bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Ag)Pd-Fe3O4 Nanocomposites as Novel Catalysts for Methane Partial Oxidation at Low Temperature
Authors: Martínez-Navarro Blanca , Sanchis Ruth , Asedegbega-Nieto Esther , Solsona Benjamín , Ivars-Barceló Francisco
Published: May 2020

Nanostructured composite materials based on noble mono-(Pd) or bi-metallic (Ag/Pd) particles supported on mixed iron oxides (II/III) with bulk magnetite structure (Fe3O4) have been developed in order to assess their potential for heterogeneous catalysis applications in methane partial oxidation. Advancing the direct transformation of methane into value-added chemicals is consensually accepted as the key to ensuring sustainable development in the forthcoming future. On the one hand, nanosized Fe3O4 particles with spherical morphology were synthesized by an aqueous-based reflux method employing different Fe (II)/Fe (III) molar ratios (2 or 4) and reflux temperatures (80, 95 or 110 °C). The solids obtained from a Fe (II)/Fe (III) nominal molar ratio of 4 showed higher specific surface areas which were also found to increase on lowering the reflux temperature. The starting 80 m2 g−1 was enhanced up to 140 m2 g−1 for the resulting optimized Fe3O4-based solid consisting of nanoparticles with a 15 nm average diameter. On the other hand, Pd or Pd-Ag were incorporated post-synthesis, by impregnation on the highest surface Fe3O4 nanostructured substrate, using 1–3 wt.% metal load range and maintaining a constant Pd:Ag ratio of 8:2 in the bimetallic sample. The prepared nanocomposite materials were investigated by different physicochemical techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry (TG) in air or H2, as well as several compositions and structural aspects using field emission scanning and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques coupled to energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Finally, the catalytic results from a preliminary reactivity study confirmed the potential of magnetite-supported (Ag)Pd catalysts for CH4 partial oxidation into formaldehyde, with low reaction rates, methane conversion starting at 200 °C, far below temperatures reported in the literature up to now; and very high selectivity to formaldehyde, above 95%, for Fe3O4 samples with 3 wt.% metal, either Pd or Pd-Ag.
Structural Properties of Janus Particles with Nano- and Mesoscale Anisotropy
Authors: Anitas Eugen Mircea
Published: May 2020

Synthesis of anisotropic Janus particles (AnJPs) is crucial for understanding the fundamental principles behind non-equilibrium self-organization of cells, bacteria, or enzymes, and for the design of novel multicomponent carriers for guided self-assembly, drug delivery or molecular imaging. Their catalytic activity, as well as many other chemical and physical properties are intimately related to the nano- and mesoscale structure. An efficient and fast in situ monitoring of the structural changes involves non-destructive techniques which can probe macroscopic volumes of multicomponent systems, such as small-angle scattering (SAS). However, the interpretation of scattering data is often a difficult task since the existing models deal only with symmetric AnJPs, thus greatly restricting their applicability. Here, a general theoretical framework is developed, which describes scattering from a system containing randomly oriented and placed two-phase AnJPs with arbitrarily tunable geometric and chemical asymmetries embedded in a solution/matrix of different chemical composition. This approach allows an analytic description of the contrast matching point, and it is shown that the interplay between the scattering curves of the two phases gives rise to a rich scaling behavior which allows extracting structural information about each individual phase. To illustrate the above findings, analytic expression for the scattering curves of asymmetric AnJPs are derived, and the results are validated by Monte-Carlo simulations. The broad general features of the scattering curves are explained by using a simple scaling approach which allows gaining more physical insight into the scattering processes as well as for the interpretation of SAS intensity.
A New Design of a Thin-Film Thermoelectric Device Based on Multilayer-Structure Module
Authors: Chen Tianbao , Zheng Zhuanghao , Liang Guangxing , Fan Ping
Published: May 2020

In this work, a novel multilayer structure thin-film thermoelectric device is proposed for preparing a high performance generator. The result shows that the output voltage of the three-layer thin-film device has a linear increasing trend with the increasing temperature difference. Additionally, the device was also tested as a laser power measurement and displays that it has good sensitivity. Moreover, we also fabricated the multilayer device based on the present three-layer structure. It improves upon the similar output prosperities, confirming that the present multilayer structure thin-film thermoelectric device can be considered for preparing high performance micro-self-powered sources and sensors.
Nickel Nanoparticles Induce the Synthesis of a Tumor-Related Polypeptide in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes
Authors: Jiménez-Lamana Javier , Godin Simon , Aragonès Gerard , Bladé Cinta , Szpunar Joanna , Łobinski Ryszard
Published: May 2020

