bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
All-Cellulose Composites: A Review of Recent Studies on Structure, Properties and Applications
Authors: Baghaei Behnaz , Skrifvars Mikael
Published: June 2020

Nowadays, there is greater demand for greener materials in societies due to environmental consciousness, depleting fossil fuels and growing ecological concerns. Within the foreseeable future, industries and suppliers will be required to be more aware of challenges faced due to the availability of resources and use more sustainable and renewable raw materials. In this context, cellulose can be expected to become a vital resource for materials owing to its abundance, versatility as a biopolymer, several different forms and potential applications. Thus, all-cellulose composites (ACCs) have gained significant research interest in recent years. ACC is a class of biocomposites in which the matrix is a dissolved and regenerated cellulose, while the reinforcement is undissolved or partly dissolved cellulose. This review paper is intended to provide a brief outline of works that cover recent progress in the manufacturing and processing techniques for ACCs, various cellulose sources, solvents and antisolvents, as well as their properties.
Unusual Complexes of P(CH)3 with FH, ClH, and ClF
Authors: Del Bene Janet E. , Alkorta Ibon , Elguero José
Published: June 2020

Ab initio MP2/aug’-cc-pVTZ calculations have been performed to determine the structures and binding energies of complexes formed by phosphatetrahedrane, P(CH)3, and HF, HCl, and ClF. Four types of complexes exist on the potential energy surfaces. Isomers A form at the P atom near the end of a P-C bond, B at a C-C bond, C at the centroid of the C-C-C ring along the C3 symmetry axis, and D at the P atom along the C3 symmetry axis. Complexes A and B are stabilized by hydrogen bonds when FH and ClH are the acids, and by halogen bonds when ClF is the acid. In isomers C, the dipole moments of the two monomers are favorably aligned but in D the alignment is unfavorable. For each of the monomers, the binding energies of the complexes decrease in the order A > B > C > D. The most stabilizing Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) binding energy component for the A and B isomers is the electrostatic interaction, while the dispersion interaction is the most stabilizing term for C and D. The barriers to converting one isomer to another are significantly higher for the A isomers compared to B. Equation of motion coupled cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) intermolecular coupling constants J(X-C) are small for both B and C isomers. J(X-P) values are larger and positive in the A isomers, negative in the B isomers, and have their largest positive values in the D isomers. Intramolecular coupling constants 1J(P-C) experience little change upon complex formation, except in the halogen-bonded complex FCl:P(CH3) A.
Latest Novelties on Plasmonic and Non-Plasmonic Nanomaterials for SERS Sensing
Authors: Barbillon Grégory
Published: June 2020

An explosion in the production of substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has occurred using novel designs of plasmonic nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticle self-assembly), new plasmonic materials such as bimetallic nanomaterials (e.g., Au/Ag) and hybrid nanomaterials (e.g., metal/semiconductor), and new non-plasmonic nanomaterials. The novel plasmonic nanomaterials can enable a better charge transfer or a better confinement of the electric field inducing a SERS enhancement by adjusting, for instance, the size, shape, spatial organization, nanoparticle self-assembly, and nature of nanomaterials. The new non-plasmonic nanomaterials can favor a better charge transfer caused by atom defects, thus inducing a SERS enhancement. In last two years (2019–2020), great insights in the fields of design of plasmonic nanosystems based on the nanoparticle self-assembly and new plasmonic and non-plasmonic nanomaterials were realized. This mini-review is focused on the nanoparticle self-assembly, bimetallic nanoparticles, nanomaterials based on metal-zinc oxide, and other nanomaterials based on metal oxides and metal oxide-metal for SERS sensing.
Mediterranean Diet and the Emotional Well-Being of Students of the Campus of Melilla (University of Granada)
Authors: López-Olivares María , Mohatar-Barba Miriam , Fernández-Gómez Elisabet , Enrique-Mirón Carmen
Published: June 2020

A certain link exists between the consumption of particular groups of food and well-being. In this study, we analyzed in depth the relationship between strict adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and emotional well-being through a descriptive, exploratory, transversal, and correlational study of students from the Campus of Melilla, University of Granada, Spain. The sample consisted of 272 individuals. Adherence to the MD was measured with the PREvención con DIetaMEDiterránea (PREDIMED) questionnaire, emotional well-being (both positive and negative affection) with the Spanish version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the state of perceived health with the Short Form-36 (SF36), and the degree of physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). A strict adherence to the MD was found to be significantly related to positive emotional state (β = 0.018, p = 0.009). The perceived state of health (β = 0.192, p < 0.001), mental role (β = 0.346, p < 0.001), and physical activity (β = 0.155, p = 0.007) were found to be predictive factors of a positive emotional state. Conversely, the relationship between the adherence to the MD and a negative emotional state was not significant. Various components of the MD were found to be independently connected to well-being. The results suggest that adopting a nutritional pattern such as the MD is linked to an improvement in emotional well-being.
Links between Nutrition, Infectious Diseases, and Microbiota: Emerging Technologies and Opportunities for Human-Focused Research
Authors: Cassotta Manuela , Forbes-Hernández Tamara Yuliett , Calderón Iglesias Ruben , Ruiz Roberto , Elexpuru Zabaleta Maria , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio
Published: June 2020

