bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on the Behavior Patterns of Liquid Aerosols Using Disinfectant Chloromethylisothiazolinone/Methylisothiazolinone Solution
Authors: Kim Yong-Hyun , Song Mi-Kyung , Lee Kyuhong
Published: September 2021

This study evaluates the behavioral characteristics of components (methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT)) contained in disinfectant solutions when they convert to liquid aerosols. The analytical method for MIT and CMIT quantitation was established and optimized using sorbent tube/thermal desorber-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system; their behavioral characteristics are discussed using the quantitative results of these aerosols under different liquid aerosol generation conditions. MIT and CMIT showed different behavioral characteristics depending on the aerosol mass concentration and sampling time (sampling volume). When the disinfectant solution was initially aerosolized, MIT and CMIT were primarily collected on glass filter (MIT = 91.8 ± 10.6% and CMIT = 90.6 ± 5.18%), although when the generation and filter sampling volumes of the aerosols increased to 30 L, the relative proportions collected on the filter decreased (MIT = 79.0 ± 12.0% and CMIT = 39.7 ± 8.35%). Although MIT and CMIT had relatively high vapor pressure, in liquid aerosolized state, they primarily accumulated on the filter and exhibited particulate behavior. Their relative proportions in the aerosol were different from those in disinfectant solution. In the aerosol with mass concentration of ≤5 mg m−3, the relative proportion deviations of MIT and CMIT were large; when the mass concentration of the aerosol increased, their relative proportions constantly converged at a lower level than those in the disinfectant solution. Hence, it can be concluded that the behavioral characteristics and relative proportions need to be considered to perform the quantitative analysis of the liquid aerosols and evaluate various toxic effects using the quantitative data.
Is Energy Expenditure or Physical Activity Considered When Energy Intake Is Measured? A Scoping Review 1975–2015
Authors: González-Gross Marcela , Aparicio-Ugarriza Raquel , Calonge-Pascual Sergio , Gómez-Martínez Sonia , García-Carro Alberto , Zaragoza-Martí Ana , Sanz-Valero Javier , Wanden-Berghe Carmina , Martínez J. Alfredo , Gil Ángel , Marcos Ascensión , Moreno Luis A. ,   on behalf of the Spanish Nutrition Society (SEÑ)
Published: September 2021

The health-transitions humans have delivered during the 20th Century associated with the nutrition is that from undernutrition to obesity, which perseveres in the current years of the 21st Century. Energy intake (EI) is a contributing factor and therefore a fascination in nutritional sciences. However, energy expenditure (EE) has not been usually considered as a conjoint factor. Thus, this study aimed to review if studies on adults consider data on dietary intake, specifically EI, and included data on EE and physical activity (PA). A search of MEDLINE from 1975 to December 2015 was managed. Our scoping review consisted of keywords related to EI, dietary allowances, and nutritional requirements. From 2229 acknowledged articles, 698 articles were finally taken fulfilling inclusion and quality criteria. A total of 2,081,824 adults (53.7% females) were involved, and most studies had been conducted in EEUU (241), Canada (42), Australia (30), Japan (32), and Brazil (14). In Europe, apart from UK (64), the Netherlands (31) and France (26) led the classification, followed by Sweden (18), Denmark (17), and France (26). Mediterranean countries are represented with 27 studies. A total of 76.4% did not include EE and 93.1% did not include PA. Only 23.6% of the studies contained both EI and EE. A large methodological diversity was perceived, with more than 14 different methods regarding EI, and more than 10 for EE. PA was only analyzed in scarce articles, and scarcely considered for interpretation of data and conclusions. Moreover, PA was often measured by subjective questionnaires. Dietary surveys show a large diversity regarding methodology, which makes comparability of studies difficult. EE and PA are missing in around 80% of studies or are not included in the interpretation of results. Conclusions regarding EI or diet adequacy in adults should not be taken without analyzing EE and PA.
Effects of Individual Dietary Intervention on Nutrient Intake in Postpartum Japanese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Shiraishi Mie , Matsuzaki Masayo , Tsunematsu Rina , Watanabe Sachi , Kobayashi Risa , Haruna Megumi
Published: September 2021