Although nickel allergy and carcinogenicity are well known, their molecular mechanisms are still uncertain, thus demanding studies at the molecular level. The nickel carcinogenicity is known to be dependent on the chemical form of nickel, since only certain nickel compounds can enter the cell. This study investigates, for the first time, the cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and molecular targets of nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) in human skin cells in comparison with other chemical forms of nickel. The dose-response curve that was obtained for NiNPs in the cytotoxicity assays showed a linear behavior typical of genotoxic carcinogens. The exposure of keratinocytes to NiNPs leads to the release of Ni2+ ions and its accumulation in the cytosol. A 6 kDa nickel-binding molecule was found to be synthesized by cells exposed to NiNPs at a dose corresponding to medium mortality. This molecule was identified to be tumor-related p63-regulated gene 1 protein.
Impaired Gut–Systemic Signaling Drives Total Parenteral Nutrition-Associated Injury
Authors: Guzman Miguel , Manithody Chandrashekhara , Krebs Joseph , Denton Christine , Besmer Sherri , Rajalakshmi Pranjali , Jain Sonali , Villalona Gustavo Adolfo , Jain Ajay Kumar
Published: May 2020

Background: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) provides all nutritional needs intravenously. Although lifesaving, enthusiasm is significantly tempered due to side effects of liver and gut injury, as well as lack of mechanistic understanding into drivers of TPN injury. We hypothesized that the state of luminal nutritional deprivation with TPN drives alterations in gut–systemic signaling, contributing to injury, and tested this hypothesis using our ambulatory TPN model. Methods: A total of 16 one-week-old piglets were allocated randomly to TPN (n = 8) or enteral nutrition (EN, n = 8) for 3 weeks. Liver, gut, and serum were analyzed. All tests were two-sided, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: TPN resulted in significant hyperbilirubinemia and cholestatic liver injury, p = 0.034. Hepatic inflammation (cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3) immunohistochemistry) was higher with TPN (p = 0.021). No significant differences in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or bile ductular proliferation were noted. TPN resulted in reduction of muscularis mucosa thickness and marked gut atrophy. Median and interquartile range for gut mass was 0.46 (0.30–0.58) g/cm in EN, and 0.19 (0.11–0.29) g/cm in TPN (p = 0.024). Key gut–systemic signaling regulators, liver farnesoid X receptor (FXR; p = 0.021), liver constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; p = 0.014), gut FXR (p = 0.028), G-coupled bile acid receptor (TGR5) (p = 0.003), epidermal growth factor (EGF; p = 0.016), organic anion transporter (OAT; p = 0.028), Mitogen-activated protein kinases-1 (MAPK1) (p = 0.037), and sodium uptake transporter sodium glucose-linked transporter (SGLT-1; p = 0.010) were significantly downregulated in TPN animals, whereas liver cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (CyP7A1) was substantially higher with TPN (p = 0.011). Conclusion: We report significant alterations in key hepatobiliary receptors driving gut–systemic signaling in a TPN piglet model. This presents a major advancement to our understanding of TPN-associated injury and suggests opportunities for strategic targeting of the gut–systemic axis, specifically, FXR, TGR5, and EGF in developing ameliorative strategies.
Mulberry Fruit Extract Promotes Serum HDL-Cholesterol Levels and Suppresses Hepatic microRNA-33 Expression in Rats Fed High Cholesterol/Cholic Acid Diet
Authors: Lee Soojin , Lee Mak-Soon , Chang Eugene , Lee Yoonjin , Lee Jaerin , Kim Jiyeon , Kim Chong-Tai , Kim In-Hwan , Kim Yangha
Published: May 2020

Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and cholesterol excretion are closely associated with the risk of cardiovascular complications. The specific aim of the present study was to investigate the cholesterol lowering effect of mulberry fruit in rats fed a high cholesterol/cholic acid diet. Four-week supplementation with mulberry fruit extract significantly decreased serum and hepatic cholesterol (TC), serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fecal bile acid levels without changes in body weight and food intake (p < 0.05). Mulberry fruit extract significantly inhibited hepatic sterol-regulatory element binding protein (Srebp) 2 gene expression and upregulated hepatic mRNA levels of liver X receptor alpha (Lxr-α), ATP-binding cassette transporter 5 (Abcg5), and cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1), which are involved in hepatic bile acid synthesis and cholesterol metabolism (p < 0.05). In addition, hepatic microRNA-33 expression was significantly inhibited by supplementation of mulberry fruit extract (p < 0.05). These results suggest the involvement of miR-33, its associated hepatic bile acid synthesis, HDL formation, and cholesterol metabolism in mulberry fruit-mediated beneficial effects on serum and hepatic lipid abnormalities.
High Efficiency Vibrational Technology (HEVT) for Cell Encapsulation in Polymeric Microcapsules
Authors: Pisani Silvia , Dorati Rossella , Genta Ida , Chiesa Enrica , Modena Tiziana , Conti Bice
Published: May 2020

Poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) is a biocompatible and non-biodegradable polymer widely used as biomedical material. PMMA microcapsules with suitable dimension and porosity range are proposed to encapsulate live cells useful for tissue regeneration purposes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of producing cell-loaded PMMA microcapsules through “high efficiency vibrational technology” (HEVT). Preliminary studies were conducted to set up the process parameters for PMMA microcapsules production and human dermal fibroblast, used as cell model, were encapsulated in shell/core microcapsules. Microcapsules morphometric analysis through optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy highlighted that uniform microcapsules of 1.2 mm with circular surface pores were obtained by HEVT. Best process conditions used were as follows: frequency of 200 Hz, voltage of 750 V, flow rate of core solution of 10 mL/min, and flow rate of shell solution of 0.5 bar. Microcapsule membrane allowed permeation of molecules with low and medium molecular weight up to 5900 Da and prevented diffusion of high molecular weight molecules (11,000 Da). The yield of the process was about 50% and cell encapsulation efficiency was 27% on total amount. The cell survived and growth up to 72 h incubation in simulated physiologic medium was observed.
Calibration of an Airborne Interferometric Radar Altimeter over the Qingdao Coast Sea, China
Authors: Yang Lei , Xu Yongsheng , Zhou Xinghua , Zhu Lin , Jiang Qiufu , Sun Hanwei , Chen Ge , Wang Panlong , Mertikas Stelios P. , Fu Yanguang , Tang Qiuhua , Yu Fangjie
Published: May 2020

Calibration/Validation (Cal/Val) of satellite altimeters is fundamental for monitoring onboard sensor performance and ensuring long-term data quality. As altimeter technology has been evolving rapidly from profile to wide swath and interferometric altimetry, different requirements regarding Cal/Val have emerged. Most current Cal/Val technology has been developed for conventional profile altimeters, whereby satellite observations are compared against measurements at one point along orbit lines. However, the application of this type of Cal/Val technique to swath interferometric altimeters with two-dimensional measurements is difficult. Here, we propose a new strategy for the evaluation of interferometric altimeters based on comparison of wave-induced sea surface elevation (WSSE) spectra from one- and two-dimensional measurements. This method assumes that the WSSE variance of an equilibrium wave field is uniform and can be measured equivalently in the space or time domains. The method was first tested with simulated data and then used to evaluate the performance of an airborne interferometric radar altimeter system (AIRAS) using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) buoy measurements. The differences between the WSSE variances from the AIRAS and two GNSS buoys were below 8 cm2, corresponding to a standard deviation of 2.8 cm, which could serve as a reference for the WSSE error over the scale range of waves. The correlation coefficient between the AIRAS and GNSS buoys was approximately 0.90, indicating that the error was small relative to the WSSE signals. In addition, the sea surface height (SSH) difference measured by the AIRAS was compared with that derived from the GNSS buoys at two sites. The results indicated that the error of the SSH difference was 3 cm. This approach represents a possible technique for the Cal/Val of future spaceborne/airborne interferometric altimeters; however, additional experiments and applications are needed to verify the feasibility of this method.
60 Years of Glacier Elevation and Mass Changes in the Maipo River Basin, Central Andes of Chile
Authors: Farías-Barahona David , Ayala Álvaro , Bravo Claudio , Vivero Sebastián , Seehaus Thorsten , Vijay Saurabh , Schaefer Marius , Buglio Franco , Casassa Gino , Braun Matthias
Published: May 2020

Glaciers in the central Andes of Chile are fundamental freshwater sources for ecosystems and communities. Overall, glaciers in this region have shown continuous recession and down-wasting, but long-term glacier mass balance studies providing precise estimates of these changes are scarce. Here, we present the first long-term (1955–2013/2015), region-specific glacier elevation and mass change estimates for the Maipo River Basin, from which the densely populated metropolitan region of Chile obtains most of its freshwater supply. We calculated glacier elevation and mass changes using historical topographic maps, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements (TanDEM-X), and airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation models. The results indicated a mean regional glacier mass balance of −0.12 ± 0.06 m w.e.a−1, with a total mass loss of 2.43 ± 0.26 Gt for the Maipo River Basin between 1955–2013. The most negative glacier mass balance was the Olivares sub-basin, with a mean value of −0.29 ± 0.07 m w.e.a−1. We observed spatially heterogeneous glacier elevation and mass changes between 1955 and 2000, and more negative values between 2000 and 2013, with an acceleration in ice thinning rates starting in 2010, which coincides with the severe drought. Our results provide key information to improve glaciological and hydrological projections in a region where water resources are under pressure.
A Flexible and Low-Cost Tactile Sensor Produced by Screen Printing of Carbon Black/PVA Composite on Cellulose Paper
Authors: Sekertekin Yeter , Bozyel Ibrahim , Gokcen Dincer
Published: May 2020