The interaction between nutrition and human infectious diseases has always been recognized. With the emergence of molecular tools and post-genomics, high-resolution sequencing technologies, the gut microbiota has been emerging as a key moderator in the complex interplay between nutrients, human body, and infections. Much of the host–microbial and nutrition research is currently based on animals or simplistic in vitro models. Although traditional in vivo and in vitro models have helped to develop mechanistic hypotheses and assess the causality of the host–microbiota interactions, they often fail to faithfully recapitulate the complexity of the human nutrient–microbiome axis in gastrointestinal homeostasis and infections. Over the last decade, remarkable progress in tissue engineering, stem cell biology, microfluidics, sequencing technologies, and computing power has taken place, which has produced a new generation of human-focused, relevant, and predictive tools. These tools, which include patient-derived organoids, organs-on-a-chip, computational analyses, and models, together with multi-omics readouts, represent novel and exciting equipment to advance the research into microbiota, infectious diseases, and nutrition from a human-biology-based perspective. After considering some limitations of the conventional in vivo and in vitro approaches, in this review, we present the main novel available and emerging tools that are suitable for designing human-oriented research.
Effect of Gluten-Free Diet on Gut Microbiota Composition in Patients with Celiac Disease and Non-Celiac Gluten/Wheat Sensitivity
Authors: Caio Giacomo , Lungaro Lisa , Segata Nicola , Guarino Matteo , Zoli Giorgio , Volta Umberto , De Giorgio Roberto
Published: June 2020

Celiac disease (CD) and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity (NCG/WS) are the two most frequent conditions belonging to gluten-related disorders (GRDs). Both these diseases are triggered and worsened by gluten proteins ingestion, although other components, such as amylase/trypsin inhibitors (ATI) and fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs), seem to be involved in the NCG/WS onset. Therefore, the only effective treatment to date is the long-life adherence to a strictly gluten-free diet. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the intestinal barrier, a dynamic system comprising various components, which regulate the delicate crosstalk between metabolic, motor, neuroendocrine and immunological functions. Among the elements characterizing the intestinal barrier, the microbiota plays a key role, modulating the gut integrity maintenance, the immune response and the inflammation process, linked to the CD and NCG/WS outbreak. This narrative review addresses the most recent findings on the gut microbiota modulation induced by the gluten-free diet (GFD) in healthy, CD and NCG/WS patients.
Effectiveness and Sustainability of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program for Perioperative Prophylaxis in Pediatric Surgery
Authors: Donà Daniele , Luise Dora , Barbieri Elisa , Masiero Nicola , Maita Sonia , Antoniello Luca , Zaoutis Theoklis , Giaquinto Carlo , Gamba Piergiorgio
Published: June 2020

Background—Appropriate perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) is essential to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) and to avoid antibiotics misuse. Aim—The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), based on a clinical pathway (CP) and periodic education, to improve adherence to the guidelines for PAP in a tertiary care pediatric surgery center. Methods—We assessed the changes in PAP correctness and its effect on SSIs between the six months before and the 24 months after the implementation of ASP in the Pediatric Surgery Unit of the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health of Padova. The ASP was addressed to all surgeons and anesthesiologists of the Pediatric Surgery Unit. The primary outcome was appropriateness of PAP (agent, timing of the first dose, and duration). SSI rate was the secondary outcome. Results—1771 patients were included in the study and 676 received PAP. The overall correctness of the PAP, in terms of agent, timing, and duration, increased significantly after the CP implementation. What changed most was the PAP discontinuation within 24 h (p < 0.001). Cefazolin was the most used antibiotic, with a significant increase in the post-intervention period (p < 0.001) and with a reduction in the use of other broad-spectrum antibiotics. No variations in the incidence of SSIs were reported in the five periods (p = 0.958). Conclusion—The implementation of an ASP based on CP and education is an effective and sustainable antimicrobial stewardship tool for improving the correct use of PAP.
Enteric Release Essential Oil Prepared by Co-Spray Drying Methacrylate/Polysaccharides—Influence of Starch Type
Authors: Partheniadis Ioannis , Zarafidou Evangelia , Litinas Konstantinos E. , Nikolakakis Ioannis
Published: June 2020

Oregano essential oil (EO) enteric release powder was formulated by spray drying feed emulsions stabilized with polysaccharides (PSC) and Eudragit® L100 (PLM). Different modified starches were used in the PSC component. Spray-dried powders were evaluated for particle size and morphology, dynamic packing, flowability, chemical interactions, reconstitution, and gastric protection. Feed emulsions were stable, indicating the good emulsification ability of the PLM/PSC combination. The presence of polymer in the encapsulating wall neutralized electrostatic charges indicating physical attraction, and FTIR spectra showed peaks of both PLM and PSC without significant shifting. Furthermore, the presence of polymer influenced spray drying, resulting in the elimination of surface cavities and the improvement of powder packing and flowability, which was best when the surface-active, low-viscosity sodium octenyl succinate starch was used (angle of repose 42°). When a PLM/PSC ratio of 80/20 was used in the encapsulating wall, the spray-dried product showed negligible re-emulsification and less than 15% release in pH 1.2 medium for 2 h, confirming gastric protection, whereas at pH 6.8, it provided complete re-emulsification and release. In conclusion, (1) polymer–PSC physical interaction promoted the formation of a smoother particle surface and product with improved technological properties, which is important for further processing, and (2) the gastro protective function of Eudragit® L100 was not impaired due to the absence of significant chemical interactions.
Ciprofloxacin Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Incorporated into In-Situ Gels to Improve Management of Bacterial Endophthalmitis
Authors: Youssef Ahmed , Dudhipala Narendar , Majumdar Soumyajit
Published: June 2020