No dietary intervention that focuses on the diet quality of postpartum women has been developed in Japan, although most postpartum women experience an insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. We aimed to examine whether dietary intervention, based on the health belief model, at both 1 and 3 months postpartum affects nutrient intake and food group consumption at 6 months postpartum. A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo between 2015 and 2016. Healthy women at 1 month postpartum were randomly allocated to either an intervention group (n = 100) or a control group (n = 94). Dietary intervention included dietary assessment, individual feedback, and dietary guidance. The dietary intakes between the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. At 6 months postpartum, the energy-adjusted intakes of protein, total dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B6, and β-carotene were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group. The changes in energy-adjusted intakes of total dietary fiber and iron from 1 month postpartum to 6 months postpartum were significantly different between the two groups. Dietary intervention based on the health belief model improved nutrition at 6 months postpartum, although the impact was limited.
Suggested Reference Ranges of Blood Mg and Ca Level in Childbearing Women of China: Analysis of China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance (2015)
Authors: Zhang Huidi , Cao Yang , Song Pengkun , Man Qingqing , Mao Deqian , Hu Yichun , Yang Lichen
Published: September 2021

Background: Magnesium and calcium play a variety of biological roles in body functions. Reference values of these elements have not yet been systematically determined in China, especially in childbearing women. We proposed to establish the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in plasma and whole blood for 18–44 years healthy childbearing women in China. Method: A total of 1921 women of childbearing age (18–44 years) were randomly selected from the 2015 China National Nutrition and Health Survey by taking into account the regional types and monitoring points. Among them, 182 healthy women were screened out with a series strict inclusion criteria to study the reference ranges of elements. Fundamental indicators (weight, height, waist, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, fast glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure, uric acid) and elements concentrations in plasma and whole blood were collected. The 2.5th to 97.5th was used to represent the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio. Results: The reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in plasma were 0.75–1.13 mmol/L, 2.27–3.43 mmol/L, and 2.41–3.44, respectively. Additionally, the reference range of Mg, Ca, and Ca/Mg ratio in whole blood were 1.28–1.83 mmol/L, 1.39–2.26 mmol/L, and 0.90–1.66, respectively. According to the established reference range, the prevalence of magnesium deficiency was 4.79% in 1921 childbearing women, 21.05% in type 2 diabetes, and 5.63% in prediabetes. Conclusion: The reference values of Mg, Ca and Ca/Mg proportion in plasma and entire blood of healthy childbearing women can be utilized as a pointer to assess the status of component lack and over-burden. The lower limit of plasma Mg is in good agreement with the recommended criteria for the determination of hypomagnesemia.
Analyzing Type 2 Diabetes Associations with the Gut Microbiome in Individuals from Two Ethnic Backgrounds Living in the Same Geographic Area
Authors: Balvers Manon , Deschasaux Mélanie , van den Born Bert-Jan , Zwinderman Koos , Nieuwdorp Max , Levin Evgeni
Published: September 2021

It is currently unknown whether associations between gut microbiota composition and type 2 diabetes (T2D) differ according to the ethnic background of individuals. Thus, we studied these associations in participants from two ethnicities characterized by a high T2D prevalence and living in the same geographical area, using the Healthy Life In Urban Settings (HELIUS) study. We included 111 and 128 T2D participants on metformin (Met-T2D), 78 and 49 treatment-naïve T2D (TN-T2D) participants, as well as a 1:1 matched group of healthy controls from, respectively, African Surinamese and South-Asian Surinamese descent. Fecal microbiome profiles were obtained through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Univariate and machine learning analyses were used to explore the associations between T2D and the composition and function of the gut microbiome in both ethnicities, comparing Met-T2D and TN-T2D participants to their respective healthy control. We found a lower α-diversity for South-Asian Surinamese TN-T2D participants but no significant associations between TN-T2D status and the abundance of bacterial taxa or functional pathways. In African Surinamese participants, we did not find any association between TN-T2D status and the gut microbiome. With respect to Met-T2D participants, we identified several bacterial taxa and functional pathways with a significantly altered abundance in both ethnicities. More alterations were observed in South-Asian Surinamese. Some altered taxa and pathways observed in both ethnicities were previously related to metformin use. This included a strong negative association between the abundance of Romboutsia and Met-T2D status. Other bacterial taxa were consistent with previous observations in T2D, including reduced butyrate producers such as Anaerostipes hadrus. Hence, our results highlighted both shared and unique gut microbial biomarkers of Met-T2D in individuals from different ethnicities but living in the same geographical area. Future research using higher-resolution shotgun sequencing is needed to clarify the role of ethnicity in the association between T2D and gut microbiota composition.
Recovery Focused Nutritional Therapy across the Continuum of Care: Learning from COVID-19
Authors: Cereda Emanuele , Clavé Pere , Collins Peter F. , Holdoway Anne , Wischmeyer Paul E.
Published: September 2021