This study presents the design and fabrication of a flexible tactile sensor printed on a cellulose paper substrate using a carbon black (CB) – filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer matrix as ink material. In the design, electrodes are obtained by screen printing of CB/PVA composite on dielectric cellulose paper. The screen-printing method is preferred for fabrication because of its simplicity and low manufacturing cost. The tactile sensor is formed by overlapping two ink-printed sheets. Electrical properties are investigated under compressive and tensile strains. The results indicate that the tactile sensor configuration and materials can be used for piezoresistive, capacitive, and also impedance sensors. The same tactile sensor structure is also examined using a commercial carbon-based ink for performance comparison. The comparative study indicates that CB/PVA ink screen-printed on paper demonstrates superior sensitivity for capacitive sensing with low hysteresis, as well as low response and recovery times. The piezoresistive-sensing properties of CB/PVA on cellulose paper show a gauge factor (GF) of 10.68, which is also very promising when conventional metal strain gauges are considered. CB/PVA screen-printed on cellulose paper features impedance-sensing properties and is also sensitive to the measurement frequency. Therefore, the response type of the sensor can be altered with the frequency.
Design of Secure Protocol for Cloud-Assisted Electronic Health Record System Using Blockchain
Authors: Kim MyeongHyun , Yu SungJin , Lee JoonYoung , Park YoHan , Park YoungHo
Published: May 2020

In the traditional electronic health record (EHR) management system, each medical service center manages their own health records, respectively, which are difficult to share on the different medical platforms. Recently, blockchain technology is one of the popular alternatives to enable medical service centers based on different platforms to share EHRs. However, it is hard to store whole EHR data in blockchain because of the size and the price of blockchain. To resolve this problem, cloud computing is considered as a promising solution. Cloud computing offers advantageous properties such as storage availability and scalability. Unfortunately, the EHR system with cloud computing can be vulnerable to various attacks because the sensitive data is sent over a public channel. We propose the secure protocol for cloud-assisted EHR system using blockchain. In the proposed scheme, blockchain technology is used to provide data integrity and access control using log transactions and the cloud server stores and manages the patient’s EHRs to provide secure storage resources. We use an elliptic curve cryptosystems (ECC) to provide secure health data sharing with cloud computing. We demonstrate that the proposed EHR system can prevent various attacks by using informal security analysis and automated validation of internet security protocols and applications (AVISPA) simulation. Furthermore, we prove that the proposed EHR system provides secure mutual authentication using BAN logic analysis. We then compare the computation overhead, communication overhead, and security properties with existing schemes. Consequently, the proposed EHR system is suitable for the practical healthcare system considering security and efficiency.
Robust Combined Binarization Method of Non-Uniformly Illuminated Document Images for Alphanumerical Character Recognition
Authors: Michalak Hubert , Okarma Krzysztof
Published: May 2020

Image binarization is one of the key operations decreasing the amount of information used in further analysis of image data, significantly influencing the final results. Although in some applications, where well illuminated images may be easily captured, ensuring a high contrast, even a simple global thresholding may be sufficient, there are some more challenging solutions, e.g., based on the analysis of natural images or assuming the presence of some quality degradations, such as in historical document images. Considering the variety of image binarization methods, as well as their different applications and types of images, one cannot expect a single universal thresholding method that would be the best solution for all images. Nevertheless, since one of the most common operations preceded by the binarization is the Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which may also be applied for non-uniformly illuminated images captured by camera sensors mounted in mobile phones, the development of even better binarization methods in view of the maximization of the OCR accuracy is still expected. Therefore, in this paper, the idea of the use of robust combined measures is presented, making it possible to bring together the advantages of various methods, including some recently proposed approaches based on entropy filtering and a multi-layered stack of regions. The experimental results, obtained for a dataset of 176 non-uniformly illuminated document images, referred to as the WEZUT OCR Dataset, confirm the validity and usefulness of the proposed approach, leading to a significant increase of the recognition accuracy.
The Quality Assessment of Different Geolocalisation Methods for a Sensor System to Monitor Structural Health of Monumental Objects
Authors: Markiewicz Jakub , Łapiński Sławomir , Kot Patryk , Tobiasz Aleksandra , Muradov Magomed , Nikel Joanna , Shaw Andy , Al-Shamma’a Ahmed
Published: May 2020

Cultural heritage objects are affected by a wide range of factors causing their deterioration and decay over time such as ground deformations, changes in hydrographic conditions, vibrations or excess of moisture, which can cause scratches and cracks formation in the case of historic buildings. The electromagnetic spectroscopy has been widely used for non-destructive structural health monitoring of concrete structures. However, the limitation of this technology is a lack of geolocalisation in the space for multispectral architectural documentation. The aim of this study is to examine different geolocalisation methods in order to determine the position of the sensor system, which will then allow to georeference the results of measurements performed by this device and apply corrections to the sensor response, which is a crucial element required for further data processing related to the object structure and its features. The classical surveying, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry methods were used in this investigation at three test sites. The methods were reviewed and investigated. The results indicated that TLS technique should be applied for simple structures and plain textures, while the SfM technique should be used for marble-based and other translucent or semi-translucent structures in order to achieve the highest accuracy for geolocalisation of the proposed sensor system.
Cylindrical IR-ATR Sensors for Process Analytics
Authors: Lambrecht Armin , Bolwien Carsten , Erb Jochen , Fuhr Hendrik , Sulz Gerd
Published: May 2020

Infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy is a common laboratory technique for the analysis of highly absorbing liquids and solids. However, in a process environment, maintaining a sufficient sample exchange and cleaning of the sensitive surface of the element is a crucial issue. An important industrial application is the measurement of isocyanate concentrations. Isocyanates are necessary for the fabrication of polyurethane materials and are among the chemicals with the highest production volume worldwide. For process applications, narrowband photometers or MEMS spectrometers are more appropriate than the use of bulky FTIR instruments frequently encountered in a laboratory environment. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) concentrations are measured with a planar ATR photometer setup. Using a miniature Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI), trace concentrations below 100 ppm (m/m) are detected. By employing an ATR element of the cylindrical shape, sensors can be realized with a smooth surface ideally suited for an automatic cleaning system in a process environment. A laboratory setup with sapphire tubes as ATR elements for incorporation in a liquid flow system is described. Reflection and transmission configurations were investigated. Measurements with acetonitrile as a less toxic substitute showed that with cylindrical ATR sensors’ detection limits for isocyanate concentrations below 100 ppm (m/m) are feasible.
A POI and LST Adjusted NTL Urban Index for Urban Built-Up Area Extraction
Authors: Li Fei , Yan Qingwu , Bian Zhengfu , Liu Baoli , Wu Zhenhua
Published: May 2020

Nighttime light (NTL) images have been broadly applied to extract urban built-up areas in recent years. However, the typical NTL images provided by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) and National Polar-Orbiting Partnership’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP/VIIRS) have the drawbacks of low resolution and blooming effect, which bring difficulty for the application of them in urban built-up area extraction. Therefore, this paper proposes the POI (point of interest) and LST (land surface temperature) adjusted NTL urban index (PLANUI) to extract the urban built-up areas with high accuracy. PLANUI is the first urban index to integrate POI and NTL for urban built-up area extraction. In this paper, NPP/VIIRS and Luojia 1-01 images were introduced as the original NTL data and the vegetation adjusted NTL urban index (VANUI) was selected as the comparison item. The threshold method was utilized to extract urban built-up areas from these data. The results show that: (1) Based on the comparison with the reference data, the PLANUI can make up the shortcoming of low resolution and the blooming effect of NTL effectively. (2) Compared with the VANUI, the PLANUI can significantly improve the accuracy of the urban built-up areas extracted and characterize urban features. (3) According to the results based on NPP/VIIRS and Luojia 1-01 images, the PLANUI has extensive applicability, both for regions with different degrees of economic development and NTL data with different resolutions. PLANUI can enhance the features of urban built-up areas with social sensing data and natural remote sensing data, which helps to weaken the NTL blooming effect and improve the extraction accuracy. PLANUI can provide an effective approach for urban built-up area extraction, which plays a certain guiding role for the study of urban structure, urban expansion, and urban planning and governance.
RFI Artefacts Detection in Sentinel-1 Level-1 SLC Data Based On Image Processing Techniques
Authors: Chojka Agnieszka , Artiemjew Piotr , Rapiński Jacek
Published: May 2020

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data are often contaminated by Radio-Frequency Interference (RFI) artefacts that make processing them more challenging. Therefore, easy to implement techniques for artefacts recognition have the potential to support the automatic Permanent Scatterers InSAR (PSInSAR) processing workflow during which faulty input data can lead to misinterpretation of the final outcomes. To address this issue, an efficient methodology was developed to mark images with RFI artefacts and as a consequence remove them from the stack of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images required in the PSInSAR processing workflow to calculate the ground displacements. Techniques presented in this paper for the purpose of RFI detection are based on image processing methods with the use of feature extraction involving pixel convolution, thresholding and nearest neighbor structure filtering. As the reference classifier, a convolutional neural network was used.
A Highly Sensitive Amperometric Glutamate Oxidase Microbiosensor Based on a Reduced Graphene Oxide/Prussian Blue Nanocube/Gold Nanoparticle Composite Film-Modified Pt Electrode
Authors: Chen Jing , Yu Qiwen , Fu Wei , Chen Xing , Zhang Quan , Dong Shurong , Chen Hang , Zhang Shaomin
Published: May 2020

A simple method that relies only on an electrochemical workstation has been investigated to fabricate a highly sensitive glutamate microbiosensor for potential neuroscience applications. In this study, in order to develop the highly sensitive glutamate electrode, a 100 µm platinum wire was modified by the electrochemical deposition of gold nanoparticles, Prussian blue nanocubes, and reduced graphene oxide sheets, which increased the electroactive surface area; and the chitosan layer, which provided a suitable environment to bond the glutamate oxidase. The optimization of the fabrication procedure and analytical conditions is described. The modified electrode was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The results exhibited its excellent sensitivity for glutamate detection (LOD = 41.33 nM), adequate linearity (50 nM–40 µM), ascendant reproducibility (RSD = 4.44%), and prolonged stability (more than 30 repetitive potential sweeps, two-week lifespan). Because of the important role of glutamate in neurotransmission and brain function, this small-dimension, high-sensitivity glutamate electrode is a promising tool in neuroscience research.
Robust Adaptive Beamforming with Optimal Covariance Matrix Estimation in the Presence of Gain-Phase Errors
Authors: Yao Di , Zhang Xin , Hu Bin , Yang Qiang , Wu Xiaochuan
Published: May 2020