Bacterial endophthalmitis (BE) is a potentially sight-threatening inflammatory reaction of the intraocular fluids or tissues caused by bacteria. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) eye drops are prescribed as first-line therapy in BE. However, frequent administration is necessary due to precorneal loss and poor ocular bioavailability. The objective of the current research was to prepare CIP containing nanostructured lipid carriers (CIP-NLCs) loaded an in situ gel system (CIP-NLC-IG) for topical ocular administration for enhanced and sustained antibacterial activity in BE treatment. CIP-NLCs were prepared by the hot homogenization method and optimized based on physicochemical characteristics and physical stability. The optimized CIP-NLC formulation was converted into CIP-NLC-IG with the addition of gellan gum as a gelling agent. Furthermore, optimized CIP-NLC and CIP-NLC-IG were evaluated for in vitro release and ex vivo transcorneal permeation studies, using commercial CIP ophthalmic solution (CIP-C) as the control. The optimized CIP-NLC formulation showed particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, assay and entrapment efficiency of 193.1 ± 5.1 nm, 0.43 ± 0.01, −32.5 ± 1.5 mV, 99.5 ± 5.5 and 96.3 ± 2.5%, respectively. CIP-NLC-IG with 0.2% w/v gellan gum showed optimal viscoelastic characteristics. The in vitro release studies demonstrated sustained release of CIP from CIP-NLC and CIP-NLC-IG formulations over a 24 h period. Transcorneal flux and permeability increased 4 and 3.5-fold, and 2.2 and 1.9-fold from CIP-NLC and CIP-NLC-IG formulations, respectively, when compared to CIP-C. The results demonstrate that CIP-NLC-IG could be considered as an alternate delivery system to prolong the residence time on the ocular surface after topical administration. Thus, the current CIP ophthalmic formulations may exhibit improved ocular bioavailability and prolonged antibacterial activity, which may improve therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of BE.
Improved Root Growth by Liming Aluminum-Sensitive Rice Cultivar or Cultivating an Aluminum-Tolerant One Does Not Enhance Fertilizer Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency in an Acid Paddy Soil
Authors: Zhang Hao Qing , Zhao Xue Qiang , Chen Yi Ling , Wang Jia Lin , Shen Ren Fang
Published: June 2020

The root is the main site of nitrogen (N) acquisition and aluminum (Al) toxicity. The objective of this study is to investigate whether liming and cultivation of an Al-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar can improve root growth, thereby increasing N acquisition by rice plants in acid paddy soil. Two rice cultivars (‘B690’, Al-sensitive, and ‘Yugeng5’, Al-tolerant) were cultivated with 15N-labeled urea, and with or without lime in an acid paddy soil (pH 4.9) in pots. We examined root and shoot growth, soil pH, soil exchangeable Al, N uptake, 15N distribution in plant-soil system, and fertilizer N recovery efficiency. Results showed that liming improved the root growth of ‘B690’ by decreasing soil exchangeable Al concentrations, in both N-limited and N-fertilized soils. Liming enhanced the N uptake of ‘B690’ only in the absence of N fertilizer. The root weight of ‘Yugeng5’ was greater than that of ‘B690’ without lime, but the two cultivars showed similar N uptake. The fertilizer N recovery efficiency and N loss did not differ significantly between limed and non-limed conditions, or between the two rice cultivars. Thus, liming an Al-sensitive rice cultivar and cultivating an Al-tolerant one improves root growth, but does not enhance fertilizer N recovery efficiency in the present acid paddy soil.
Molecular Diagnostics and Detection of Oomycetes on Fiber Crops
Authors: Wang Tuhong , Gao Chunsheng , Cheng Yi , Li Zhimin , Chen Jia , Guo Litao , Xu Jianping
Published: June 2020

