ/mol for oxidized starch and 44.7 and 82.5 kJ/mol for heat-treated starches at a temperature of 135 °C for 2.5 and 5 h. In the diffusion mode, it was: 18.7 kJ/mol for oxidized and 16.2 and 18.9 kJ/mol for heat-treated starches for 2.5 and 5 h, respectively. It is shown that the consideration of amylose leaching as a heterogeneous pseudochemical process makes it possible to explain the change in the activation energy with increasing temperature by the transition of the leaching process from the kinetic to the diffusion mode. As such a pseudochemical process, it is proposed to consider the breaking of multiple hydrogen bonds between amylose macromolecules. The change in the activation energies of amylose extraction from modified starches is explained by the change in the degree of amylose polymerization. Thin-layer chromatography was used to compare the molecular weight distributions of the resulting modified amylose samples. FTIR spectroscopy and thermal methods of analysis were used to study the transformations of starch during heat treatment.
Performance and Bacteria Communities of a Full-Scale Constructed Wetland Treating the Secondary Effluent after Multi-Years’ Operation
Authors: Song Siyuan , Wang Baogui , Yang Tangwu , Gu Yumei , Sheng Sheng , Zhao Dehua , An Shuqing , Li Aimin
Published: May 2023

Constructed wetlands (CWs) had been widely used to treat the tailwater from sewage treatment plants. However, the enduring effectiveness of CWs was still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies (RE) of the Hongze CW (HZ-CW) after multi-years’ operation. The average COD RE were 7.6% and 15.14% in the 4th and 5th year, respectively. The NH4+-N RE was 78.33% and 46.04% in the 4th and 5th year, respectively, while the TP RE remained high at 66.86% and 64.68%. The high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the bacterial community of HZ-CW at the end of the 5th year exhibited a substantial abundance and diversity, and Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota were the dominant phyla with a relative abundance of 33.75–71.8% and 11.28–24.53% in different zones of HZ-CW. Ammonia oxidizing organisms (AOMs) presented much higher relative abundance (0.43–0.79%) in aerated pond (AP) and four free water surface flow CWs (FWS1–FWS4) than those of anammox bacteria, indicating the dominant role of nitrification in NH4+-N removal.
Dissolving Activated Carbon Pellets for Ibuprofen Removal at Point-of-Entry
Authors: Finn Michelle , Yackel Noelle , Giampietro Gabrielle , Mazyck David
Published: May 2023

The increased usage of pharmaceuticals coupled with the desire for greywater reuse to reduce the freshwater demand for potable water requires a user-friendly engineered solution. Activated carbon is a proven technology that is typically used for organic pollutant removal at water treatment plants. Lignite, coconut, and a blend of activated carbon powders were used to develop rapid-dissolving pellets with an inorganic binder. Ibuprofen was the model compound chosen for pharmaceutical adsorption in deionized water and synthetic hydrolyzed and synthetic fresh urine at rapid contact times (0.5 to 30 min) and using various pellet dosages (0.5 to 10 g/L). A cost analysis was performed to determine the feasibility of the engineered solution. With an increase in contact time, the coconut pellets outperformed both the blend and lignite pellets in deionized water at a set pellet dosage. The lignite pellets were the most cost-effective with rapid adsorption in fresh urine and a capacity of 0.089 g ibuprofen/g pellet. Additional optimization parameters include pellet dissolvability, pellet dosage in relation to different pharmaceuticals, and the impact of activated carbon on the household sewage system, and each of these are necessary to determine application feasibility.
Generation Time and Accumulation of Lower Paleozoic Petroleum in Sichuan and Tarim Basins Determined by Re–Os Isotopic Dating
Authors: Wang Jie , Ma Liangbang , Tao Cheng , Liu Wenhui , Dong Qingwei
Published: May 2023