An adaptive beamformer is sensitive to model mismatch, especially when the desired signal exists in the training samples. Focusing on the problem, this paper proposed a novel adaptive beamformer based on the interference-plus-noise covariance (INC) matrix reconstruction method, which is robust with gain-phase errors for uniform or sparse linear array. In this beamformer, the INC matrix is reconstructed by the estimated steering vector (SV) and the corresponding individual powers of the interference signals, as well as noise power. Firstly, a gain-phase errors model of the sensors is deduced based on the first-order Taylor series expansion. Secondly, sensor gain-phase errors, the directions of the interferences, and the desired signal can be accurately estimated by using an alternating descent method. Thirdly, the interferences and noise powers are estimated by solving a quadratic optimization problem. To reduce the computational complexity, we derive the closed-form solutions of the second and third steps with compressive sensing and total least squares methods. Simulation results and measured data demonstrate that the performance of the proposed beamformer is always close to the optimum, and outperforms other tested methods in the case of gain-phase errors.
Improving Neural Network Detection Accuracy of Electric Power Bushings in Infrared Images by Hough Transform
Authors: Zhao Hongshan , Zhang Zeyan
Published: May 2020

To improve the neural network detection accuracy of the electric power bushings in infrared images, a modified algorithm based on the You Only Look Once version 2 (YOLOv2) network is proposed to achieve better recognition results. Specifically, YOLOv2 corresponds to a convolutional neural network (CNN), although its rotation invariance is poor, and some bounding boxes (BBs) exhibit certain deviations. To solve this problem, the standard Hough transform and image rotation are utilized to determine the optimal recognition angle for target detection, such that an optimal recognition effect of YOLOv2 on inclined objects (for example, bushing) is achieved. With respect to the problem that the BB is biased, the shape feature of the bushing is extracted by the Gap statistic algorithm, based on K-means clustering; thereafter, the sliding window (SW) is utilized to determine the optimal recognition area. Experimental verification indicates that the proposed rotating image method can improve the recognition effect, and the SW can further modify the BB. The accuracy of target detection increases to 97.33%, and the recall increases to 95%.
Creative Talent and Personality: A Primary Education Study
Authors: Hernández Ortiz Ana F. , López-Martínez Olivia , Corbalán Berná Francisco J.
Published: May 2020

We hope to answer the following questions with this study: What are the most characteristic personality traits of students with creative talent? Are there personality traits that allow a subject to promote his or her creativity? Lastly, is there a relationship between these personality traits and a neurobiological basis for creativity? The results of this study should serve to identify and develop creative talents and to continue stimulating their divergent thinking. The BFQ-NA questionnaire, which evaluates five personality traits, and the CREA and PIC-N creativity tests, which measure creative intelligence and imagination, respectively, were administered to a sample of 244 students aged ten to twelve years old. The data from the statistical analysis indicate that Conscientiousness is the most predictive trait for creativity for CREA (B = 0.18, p < 0.001), as well as for PIC in terms of narrative creativity (B = 1.044, p < 0.001) and graphic creativity (B = 0.213, p = 0.003 and total B = 1.259, p < 0.001). Other statistically significant traits, albeit to a lesser degree than Conscientiousness, were Openness and Emotional Instability.
The Influence of Manila Clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) on Macrobenthos Communities in a Korean Tidal Ecosystem
Authors: Kim Sang Lyeol , Lee Hyung Gon , Kang Su Min , Yu Ok Hwan
Published: May 2020

We investigated the biological impact of extensive Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) aquaculture on macrobenthic communities in a tidal ecosystem in Korea. We collected macrobenthos (>1 mm in length) samples seasonally in the intertidal zone in Geunsoman, Taean, Korea from April 2011 to December 2014. We identified 146 macrobenthos species, including 60 polychaetes, 53 crustaceans, and 16 mollusks. A biota–environment matching (BIO–ENV) analysis indicated that the benthic community was affected by mean sediment grain size (Mz), total organic carbon (TOC), and R. philippinarum biomass. We found no correlation between R. philippinarum and the main dominant species (Heteromastus filiformis, Ceratonereis erythraeensis, and Ampharete arctica), which have a different feeding strategy; thus, this may result in a lack of competition for food resources. In addition, we found that flourishing R. philippinarum positively affects the macrobenthos density but negatively affects the biodiversity index. Moreover, competition between species does not occur clearly, and environmental variables (sediment, organic carbon) are important.
Challenges and Driving Forces for Industry 4.0 Implementation
Authors: Vuksanović Herceg Iva , Kuč Vukašin , Mijušković Veljko M. , Herceg Tomislav
Published: May 2020