Fiber crops are an important group of economic plants. Traditionally cultivated for fiber, fiber crops have also become sources of other materials such as food, animal feed, cosmetics and medicine. Asia and America are the two main production areas of fiber crops in the world. However, oomycete diseases have become an important factor limiting their yield and quality, causing devastating consequences for the production of fiber crops in many regions. To effectively control oomycete pathogens and reduce their negative impacts on these crops, it is very important to have fast and accurate detection systems, especially in the early stages of infection. With the rapid development of molecular biology, the diagnosis of plant pathogens has progressed from relying on traditional morphological features to the increasing use of molecular methods. The objective of this paper was to review the current status of research on molecular diagnosis of oomycete pathogens on fiber crops. Our search of PubMed identified nearly 30 species or subspecies of oomycetes on fiber crops, among which the top three species were Phytophthora boehmeriae, Phytophthora nicotianae and Pythium ultimum. The gene regions that have been used for molecular identifications of these pathogens include the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene cluster, and genes coding for translation elongation factor 1α (EF-1α) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunits I and II (Cox 1, Cox 2), etc. We summarize the molecular assays that have been used to identify these pathogens and discuss potential areas of future development for fast, specific, and accurate diagnosis of oomycetes on fiber crops.
Geranium and Lemon Essential Oils and Their Active Compounds Downregulate Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), a SARS-CoV-2 Spike Receptor-Binding Domain, in Epithelial Cells
Authors: Senthil Kumar K. J. , Gokila Vani M. , Wang Chung-Shuan , Chen Chia-Chi , Chen Yu-Chien , Lu Li-Ping , Huang Ching-Hsiang , Lai Chien-Sing , Wang Sheng-Yang
Published: June 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), is a pandemic disease that has been declared as modern history’s gravest health emergency worldwide. Until now, no precise treatment modality has been developed. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, a host cell receptor, has been found to play a crucial role in virus cell entry; therefore, ACE2 blockers can be a potential target for anti-viral intervention. In this study, we evaluated the ACE2 inhibitory effects of 10 essential oils. Among them, geranium and lemon oils displayed significant ACE2 inhibitory effects in epithelial cells. In addition, immunoblotting and qPCR analysis also confirmed that geranium and lemon oils possess potent ACE2 inhibitory effects. Furthermore, the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis displayed 22 compounds in geranium oil and 9 compounds in lemon oil. Citronellol, geraniol, and neryl acetate were the major compounds of geranium oil and limonene that represented major compound of lemon oil. Next, we found that treatment with citronellol and limonene significantly downregulated ACE2 expression in epithelial cells. The results suggest that geranium and lemon essential oils and their derivative compounds are valuable natural anti-viral agents that may contribute to the prevention of the invasion of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 into the human body.
Application of Trichoderma harzianum, 6-Pentyl-α-pyrone and Plant Biopolymer Formulations Modulate Plant Metabolism and Fruit Quality of Plum Tomatoes
Authors: Carillo Petronia , Woo Sheridan L. , Comite Ernesto , El-Nakhel Christophe , Rouphael Youssef , Fusco Giovanna Marta , Borzacchiello Assunta , Lanzuise Stefania , Vinale Francesco
Published: June 2020

Many Trichoderma are successfully used to improve agriculture productivity due to their capacity for biocontrol and to stimulate plant growth and tolerance to abiotic stress. This research elucidates the effect of applications with Trichoderma harzianum strain T22 (T22), or biopolymer (BP) alone or in combination (BP + T22 or BP + 6-pentyl-α-pyrone (6PP); a Trichoderma secondary metabolite) on the crop performance, nutritional and functional quality of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cultivar Pixel). T22 elicited significant increases in total yield (+40.1%) compared to untreated tomato. The content of lycopene, an important antioxidant compound in tomatoes, significantly increased upon treatment with T22 (+ 49%), BP + T22 (+ 40%) and BP + 6PP (+ 52%) compared to the control. T22 treatments significantly increased the content of asparagine (+37%), GABA (+87%) and MEA (+102%) over the control; whereas BP alone strongly increased GABA (+105%) and MEA (+85%). The synthesis of these compounds implies that tomato plants are able to reuse the photorespiratory amino acids and ammonium for producing useful metabolites and reduce the pressure of photorespiration on plant metabolism, thus optimizing photosynthesis and growth. Finally, these metabolites exert many beneficial effects for human health, thus enhancing the premium quality of plum tomatoes.
Introduction of a New In-Situ Measurement System for the Study of Touch-Feel Relevant Surface Properties
Authors: Ules Thomas , Hausberger Andreas , Grießer Michael , Schlögl Sandra , Gruber Dieter P.
Published: June 2020

The touch-feel sensation of product surfaces arouses growing interest in various industry branches. To entangle the underlying physical and material parameters responsible for a specific touch-feel sensation, a new measurement system has been developed. This system aims to record the prime physical interaction parameters at a time, which is considered a necessary prerequisite for a successful physical description of the haptic sensation. The measurement setup enables one to measure the dynamic coefficient of friction, the macroscopic contact area of smooth and rough surfaces, the angle enclosed between the human finger and the soft-touch surfaces and the vibrations induced in the human finger during relative motion at a time. To validate the measurement stand, a test series has been conducted on two soft-touch surfaces of different roughness. While the individual results agree well with the literature, their combination revealed new insights. Finally, the investigation of the haptics of polymer coatings with the presented measuring system should facilitate the design of surfaces with tailor-made touch-feel properties.
Spray Freeze-Drying as a Solution to Continuous Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Products in Bulk
Authors: Adali Merve B. , Barresi Antonello A. , Boccardo Gianluca , Pisano Roberto
Published: June 2020