With the targets of petroleum exploration transferred to the deep and ancient strata, abundant oil and gas resources have been found in Lower Paleozoic and older strata in central and western China. Due to complex evolutionary processes including multiple episodes of hydrocarbon accumulation and ubiquitously accompanied by secondary alterations, significant uncertainties remain concerning the generation time and accumulation processes of these revealed petroleum sources. In this paper, relative pure Re and Os elements existing in the asphaltene fractions of Lower Cambrian solid bitumen collected from the Guangyuan area, western Sichuan Basin, SW China and Middle–Lower Ordovician heavy oils in the Aiding area of the Tahe oilfield in the Tarim Basin, NW China were successfully obtained by sample pretreatments, and Re–Os isotopic analysis was subsequently carried out for the dating of these. The Re–Os isotopic composition indicates a generation time of Guangyuan bitumen to between 572 Ma and 559 Ma, corresponding to the late Sinian period of the Neoproterozoic era. By the means of Re–Os isochron aging, initial 187Os/188Os ratios, and carbon isotopic compositions, the Lower Cambrian bitumen is supposed to originate from source rocks of the Doushantuo Formation in the Sinian strata and subsequently migrated into the reservoirs of the Dengying Formation. This previously reserved petroleum was transformed into its present bitumen state by the destruction of reservoirs caused by tectonic uplift. The Re–Os dating results of Middle–Lower Ordovician heavy oil of Tarim Basin suggest that it was formed between 450 Ma to 436 Ma, corresponding to the Late Ordovician–Early Silurian system, and the generated petroleum likely migrate into the Middle–Lower Ordovician karst reservoirs to form early oil reservoirs. With tectonic uplift, these oil reservoirs were degraded and reformed to the heavy-oil reservoirs of today.
An Improved Acid Fracturing Design through RoqSCAN Technology: A Case Study from Daniudi Gas Field in Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Wang Xiang , He Jiayuan , Qiu Xiaoqing , Li Lei , Zhang Lufeng
Published: May 2023

The concept of geological engineering-integrated fracturing is widely applied in the conventional and unconventional reservoirs, aiming to achieve efficient and economic development. There is no doubt that fine reservoir evaluation is the basis and core of geological engineering-integrated fracturing. Therefore, in this paper, we performed a series of investigations on the basis of formation fine evaluation by using RoqScan technology. Firstly, the physical parameters of the target well located in Daniudi Gas Field were evaluated by a laboratory test and logging interpretation. Next, the composition and function of the RoqSCAN tool were introduce in detail. Furthermore, the elements, minerals, and rock mechanical parameters of the target well were evaluated by the RoqSCAN tool. Finally, the fine reservoir model was established on the basis of fine formation evaluation. Moreover, we conducted a series of research on porosity and principal stress of the target formation to compare the difference between the fine model and the conventional model. Based on the fine reservoir model, the acid-fracturing design and numerical simulation were further investigated. The results of experiments and numerical simulation mainly achieved the following findings: 1. The porosity and permeability of the target formation indicated that it was a tight, low-permeability reservoir; 2. According to the comparison of the distribution for different parameters in the target well, the modeling with fine reservoir evaluation had higher accuracy than the traditional modeling; 3. Based on the fine evaluation results, acid fracturing is recommended as a stimulation method to enhance the productivity of the target formation. This study provides an essential method for the integrated fracturing design of geological engineering.
Multilayer Convolutional Processing Network Based Cryptography Mechanism for Digital Images Infosecurity
Authors: Lin Chia-Hung , Wen Chia-Hung , Lai Hsiang-Yueh , Huang Ping-Tzan , Chen Pi-Yun , Li Chien-Ming , Pai Neng-Sheng
Published: May 2023

Digital images can be easily shared or stored using different imaging devices, storage tools, and computer networks or wireless communication systems. However, these digital images, such as headshots or medical images, may contain private information. Hence, to protect the confidentiality, reliability, and availability of digital images on online processing applications, it is crucial to increase the infosecurity of these images. Therefore, an authorization encryption scheme should ensure a high security level of digital images. The present study aimed to establish a multilayer convolutional processing network (MCPN)-based cryptography mechanism for performing two-round image encryption and decryption processes. In the MCPN layer, two-dimensional (2D) spatial convolutional operations were used to extract the image features and perform scramble operations from grayscale to gray gradient values for the first-image encryption and second-image decryption processes, respectively. In the MCPN weighted network, a sine-power chaotic map (SPCM)-based key generator was used to dynamically produce the non-ordered pseudorandom numbers to set the network-weighted values as secret keys in a sufficiently large key space. It performs the second and first encryption processes using the diffusion method, modifying the image pixel values. Children’s headshots and medical images were used to evaluate the security level by comparing the plain and cipher images using the information entropy, number of pixel change rate, and unified averaged changed intensity indices. Moreover, the plain and decrypted images were compared to verify the decrypted image quality using the structural similarity index measurement and peak signal-to-noise ratio.
Exploring Securigera securidaca Seeds as a Source of Potential CDK1 Inhibitors: Identification of Hippeastrine and Naringenin as Promising Hit Candidates
Authors: Abdelbagi Mohamed E. M. , Al-Mazaideh Ghassab M. , Ahmed Adil Elhag , Al-Rimawi Fuad , Ayyal Salman Haya , Almutairi Abdulrahman , Abuilaiwi Faraj Ahmad , Wedian Fadel
Published: May 2023