Industry 4.0 has been a major force framing the societal, economic and technological environment after 2010. Exposed to ongoing digital transformation, companies are able to exploit opportunities offered by Industry 4.0, and are forced to manage immanent risks and barriers. However, studies on opportunities and challenges relevant for the implementation of Industry 4.0 for companies are scarce. In response to this literature gap, the aim of this exploratory research is to provide a deeper analysis of the level of digital transformation of companies in Serbia based on a digital maturity model, and examine their managers’ opinions on the most important driving forces and implementation barriers. The paper uses exploratory research design based on a survey responded to by 122 high-level managers within the Serbian manufacturing sector. Findings show that, contrary to expectations, digitally transforming enterprises do not see human resources as a driving force, but rather as an obstacle to Industry 4.0 implementation, when they lack necessary competences and skills. Resistance to change caused by Industry 4.0 implementation is not seen as an important barrier. On the other hand, efficiency factors represent the main driving force, while the lack of competences and financial resources represent the greatest barriers to Industry 4.0 implementation.
Quality of Life with Respect to Physical Activity Level in the Unemployed
Authors: Puciato Daniel , Oleśniewicz Piotr , Rozpara Michał
Published: May 2020

Sustainable development is related to the quality of life of individuals and societies. The unemployed have limited opportunities for sustainable individual development. Their life quality conditions remain unclear. The study aim was to assess the relationship between life quality and physical activity level of the unemployed. The research was performed in 2014 and 2015 in Wrocław, Poland, among 403 unemployed persons. The participants’ quality of life was evaluated with the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Physical activity was assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Most respondents evaluated their general life quality as ≤3 points in the scale of 1–5. The assessments were highest in the social and psychological domains and lowest in the physical and environmental domains. Significant relationships were observed between general life quality and physical activity level. Subjects with the minimum physical activity level recommended by WHO presented higher life quality assessments in the psychological and social domains. Unemployed people with physical activity levels optimal for health benefit evaluated their life quality in the psychological domain worse than people with physical activity below WHO recommendations. Comprehensive health programs should be addressed to the unemployed, including systematic physical activities as health training, which would improve their life quality and promote sustainable individual development.
Heating Temperature Prediction of Concrete Structure Damaged by Fire Using a Bayesian Approach
Authors: Cho Hae-Chang , Han Sun-Jin , Heo Inwook , Kang Hyun , Kang Won-Hee , Kim Kang Su
Published: May 2020

A fire that occurs in a reinforced concrete (RC) structure accompanies a heating temperature, and this negatively affects the concrete material properties, such as the compressive strength, the bond between cement paste and aggregate, and the cracking and spalling of concrete. To appropriately measure the reduced structural performance and durability of fire-damaged RC structures, it is important to accurately estimate the heating temperature of the structure. However, studies in the literature on RC structures damaged by fire have focused mostly on structural member tests at elevated temperatures to ensure the fire resistance or fire protection material development; studies on estimating the heating temperature are very limited except for the very few existing models. Therefore, in this study, a heating temperature estimation model for a reinforced concrete (RC) structure damaged by fire was developed using a statistical Bayesian parameter estimation approach. For the model development, a total of 77 concrete test specimens were utilized; based on them, a statistically highly accurate model has been developed. The usage of the proposed method in the framework of the 500 °C isotherm method in Eurocode 2 has been illustrated through an RC column resistance estimation application.
A Biological Adaptability Approach to Innovation for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Strategic Insights from and for Health-Promoting Agri-Food Innovation
Authors: Coghlan Christopher , Labrecque JoAnne , Ma Yu , Dubé Laurette
Published: May 2020

Adaptability has emerged in management/entrepreneurship literature as a business strategy to innovate, perform, and respond in a flexible manner to ever-changing contexts. Contemporary culture blurs boundaries between physical, biological, and digital domains, accelerating what entrepreneurship in sectors such as agri-food contributes to societal-scale solutions to problems at the convergence of social and commercial activities. In this study, we build upon the adaptability of biological systems to propose an approach to innovation, anchored in a tight, dynamic alignment between the strategic DNA of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the contexts in which they evolve. Our model employs interviews and supporting archival research on the health-promoting innovation practices of 37 SMEs in the agri-food sector. A two-year, single firm analysis illustrates its relevance and operational feasibility. Evidence suggests that the strategic DNA of SMEs, seen through the entrepreneurs’ identity, informs behavior at various stages of the innovation process and the enterprise’s evolution. Shifting identity prioritization is a reality, and interaction between entrepreneurial organizations and the environment is best understood as an interaction between the DNA of the entrepreneur/enterprise and the environment. This is valuable and will help agri-food and other SMEs to improve their ability to make the internal and external strategic adjustments required in a rapidly changing landscapes to create viable health-promoting food products.
Role of the Flow In Physical Education Class Between School Life Stress and Aggressiveness Among Adolescents
Authors: Han Gun-Soo , Park Jae-Ahm
Published: May 2020