Pharmaceutical manufacturing is evolving from traditional batch processes to continuous ones. The new global competition focused on throughput and quality of drug products is certainly the driving force behind this transition which, thus, represents the new challenge of pharmaceutical manufacturing and hence of lyophilization as a downstream operation. In this direction, the present review deals with the most recent technologies, based on spray freeze-drying, that can achieve this objective. It provides a comprehensive overview of the physics behind this process and of the most recent equipment design.
Conversion of Lignocellulosic Corn Agro-Waste into Cellulose Derivative and Its Potential Application as Pharmaceutical Excipient
Authors: Rahman Md. Saifur , H. Mondal Md. Ibrahim , Yeasmin Mst. Sarmina , Sayeed M. Abu , Hossain Md Ashraf , Ahmed Mohammad Boshir
Published: June 2020

Lignocellulosic biomass is widely grown in many agricultural-based countries. These are typically incinerated or discarded in open spaces, which further may cause severe health and environmental problems. Hence, the proper utilization and conversion of different parts of lignocellulosic biomasses (e.g., corn wastes derived leave, cob, stalk, and husk) into value-added materials could be a promising way of protecting both health and environments. In addition, they have high-potential for myriads applications (e.g., pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, and so on). In this context, herein, we isolated holocellulose (a mixture of alpha α, beta β, and gamma γ cellulose) from corn waste, and then it was converted into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Subsequently, the prepared CMC was evaluated successfully to be used as a pharmaceutical excipient. Different characterization tools were employed for structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the extracted holocellulose and synthesized CMC. Results showed that the highest yield of CMC was obtained 187.5% along with the highest degree of substitution (DS i.e., 1.83) in a single stage (i.e., size reduction technique) with the lowest particle size of holocellulose (100 µm). This happened due to the use of a single stage instead of multiple stages. Finally, extracted CMC was successfully used as a pharmaceutical excipient with promising results compared to commercially available pharmaceutical-grade CMC.
An Empirical Test of the Inter-Relationships between Various Bibliometric Creative Scholarship Indicators
Authors: Forthmann Boris , Runco Mark A.
Published: June 2020

Quantifying the creative quality of scholarly work is a difficult challenge, and, unsurprisingly, empirical research in this area is scarce. This investigation builds on the theoretical distinction between impact (e.g., citation counts) and creative quality (e.g., originality) and extends recent work on using objective measures to assess the originality of scientific publications. Following extensive evidence from creativity research and theoretical deliberations, we operationalized multiple indicators of openness and idea density for bibliometric research. Results showed that in two large bibliometric datasets (creativity research: N = 1643; bibliometrics dataset: N = 2986) correlations between impact and the various indicators for openness, idea density, and originality were negligible to small; this finding supports the discriminant validity of the new creative scholarship indicators. The convergent validity of these indicators was not as clear, but correlations were comparable to previous research on bibliometric originality. Next, we explored the nomological net of various operationalizations of openness and idea density by means of exploratory graph analysis. The openness indicators of variety (based on cited journals and cited first authors) were found to be made up of strongly connected nodes in a separate cluster; the idea density indicators (those based on abstracts or titles of scientific work) also formed a separate cluster. Based on these findings, we discuss the problems arising from the potential methodological overlap among indicators and we offer future directions for bibliometric explorations of the creative quality of scientific publications.
Holographic Screens Are Classical Information Channels
Authors: Fields Chris , Marcianò Antonino
Published: June 2020

The ideas of classical communication and holographic encoding arise in different parts of physics. Here, we show that they are equivalent. This allows for us to reformulate the holographic principle independently of spacetime, as the principle that holographic screens encode interaction eigenvalues.
Ham Sok Hon, a Pioneer of Korean Cosmopolitanism
Authors: Lee Song-Chong
Published: June 2020

This paper discusses an aspect of Ham Sok Hon’s philosophy, which the author argues would reflect, and contribute to enriching, the theory of cosmopolitanism. Ham was arguably one of the 20th century’s most influential, yet controversial, thinkers and political activists—particularly in the progressive movement of modern Korea. The author revisits his philosophy of ssial/saengmyŏng to find a more persuasive metaphysical ground to draw an enlarged and deepened sense of community than that of dominant cosmopolitan theories. To properly place his philosophy within the larger discussion of cosmopolitanism and highlight its uniqueness, the author presents a brief overview of major cosmopolitan theories first, along with their shortcomings, and then constructs Ham’s cosmopolitan vision by focusing on three specific insights: (1) ssial/saengmyŏng (씨알/生命, life) as the agent, (2) religion and politics for ipch’ejŏk in’gan (立體的人間 the multi-dimensional human), and (3) narrative and memory as the driving force of cosmopolitanism.
The Impact of Non-Photosynthetic Vegetation on LAI Estimation by NDVI in Mixed Grassland
Authors: Xu Dandan , An Deshuai , Guo Xulin
Published: June 2020