CDK1 (cyclin dependent kinase 1) is a key regulator of the cell cycle and is frequently dysregulated in cancer, making it a promising target for anticancer therapy. Securigera securidaca L. (S. securidaca) seeds, traditionally used in folk medicine for various ailments including cancer, were examined for their potential as CDK1/Cks2 inhibitors using in silico approaches. A total of 14 phytocompounds was identified in the GC/MS chromatogram, with gingerone being the most abundant at 25.67% and hippeastrine the least at 2%. Major constituents of the essential extract, including gingerol, eugenol, α-curcumene, and gingerol, showed high values and made up 52% of the total content of the volatile extract. Molecular docking and ADMET studies suggested that hippeastrine and naringenin are potential hit candidates against CDK1, exhibiting good drug-like properties and molecular interactions with desirable pharmacokinetic and toxicological characteristics close to dinaciclib. Furthermore, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations showed that both compounds exhibited stable conformations inside the binding site over the 100 ns MD simulation, suggesting they may stabilize the protein structure by reducing the flexibility of the CDK1 backbone. Additionally, MM-PBSA calculations further supported the stability of hippeastrine and naringenin in CDK1 complexes. Overall, these findings suggest that hippeastrine and naringenin are potential hit candidates for CDK1 inhibition, providing valuable insight into their binding and stability within the active site of CDK1. Further investigation of these compounds with in vitro and in vivo assays is warranted to assess their potential as CDK1 inhibitors for cancer therapy.
Multivariate Parameter Determination of Multi-Component Isotherms for Chromatography Digital Twins
Authors: Zobel-Roos Steffen , Vetter Florian , Scheps Daniel , Pfeiffer Marcus , Gunne Matthias , Boscheinen Oliver , Strube Jochen
Published: May 2023

Many fundamental decisions in the process design of a separation task are conducted in an early stage where, unfortunately, process simulation does not have the highest priority. Subsequently, during the setup of the digital twin, dedicated experiments are carried out in the design space that was established earlier. These experiments are most often too complicated to conduct directly. This paper addresses the idea of a combined approach. The early-stage buffer screening and optimization experiments were planned with the Design of Experiments, carried out and then analyzed statistically to extract not only the best buffer composition but also the crucial model parameters, in this case the isotherm dependency on the buffer composition. This allowed the digital twin to predict the best buffer composition, and if the model-predicted control was applied to keep the process at the optimal productivity at a predetermined purity. The methodology was tested with an industrial peptide purification step.
Batch Process Modeling with Few-Shot Learning
Authors: Gu Shaowu , Chen Junghui , Xie Lei
Published: May 2023

Batch processes in the biopharmaceutical and chemical manufacturing industries often develop new products to meet changing market demands. When the dynamic models of these new products are trained, dynamic modeling with limited data for each product can lead to inaccurate results. One solution is to extract useful knowledge from past historical production data that can be applied to the product of a new grade. In this way, the model can be built quickly without having to wait for additional modeling data. In this study, a subspace identification combined common feature learning scheme is proposed to quickly learn a model of a new grade. The proposed modified state-space model contains common and special parameter matrices. Past batch data can be used to train common parameter matrices. Then, the parameters can be directly transferred into a new SID model for a new grade of the product. The new SID model can be quickly well trained even though there is a limited batch of data. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated in a numerical example and a case of an industrial penicillin process. In these cases, the proposed common feature extraction for the SID learning framework can achieve higher performance in the multi-input and multi-output batch process regression problem.
Perceived Threat, Reactive Identification, and Religious Change: Right-Wing Secularization in Germany, 1999–2017
Authors: Albanese Anthony
Published: May 2023