This study examines the relationships between the flow in physical education (P.E.) class, school life stress, and aggression in adolescents. A total of 470 surveys collected from five different high schools in Daejeon, South Korea, were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Study results indicated that the flow in P.E. class had a significant negative direct effect on school life stress, but did not have a significant direct effect on aggression. Furthermore, school life stress had a significant positive direct effect on aggression. Finally, flow in P.E. class had a significant negative indirect effect on aggression mediated by school life stress. The findings of this study are valuable for education experts to establish more effective P.E. curriculums in reducing school life stress and aggression.
EVALUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF INCLUSION EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH BADRUSSALAM SURABAYA
Authors: Sopandi Evi , Khasanah Khasanah
Published: May 2020

This study aims to evaluate the inclusive education program at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Badrussalam Surabaya. The education program aims to improve human resource competencies in increasing abilities. The evaluation model used in this study is the CIPP model (context, input, process, and product) of the qualitative research approach model introduced by Stufflebeam. The results showed that the education program at MI Badrussalam Surabaya had run well in accordance with the education program that had been prepared. However, in the implementation of inclusive education in MI Badrussalam, there are still some deficiencies both in the fields of funding, facilities and infrastructure as well as on the Welfare of mentors and special teachers (GP / K).
THE USE OF INSTAGRAM TO DEVELOP STUDENTS’ WRITING ABILITY
Authors: Nurdiansyah Amelia , R. Abdulrahman Tryanti
Published: May 2020

The research consists of two variables, namely the independent variable (Instagram) and the dependent variable (writing ability). The aim of this research is to find out whether or not the use of Instagram is effective in teaching writing Descriptive Text. The population of this research was all grade ten students at SMAN 3 Bekasi, consisted of 370 students divided into 10 classes. The sample of this research was 74 students divided into 2 classes, taken from the population using Cluster Random Sampling Technique. This research used the Quasi Experimental Method, and the design was randomized post-test only control group design. To collect the data, the writers used instrument. The instrument consists of 10 question items in an essay. They were developed from the indicators of writing as specified in BluePrint. To get a good instrument, it was tried out to other classes outside the sample classes, and the instrument was analyzed in the item of its validity, reliability, difficulty index, and discrimination power by using Ms. Excel 2010. After it has been analyzed, it gained 5 items which were used to collect data for the research. The writers used a T-test to find out whether the alternative hypothesis (Ha) was accepted or rejected. The result of this research presented that there was a significant difference of Instagram on students’ writing ability at SMAN 3 Bekasi. The significance (Sig.) score of T-test 0.000 is lower than (<) 0.05. Therefore, the research had a significant difference in Instagram on Grade Ten Students’ Writing Ability at SMAN 3 Bekasi. In addition, Instagram helped the students to develop their writing, and also, it can ease the teaching and learning process.
IMPLEMENTASI MODEL PEMBELAJARAN TEMATIK DAN KECERDASAN INTERPERSONAL TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR IPA
Authors: Kusumawati Indah , Yasin M. Fahri
Published: May 2020

The aims of this study was to find out the difference in Natural Science learning outcomes of students of elementary school class five taught by Thematic Model and Conventional Model, the interaction effect between Instructional Model and Interpersonal Intelligence on Natural Science learning outcomes, the difference in Natural Science learning outcomes of students with high and low interpersonal intelligence taught by instructional model with thematic model and conventional model. Design of research is an experimental method with the two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the tukey analysis. The results showed 1) There was a significant difference where the Natural Science learning outcomes of grade V students who were taught thematic model were higher than students who were taught using conventional model. 2) There is an influence of learning model instruction with interpersonal intelligence on Natural Science learning outcomes of class V students. 3) Natural Science learning outcomes of class V students who have high interpersonal intelegence who are taught thematic model is higher than Natural Science learning outcomes of conventional model class’s V students taught conventional model. 4) Natural Science learning outcomes of class V students who have low interpersonal intelligence by being taught thematic model is lower  compared to being taught using model conventional.
PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TIPE PICTURE AND PICTURE TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM
Authors: Rofik Khalim Abdul , Oktapiani Marliza
Published: May 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan (1) untuk mengetahui bagaimana gambaran penggunaan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe picture and picture pada mata pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam, (2) menganalisa adakah pengaruh yang signifikan (kuat) pada penggunaan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe picture and picture terhadap hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode eksperimen. Adapun teknik pengambilan sampel dilakukan dengan simple random sampling dan dikategorikan ke dalam dua kelompok yaitu kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol. Teknik pengambilan data primer dilakukan dengan tes soal hasil belajar Pendidikan Agama Islam yang terdiri dari 34 soal yang valid dan memiliki reliabilitas kuat yaitu sebesar 0,811. Data sekunder dengan melakukan dokumentasi. Tes soal diujikan setelah adanya perlakuan (treatment) model pembelajaran yang berbeda pada kelas eksperimen dan kontrol. Penelitian ini dianalisis dengan uji T (Independent Sample Test) menggunakan program Microsoft Excel 2010. Kesimpulannya adalah model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe picture and picture memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran Pendidikan Agama Islam di kelas VIII SMPN 4 Tambun Selatan, Bekasi.
SÉRIE ESTRUTURAL
Authors: Costa Lucas
Published: May 2020

SÉRIE ESTRUTURAL