Targeted nutritional therapy should be started early in severe illness and sustained through to recovery if clinical and patient-centred outcomes are to be optimised. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shone a light on this need. The literature on nutrition and COVID-19 mainly focuses on the importance of nutrition to preserve life and prevent clinical deterioration during the acute phase of illness. However, there is a lack of information guiding practice across the whole patient journey (e.g., hospital to home) with a focus on targeting recovery (e.g., long COVID). This review paper is of relevance to doctors and other healthcare professionals in acute care and primary care worldwide, since it addresses early, multi-modal individualised nutrition interventions across the continuum of care to improve COVID-19 patient outcomes. It is of relevance to nutrition experts and non-nutrition experts and can be used to promote inter-professional and inter-organisational knowledge transfer on the topic. The primary goal is to prevent complications and support recovery to enable COVID-19 patients to achieve the best possible nutritional, physical, functional and mental health status and to apply the learning to date from the COVID-19 pandemic to other patient groups experiencing acute severe illness.
A Cranberry Concentrate Decreases Adhesion and Invasion of Escherichia coli (AIEC) LF82 In Vitro
Authors: Zhang Derek , Verstrepen Lynn , De Medts Jelle , Duysburgh Cindy , Van den Abbeele Pieter , Marzorati Massimo , Khoo Christina
Published: September 2021

While many beneficial host–microbiota interactions have been described, imbalanced microbiota in the gut is speculated to contribute to the progression and recurrence of chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease (CD). This in vitro study evaluated the impact of a cranberry concentrate Type M (CTM) on adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) LF82, a pathobiont associated with CD. Different stages of pathogenic infection were investigated: (i) colonization of the mucus layer, and (ii) adhesion to and (iii) invasion of the epithelial cells. Following 48 h of fecal batch incubation, 0.5 and 1 mM of CTM significantly altered AIEC LF82 levels in a simulated mucus layer, resulting in a decrease of 50.5% in the untreated blank, down to 43.0% and 11.4%, respectively. At 1 mM of CTM, the significant decrease in the levels of AIEC LF82 coincided with a stimulation of the metabolic activity of the background microbiota. The increased levels of health-associated acetate (+7.9 mM) and propionate levels (+3.5 mM) suggested selective utilization of CTM by host microorganisms. Furthermore, 1 mM of both fermented and unfermented CTM decreased the adhesion and invasion of human-derived epithelial Caco-2 cells by AIEC LF82. Altogether, this exploratory in vitro study demonstrates the prebiotic potential of CTM and supports its antipathogenic effects through direct and/or indirect modulation of the gut microbiome.
African Swine Fever in Wild Boar (Poland 2020): Passive and Active Surveillance Analysis and Further Perspectives
Authors: Frant Maciej Piotr , Gal-Cisoń Anna , Bocian Łukasz , Ziętek-Barszcz Anna , Niemczuk Krzysztof , Woźniakowski Grzegorz , Szczotka-Bochniarz Anna
Published: September 2021

African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal hemorrhagic disease of wild boar and domestic pigs which has been present in Poland since 2014. By 2020, the ASF virus (ASFV) spread across Central, Eastern and Western Europe (including Germany), and Asian countries (including China, Vietnam, and South Korea). The national ASF eradication and prevention program includes continuous passive (wild boar found dead and road-killed wild boar) and active (hunted wild boar) surveillance. The main goal of this study was to analyze the dynamic of the spread of ASF in the wild boar population across the territory of Poland in 2020. In that year in Poland, in total 6191 ASF-positive wild boar were declared. Most of them were confirmed in a group of animals found dead. The conducted statistical analysis indicates that the highest chance of obtaining an ASF-positive result in wild boar was during the winter months, from January to March, and in December 2020. Despite the biosecurity measures implemented by holdings of domestic pigs, the disease also occurred in 109 pig farms. The role of ASF surveillance in the wild boar population is crucial to apply more effective and tailored measures of disease control and eradication. The most essential measures to maintain sustainable production of domestic pigs in Poland include effective management of the wild boar population, along with strict implementation of biosecurity measures by domestic pig producers.
Systemically Administered Homing Peptide Targets Dystrophic Lesions and Delivers Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) Inhibitor to Attenuate Murine Muscular Dystrophy Pathology
Authors: Iqbal Aqsa , May Ulrike , Prince Stuart N. , Järvinen Tero A.H. , Heydemann Ahlke
Published: September 2021