In this article, I integrate symbolic threat dynamics into a theoretical discussion of religious change. Specifically, this article demonstrates how symbolic threat can lead to increases in salient collective characteristics among members of the threatened group. To make this case, I examine the religious and historical idiosyncrasies of East and West Germany. In the context of East Germany, I find a dramatic reduction in religious activity among the right-wing between 1999 and 2017, as well as a strong relationship between secularity and fear of foreign domination. Mediated by the deeply atheistic history of East Germany, secularization is here presented as a reaction of eastern identification that repeatedly emerges in the face of cultural threat. To empirically illustrate my theoretical contentions, I rely on survey data from the European Values Study (EVS) and German General Social Survey (ALLBUS).
A Compound Up-and-In Call like Option for Wind Projects Pricing
Authors: Bufalo Michele , Di Bari Antonio , Villani Giovanni
Published: May 2023

Wind energy projects represent, currently, a valid opportunity to support United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7. However, these projects can appear financially unattractive considering the unfavorable meteorological conditions, uncertain electricity market price, uncertain market demand, unpredictable project performance, riskiness of investment stages, etc. This paper provides a real options pricing model applied for the evaluation of a wind farm project to include the uncertainty that can affect future performance. The methodology proposed uses a compound call option model with two barriers applied, respectively, to the twofold phase framework that would act as a sort of up-and-in barrier. The compound call option model allows us to valuate the managerial flexibility to proceed with the following investment stages depending on the success of the previous ones and, through the barriers, the methodology gives the investor the opportunity to consider some profitability thresholds below, past which the investment should be abandoned. We develop a discrete case methodology by using the binomial approach. A hypothetical case study is shown to implement the theoretical framework by using likely data.
Dynamic Water Quality Changes in the Main Stream of the Yangtze River from Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Zhao Jiarui , Jin Shuanggen , Zhang Yuanyuan
Published: May 2023

Total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) are important indicators of water quality. Although water quality can be obtained with high accuracy using traditional measurement methods, the cost is high and the area is limited. In the past a single-satellite remote sensing system was normally used to estimate water quality at a large scale, while bands were fewer with limited accuracy. In this paper, inversion models for TN and TP are obtained and validated in the main stream of the Yangtze River using multi-source remote sensing data. The joint inversion models for TN and TP have higher accuracy (R2=0.81 and 0.86, RMSE=0.51 and 0.10 mg L−1) than the single-satellite inversion models (R2=0.61−0.62 and 0.59−0.75, RMSE=0.41−0.61 and 0.07−0.12 mg L−1). Using these models, water quality changes in the Yangtze River are obtained from 2019 to 2021. It is found that TN and TP in the upstream and downstream are high. In spring and autumn, the water quality is poor. The water quality in the Yangtze River is mostly Class III with improvement. Furthermore, it is found that TN and TP are negatively correlated with the water level, temperature and flow in Jiujiang. The p value between water quality and the water level is higher than for other factors, with −0.76 and −0.64 for TN and TP, respectively.
Evaluation of Terrestrial Water Storage and Flux in North China by Using GRACE Combined Gravity Field Solutions and Hydrometeorological Models
Authors: Feng Tengfei , Shen Yunzhong , Chen Qiujie , Wang Fengwei , Ji Kunpu
Published: May 2023

To enrich the understanding of the dynamic evolution of the water resources in North China, terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) from January 2003 to June 2017 are derived using the new GRACE time-variable gravity field model Tongji-GraceCom. Additionally, the spatiotemporal characteristics of terrestrial water fluxes (TWF) at multiple time scales are analyzed based on the water budget theory in conjunction with hydrometeorological and statistical data. The results show that the quality of the Tongji-GraceCom model is superior to the state-of-art spherical harmonic models (CSR RL06 and JPL RL06), with the signal-to-noise ratio improving by 10–16%. After correcting the leakage errors with a reliable correction method, the inferred TWSA in North China presents a significant downward trend, amounting to −1.61 ± 0.05 cm/yr, with the most serious TWSA depletion mainly clustering in the south-central area. The TWFs derived from GRACE and from hydrometeorological elements are in good agreement and both exhibit significant seasonal fluctuations induced by tracking the periodic movements of meteorological factors. However, unlike precipitation which manifests in an increasing trend, both TWFs reflect the obvious decreasing trends, indicating that North China is suffering from severe water deficits, which are mainly attributed to the enhanced evaporation and extensive groundwater pumping for agricultural irrigation.