Leaf area index (LAI) is widely used for algorithms and modelling in the field of ecology and land surface processes. At a global scale, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) products generated by different remote sensing satellites, have provided more than 40 years of time series data for LAI estimation. NDVI saturation issues are reported in agriculture and forest ecosystems at high LAI values, creating a challenge when using NDVI to estimate LAI. However, NDVI saturation is not reported on LAI estimation in grasslands. Previous research implies that non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) reduces the accuracy of LAI estimation from NDVI and other vegetation indices. A question arises: is the absence of NDVI saturation in grasslands a result of low LAI value, or is it caused by NPV? This study aims to explore whether there is an NDVI saturation issue in mixed grassland, and how NPV may influence LAI estimation by NDVI. In addition, in-situ measured plant area index (PAI) by sensors that detect light interception through the vegetation canopy (e.g., Li-cor LAI-2000), the most widely used field LAI collection method, might create bias in LAI estimation or validation using NDVI. Thus, this study also aims to quantify the contribution of green vegetation (GV) and NPV on in-situ measured PAI. The results indicate that NDVI saturation (using the portion of NDVI only contributed by GV) exists in grassland at high LAI (LAI threshold is much lower than that reported for other ecosystems in the literature), and that the presence of NPV can override the saturation effects of NDVI used to estimate green LAI. The results also show that GV and NPV in mixed grassland explain, respectively, the 60.33% and 39.67% variation of in-situ measured PAI by LAI-2000.
A Comparison of Three Trapezoid Models Using Optical and Thermal Satellite Imagery for Water Table Depth Monitoring in Estonian Bogs
Authors: Burdun Iuliia , Bechtold Michel , Sagris Valentina , Komisarenko Viacheslav , De Lannoy Gabrielle , Mander Ülo
Published: June 2020

This study explored the potential of optical and thermal satellite imagery to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the position of the water table depth (WTD) in the peat layer of northern bogs. We evaluated three different trapezoid models that are proposed in the literature for soil moisture monitoring in regions with mineral soils. Due to the tight capillary connection between water table and surface soil moisture, we hypothesized that the soil moisture indices retrieved from these models would be correlated with WTD measured in situ. Two trapezoid models were based on optical and thermal imagery, also known as Thermal-Optical TRApezoid Models (TOTRAM), and one was based on optical imagery alone, also known as the OPtical TRApezoid Model (OPTRAM). The models were applied to Landsat imagery from 2008 to 2019 and the derived soil moisture indices were compared with in-situ WTD from eight locations in two Estonian bogs. Our results show that only the OPTRAM index was significantly (p-value < 0.05) correlated in time with WTD (average Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.41 and 0.37, for original and anomaly time series, respectively), while the two tested TOTRAM indices were not. The highest temporal correlation coefficients (up to 0.8) were observed for OPTRAM over treeless parts of the bogs. An assessment of the spatial correlation between soil moisture indices and WTD indicated that all three models did not capture the spatial variation in water table depth. Instead, the spatial patterns of the indices were primarily attributable to vegetation patterns.
Enhancing the Internet of Things with Knowledge-Driven Software-Defined Networking Technology: Future Perspectives
Authors: Li Yuhong , Su Xiang , Ding Aaron Yi , Lindgren Anders , Liu Xiaoli , Prehofer Christian , Riekki Jukka , Rahmani Rahim , Tarkoma Sasu , Hui Pan
Published: June 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects smart devices to enable various intelligent services. The deployment of IoT encounters several challenges, such as difficulties in controlling and managing IoT applications and networks, problems in programming existing IoT devices, long service provisioning time, underused resources, as well as complexity, isolation and scalability, among others. One fundamental concern is that current IoT networks lack flexibility and intelligence. A network-wide flexible control and management are missing in IoT networks. In addition, huge numbers of devices and large amounts of data are involved in IoT, but none of them have been tuned for supporting network management and control. In this paper, we argue that Software-defined Networking (SDN) together with the data generated by IoT applications can enhance the control and management of IoT in terms of flexibility and intelligence. We present a review for the evolution of SDN and IoT and analyze the benefits and challenges brought by the integration of SDN and IoT with the help of IoT data. We discuss the perspectives of knowledge-driven SDN for IoT through a new IoT architecture and illustrate how to realize Industry IoT by using the architecture. We also highlight the challenges and future research works toward realizing IoT with the knowledge-driven SDN.
Characterization of Angle Accuracy and Precision of 3-Degree-of-Freedom Absolute Encoder Based on NanoGPS OxyO Technology
Authors: Pisani Marco , Astrua Milena , Carles Pierre-Alix , Kubsky Stefan , Nguyên Thanh-Liêm , Acher Olivier
Published: June 2020

An absolute encoder based on vision system nanoGPS OxyO was developed by HORIBA France. This encoder provides three types of position information, namely, two inplane co-ordinates and inplane angular orientation. This paper focuses on the characterization of its angular performance. To this aim, the nanoGPS OxyO system was compared with the national angle standard of the National Metrology Institute of Italy (INRIM) that had evaluated accuracy of about 0.1 µrad. The effect of image size and illumination conditions on angular measurements was studied. Precision better than 10 µrad and accuracy better than 63 µrad over 2π rotation were demonstrated. Moreover, the application of nanoGPS OxyO to the characterization of rotation bearing is presented. Small deviations from pure rotational behavior were evidenced that would have not been possible using laser interferometers. As a consequence of its accuracy and versatility, the nanoGPS OxyO encoder is expected to be useful for laboratory experiments and quality-control tasks.
Rank Pooling Approach for Wearable Sensor-Based ADLs Recognition
Authors: Nisar Muhammad Adeel , Shirahama Kimiaki , Li Frédéric , Huang Xinyu , Grzegorzek Marcin
Published: June 2020