Muscular dystrophy is a progressively worsening and lethal disease, where accumulation of functionality-impairing fibrosis plays a key pathogenic role. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) is a central signaling molecule in the development of fibrosis in muscular dystrophic humans and mice. Inhibition of TGFβ1 has proven beneficial in mouse models of muscular dystrophy, but the global strategies of TGFβ1 inhibition produce significant detrimental side effects. Here, we investigated whether murine muscular dystrophy lesion-specific inhibition of TGFβ1 signaling by the targeted delivery of therapeutic decorin (a natural TGFβ inhibitor) by a vascular homing peptide CAR (CARSKNKDC) would reduce skeletal muscle fibrosis and pathology and increase functional characteristics of skeletal muscle. We demonstrate that CAR peptide homes to dystrophic lesions with specificity in two muscular dystrophy models. Recombinant fusion protein consisting of CAR peptide and decorin homes selectively to sites of skeletal muscle damage in mdxDBA2/J and gamma-sarcoglycan deficient DBA2/J mice. This targeted delivery reduced TGFβ1 signaling as demonstrated by reduced nuclear pSMAD staining. Three weeks of targeted decorin treatment decreased both membrane permeability and fibrosis and improved skeletal muscle function in comparison to control treatments in the mdxD2 mice. These results show that selective delivery of decorin to the sites of skeletal muscle damage attenuates the progression of murine muscular dystrophy.
Selinexor and the Selective Inhibition of Nuclear Export: A New Perspective on the Treatment of Sarcomas and Other Solid and Non-Solid Tumors
Authors: Marretta Antonella Lucia , Di Lorenzo Giuseppe , Ribera Dario , Cannella Lucia , von Arx Claudia , Bracigliano Alessandra , Clemente Ottavia , Tafuto Roberto , Pizzolorusso Antonio , Tafuto Salvatore
Published: September 2021

Nucleocytoplasmic transport has been found dysregulated in many types of cancer and is often described as a poor prognostic factor. Specifically, Exportin-1 (XPO1) has been found overexpressed in many tumors and has become an attractive target in molecular oncology and therapeutics development. The selective inhibitor of nuclear export, Selinexor, is one of the most scientifically interesting drugs that targets XPO1 in clinical development. In this review, we summarized the most relevant preclinical and clinical results achieved for non-solid tumors, sarcomas, and other kind of solid tumors.
Enhancement of EPDM Crosslinked Elastic Properties by Association of Both Covalent and Ionic Networks
Authors: Larrue Chloé , Bounor-Legaré Véronique , Cassagnau Philippe
Published: September 2021

The objective of this study was to replace elastomer crosslinking based on chemical covalent bonds by reversible systems under processing. One way is based on ionic bonds creation, which allows a physical crosslinking while keeping the process reversibility. However, due to the weak elasticity recovery of such a physical network after a long period of compression, the combination of both physical and chemical networks was studied. In that frame, an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer grafted with maleic anhydride (EPDM-g-MA) was crosslinked with metal salts and/or dicumyl peroxide (DCP). Thus, the influence of these two types of crosslinking networks and their combination were studied in detail in terms of compression set. The second part of this work was focused on the influence of different metallic salts (KOH, ZnAc2) and the sensitivity to the water of the physical crosslinking network. Finally, the combination of ionic and covalent network allowed combining the processability and better mechanical properties in terms of recovery elasticity. KAc proved to be the best ionic candidate to avoid water degradation of the ionic network and then to preserve the elasticity recovery properties under aging.
Grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. País) Juices Obtained by Steam Extraction
Authors: Ide Walther , Sabando Constanza , Castaño Johanna , Pettinelli Natalia , Bustos Richard , Linares Ana , Mora Leandro , Müller Niels , Pascual Guillermo , Rodríguez-Llamazares Saddys
Published: September 2021