This paper addresses wearable-based recognition of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) which are composed of several repetitive and concurrent short movements having temporal dependencies. It is improbable to directly use sensor data to recognize these long-term composite activities because two examples (data sequences) of the same ADL result in largely diverse sensory data. However, they may be similar in terms of more semantic and meaningful short-term atomic actions. Therefore, we propose a two-level hierarchical model for recognition of ADLs. Firstly, atomic activities are detected and their probabilistic scores are generated at the lower level. Secondly, we deal with the temporal transitions of atomic activities using a temporal pooling method, rank pooling. This enables us to encode the ordering of probabilistic scores for atomic activities at the higher level of our model. Rank pooling leads to a 5–13% improvement in results as compared to the other popularly used techniques. We also produce a large dataset of 61 atomic and 7 composite activities for our experiments.
A Novel Method for Asynchronous Time-of-Arrival-Based Source Localization: Algorithms, Performance and Complexity
Authors: Chen Yuanpeng , Yao Zhiqiang , Peng Zheng
Published: June 2020

In time-of-arrival (TOA)-based source localization, accurate positioning can be achieved only when the correct signal propagation time between the source and the sensors is obtained. In practice, a clock error usually exists between the nodes causing the source and sensors to often be in an asynchronous state. This leads to the asynchronous source localization problem which is then formulated to a least square problem with nonconvex and nonsmooth objective function. The state-of-the-art algorithms need to relax the original problem to convex programming, such as semidefinite programming (SDP), which results in performance loss. In this paper, unlike the existing approaches, we propose a proximal alternating minimization positioning (PAMP) method, which minimizes the original function without relaxation. Utilizing the biconvex property of original asynchronous problem, the method divides it into two subproblems: the clock offset subproblem and the synchronous source localization subproblem. For the former we derive a global solution, whereas the later is solved by a proposed efficient subgradient algorithm extended from the simulated annealing-based Barzilai–Borwein algorithm. The proposed method obtains preferable localization performance with lower computational complexity. The convergence of our method in Lyapunov framework is also established. Simulation results demonstrate that the performance of PAMP method can be close to the optimality benchmark of Cramér–Rao Lower Bound.
Speeding Up the Implementation of Industry 4.0 with Management Tools: Empirical Investigations in Manufacturing Organizations
Authors: Črešnar Rok , Potočan Vojko , Nedelko Zlatko
Published: June 2020

The main purpose of this study is to examine how the use of management tools supports the readiness of manufacturing organizations for the implementation of Industry 4.0. The originality of the research is reflected in the exploration of the relationship between the use of the selected well-known management tools and their readiness for the implementation of Industry 4.0, which was assessed using a combination of two models—one developed by the National Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech) and the other by the University of Warwick. The relationship was assessed by applying structural equation modeling techniques to a data set of 323 responses from employees in manufacturing organizations. The results show that the use of six sigma, total quality management, radio frequency identification, a balanced scorecard, rapid prototyping, customer segmentation, mission and vision statements, and digital transformation is positively associated with Industry 4.0 readiness. Inversely, outsourcing and strategic planning are negatively associated with Industry 4.0 readiness, while lean manufacturing, which is often emphasized as the cornerstone of Industry 4.0 implementation, is not associated with Industry 4.0 readiness in our study. These findings can help organizations to understand how to consider and measure readiness for the implementation of Industry 4.0 more comprehensively and present guidelines on how the use of management tools in manufacturing organizations can foster their implementation of Industry 4.0 principles.
A Cost-Effective In Situ Zooplankton Monitoring System Based on Novel Illumination Optimization
Authors: Du Zhiqiang , Xia Chunlei , Fu Longwen , Zhang Nan , Li Bowei , Song Jinming , Chen Lingxin
Published: June 2020

A cost-effective and low-power-consumption underwater microscopic imaging system was developed to capture high-resolution zooplankton images in real-time. In this work, dark-field imaging was adopted to reduce backscattering and background noise. To produce an accurate illumination, a novel illumination optimization scheme for the light-emitting diode (LED) array was proposed and applied to design a lighting system for the underwater optical imaging of zooplankton. A multiple objective genetic algorithm was utilized to find the best location of the LED array, which resulted in the specific illumination level and most homogeneous irradiance in the target area. The zooplankton imaging system developed with the optimal configuration of LEDs was tested with Daphnia magna under laboratory conditions. The maximal field of view was 16 mm × 13 mm and the optical resolution was 15 μm. The experimental results showed that the imaging system developed could capture high-resolution and high-definition images of Daphnia. Subsequently, Daphnia individuals were accurately segmented and their geometrical characters were measured by using a classical image processing algorithm. This work provides a cost-effective zooplankton measuring system based on an optimization illumination configuration of an LED array, which has a great potential for minimizing the investment and operating costs associated with long-term in situ monitoring of the physiological state and population conditions of zooplankton.
On-Chip Group-IV Heisenberg-Limited Sagnac Interferometric Gyroscope at Room Temperature
Authors: De Leonardis Francesco , Soref Richard , De Carlo Martino , Passaro Vittorio M. N.
Published: June 2020