Vitis vinifera L. cv. País is an ancestral Chilean grape undervalued due to its undesirable oenological characteristics. In this study, steam extraction for the production of grape juice, a new product, according to our knowledge, is proposed as an alternative for the valorization of this fruit. The effect of the extraction time on the composition and antioxidant capacity of País grape juice obtained was evaluated, as well as the change in the phenolic profile during storage. The soluble solid values and total polyphenol and total anthocyanin content increased with the extraction time. However, a residence time of the juice in the extraction device higher than 10 min led to thermal degradation of anthocyanins and flavonols. The most abundant phenolic compound identified and quantified by HPLC-DAD in the País grape juice was cinnamic acid. The storage of juices had a greater effect on anthocyanin and flavonol losses than the residence time of the juice in the extraction device. The antioxidant capacity of juice measured by ABTS and ferric reducing power assays ranged from 3 to 5 mmol trolox/L and from 10 to 18 mM Fe2+/L, respectively. In summary, steam extraction is a viable method to produce País grape juice with antioxidant capacity.
Reactive Chromatography Applied to Ethyl Levulinate Synthesis: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Rossano Carmelina , Pizzo Claudio Luigi , Tesser Riccardo , Di Serio Martino , Russo Vincenzo
Published: September 2021

Levulinic acid (LA) has been highlighted as one of the most promising platform chemicals, providing a wide range of possible derivatizations to value-added chemicals as the ethyl levulinate obtained through an acid catalyzed esterification reaction with ethanol that has found application in the bio-fuel market. Being a reversible reaction, the main drawback is the production of water that does not allow full conversion of levulinic acid. The aim of this work was to prove that the chromatographic reactor technology, in which the solid material of the packed bed acts both as stationary phase and catalyst, is surely a valid option to overcome such an issue by overcoming the thermodynamic equilibrium. The experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed chromatographic reactor, packed with Dowex 50WX-8 as ion exchange resin. Different operational conditions were varied (e.g., temperature and flow rate), pulsing levulinic acid to the ethanol stream, to investigate the main effects on the final conversion and separation efficiency of the system. The effects were described qualitatively, demonstrating that working at sufficiently low flow rates, LA was completely converted, while at moderate flow rates, only a partial conversion was achieved. The system worked properly even at room temperature (303 K), where LA was completely converted, an encouraging result as esterification reactions are normally performed at higher temperatures.
Intellectual Hegemony, Conversion Discourse and Early Christian Apologetic Literature
Authors: Adrahtas Vassilios
Published: September 2021

The present study aspires to catch a glimpse of a peculiar phenomenon in the history of religions, namely, the competitive character of early Christian apologetic literature in its attempt to confront head-on the non-Christian ideological life-world and, for that matter, to persuade the latter’s adherents to convert to the new hierophanic message. More specifically, in this study I look into the hierophanic/religious/spiritual market of the first three centuries CE, focusing on its creating, perpetuating and promoting of intellectual hegemony interactions, while at the same time I explore the conversion discourse used by all parties concerned in order to win over the Other. Apart from other religions, early Christian ‘Apologists’ faced predominantly Middle Platonism, Stoicism, Neopythagoreanism and, last but not least, Neoplatonism. In doing so they adopted a number of rhetoric and social strategies at hand; strategies that, although intended to turn the Other into the Same—which they did achieve, albeit gradually—ended up turning the Same into the Other as well.
Abandoning Penal Substitution: A Patristic Inspiration for Contemporary Protestant Understanding of the Atonement
Authors: Koryakin Sergey
Published: September 2021

In recent decades, there has been a resurgent interest among Protestant theologians in the so-called Christus Victor theory of the atonement. Firmly grounded in patristic thought (esp. Irenaeus of Lyons), this understanding of the work of Christ was first studied and formulated by a Swedish Lutheran, Gustaf Aulén, in 1931. Recent works by Darby Kathleen Ray, J. Denny Weaver, Thomas Finger, Gregory Boyd, and others develop Aulén’s endeavor and present new versions of the Christus Victor model. These scholars directly or indirectly demonstrate that the main framework of the patristic understanding of atonement was more faithful to Scripture and less problematic in terms of dogma and ethics than the traditional Protestant penal substitution theory. A short analysis of contemporary versions of the Christus Victor motif shows that this model of atonement proves to be more relevant in responding to the challenges of today’s world by providing substantial background for Christian spiritual life and ethics.
Intellectual Capital and Innovation Performance: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ali Mostafa A. , Hussin Nazimah , Haddad Hossam , Al-Araj Reem , Abed Ibtihal A.
Published: September 2021