A room-temperature strip-guided “manufacturable” Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI)/GeSn integrated-photonics quantum-gyroscope chip operating at 1550 nm is proposed and analysed. We demonstrate how the entangled photons generated in Si Spontaneous Four Wave Mixing (SFWM) can be used to improve the resolution of a Sagnac interferometric gyroscope. We propose different integrated architectures based on degenerate and non-degenerate SFWM. The chip comprises several beam splitters, two SFWM entangled photon sources, a pump filter, integrated Mach–Zehnder interferometric gyro, and an array of waveguide coupled GeSn/Ge/Si single-photon avalanche detectors. The laser pumped SWFM sources generate the signal-idler pairs, which, in turn, are used to measure the two-photon, four-photon, and higher order coincidences, resulting in an increasing of the gyro resolution by a factor of two and four, with respect to the classical approach.
Analysis of Control Characteristics between Dominant and Non-Dominant Hands by Transient Responses of Circular Tracking Movements in 3D Virtual Reality Space
Authors: Park Wookhyun , Choi Woong , Jo Hanjin , Lee Geonhui , Kim Jaehyo
Published: June 2020

Human movement is a controlled result of the sensory-motor system, and the motor control mechanism has been studied through diverse movements. The present study examined control characteristics of dominant and non-dominant hands by analyzing the transient responses of circular tracking movements in 3D virtual reality space. A visual target rotated in a circular trajectory at four different speeds, and 29 participants tracked the target with their hands. The position of each subject’s hand was measured, and the following three parameters were investigated: normalized initial peak velocity (IPV2), initial peak time (IPT2), and time delay (TD2). The IPV2 of both hands decreased as target speed increased. The results of IPT2 revealed that the dominant hand reached its peak velocity 0.0423 s earlier than the non-dominant hand, regardless of target speed. The TD2 of the hands diminished by 0.0218 s on average as target speed increased, but the dominant hand statistically revealed a 0.0417-s shorter TD2 than the non-dominant hand. Velocity-control performances from the IPV2 and IPT2 suggested that an identical internal model controls movement in both hands, whereas the dominant hand is likely more experienced than the non-dominant hand in reacting to neural commands, resulting in better reactivity in the movement task.
Repeatability of High-Pressure Measurement in a Diesel Engine Test Bed
Authors: Skrzek Tomasz , Rucki Mirosław , Górski Krzysztof , Matijošius Jonas , Barta Dalibor , Caban Jacek , Zarajczyk Janusz
Published: June 2020

This paper addresses the issue of metrological accuracy of instantaneous in-cylinder pressure measurement in a diesel engine test bed. In studies, the central unit has been the single-cylinder AVL 5402 engine. The pressure measurement was performed with a sensor designed for thermodynamic analysis, and the results were related to the crank angle, where two rotations corresponding to the four-stroke working cycle were denoted as angles between −360° and +360°. The novelty of this paper is the proposition of how to perform a type A uncertainty estimation of the in-cylinder pressure measurement and to assess its repeatability. It was demonstrated that repeatability of the measurement during the ignition process was difficult to estimate because of the phenomena that cannot ensure the repeatability conditions. To solve the problem, two methods were proposed. In one method, the pressure was measured in the subsequent cycles immediately after the ignition was turned off, and in another method, the engine was driven by a starter. The latter method provided maximal pressure values much lower than during usual tests. The obtained repeatability of measured pressure was %EV = 0.4%, which proved high capability of the evaluated measurement system.
Wireless Power Transfer Techniques for Implantable Medical Devices: A Review
Authors: Khan Sadeque Reza , Pavuluri Sumanth Kumar , Cummins Gerard , Desmulliez Marc P. Y.
Published: June 2020

Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems have become increasingly suitable solutions for the electrical powering of advanced multifunctional micro-electronic devices such as those found in current biomedical implants. The design and implementation of high power transfer efficiency WPT systems are, however, challenging. The size of the WPT system, the separation distance between the outside environment and location of the implanted medical device inside the body, the operating frequency and tissue safety due to power dissipation are key parameters to consider in the design of WPT systems. This article provides a systematic review of the wide range of WPT systems that have been investigated over the last two decades to improve overall system performance. The various strategies implemented to transfer wireless power in implantable medical devices (IMDs) were reviewed, which includes capacitive coupling, inductive coupling, magnetic resonance coupling and, more recently, acoustic and optical powering methods. The strengths and limitations of all these techniques are benchmarked against each other and particular emphasis is placed on comparing the implanted receiver size, the WPT distance, power transfer efficiency and tissue safety presented by the resulting systems. Necessary improvements and trends of each WPT techniques are also indicated per specific IMD.