Over the years, several studies have been conducted to identify the impact of various intellectual capital components on the organizational performances. However, most of these works greatly replicated the applications and uses of different intellectual capital components (human, structural, relational, social) without addressing the shortcomings related to their empowerment toward the innovation perception of the organizations. Based on this fact, we comprehensively reviewed the existing literatures that strongly influenced the innovation performance of the financial sector. Standard inclusion and exclusion criteria were used for the critical and systematic evaluation of the past studies. It identified the main limitations of intellectual capital components efficiency in the financial sector that could considerably affect their desired innovation performances in the dynamic and competitive market scenarios. In addition, a correlation was established among the organizational growth of intellectual capital components and innovation performance, leading to positive implications on intellectual capital components development.
Greening of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and Its Response to Climate Variations along Elevation Gradients
Authors: Wang Zhaoqi , Cui Guolong , Liu Xiang , Zheng Kai , Lu Zhiyuan , Li Honglin , Wang Gaini , An Zhifang
Published: September 2021

The vegetation of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) is vital to the global climate change and ecological security of China. However, the impact of climate variation on the spatial pattern and zonal distribution of vegetation in the QTP remains unclear. Accordingly, we used multisource remote-sensing vegetation indices (GIMMS-LAI, GIMMS NDVI, GLOBMAP LAI, MODIS EVI, MODIS NDVI, and MODIS NIRv), climate data, a digital elevation model, and the moving window method to investigate the changes in vegetation greenness and its response to climate variations in the QTP from 2001 to 2016. Results showed that the vegetation was greening in the QTP, which might be attributed to the increases in temperature and radiation. By contrast, the browning of vegetation may be caused by drought. Notably, the spatial patterns of vegetation greenness and its variations were linearly correlated with climate at low altitudes, and vegetation greenness was non-linearly correlated with climate at high altitudes. The Northwestern QTP needs to be focused on in regard to positive and decreased VGEG (vegetation greenness along the elevation gradient). The significantly positive VGEG was up to (34.37 ± 2.21) % of the QTP, which indicated a homogenization of vegetation greenness on elevation. This study will help us to understand the spatial distribution of vegetation greenness and VGEG in the QTP under global warming, and it will benefit ecological environment management, policymaking, and future climate and carbon sink (source) prediction.
Delineating Functional Urban Areas Using a Multi-Step Analysis of Artificial Light-at-Night Data
Authors: Rybnikova Nataliya , Portnov Boris , Charney Igal , Rybnikov Sviatoslav
Published: September 2021

A functional urban area (FUA) is a geographic entity that consists of a densely inhabited city and a less densely populated commuting zone, both highly integrated through labor markets. The delineation of FUAs is important for comparative urban studies and it is commonly performed using census data and data on commuting flows. However, at the national scale, censuses and commuting surveys are performed at low frequency, and, on the global scale, consistent and comparable data are difficult to obtain overall. In this paper, we suggest and test a novel approach based on artificial light at night (ALAN) satellite data to delineate FUAs. As ALAN is emitted by illumination of thoroughfare roads, frequented by commuters, and by buildings surrounding roads, ALAN data can be used, as we hypothesize, for the identification of FUAs. However, as individual FUAs differ by their ALAN emissions, different ALAN thresholds are needed to delineate different FUAs, even those in the same country. To determine such differential thresholds, we use a multi-step approach. First, we analyze the ALAN flux distribution and determine the most frequent ALAN value observed in each FUA. Next, we adjust this value for the FUA’s compactness, and run regressions, in which the estimated ALAN threshold is the dependent variable. In these models, we use several readily available, or easy-to-calculate, characteristics of FUA cores, such as latitude, proximity to the nearest major city, population density, and population density gradient, as predictors. At the next step, we use the estimated models to define optimal ALAN thresholds for individual FUAs, and then compare the boundaries of FUAs, estimated by modelling, with commuting-based delineations. To measure the degree of correspondence between the commuting-based and model-predicted FUAs’ boundaries, we use the Jaccard index, which compares the size of the intersection with the size of the union of each pair of delineations. We apply the proposed approach to two European countries—France and Spain—which host 82 and 72 FUAs, respectively. As our analysis shows, ALAN thresholds, estimated by modelling, fit FUAs’ commuting boundaries with an accuracy of up to 75–100%, being, on the average, higher for large and densely-populated FUAs, than for small, low-density ones. We validate the estimated models by applying them to another European country—Austria—which demonstrates the prediction accuracy of 47–57%, depending on the model type used.
Tensor-Based Reduced-Dimension MUSIC Method for Parameter Estimation in Monostatic FDA-MIMO Radar
Authors: Xu Tengxian , Wang Xianpeng , Huang Mengxing , Lan Xiang , Sun Lu
Published: September 2021

Frequency diverse array (FDA) radar has attracted much attention due to the angle and range dependence of the beam pattern. Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radar has high degrees of freedom (DOF) and spatial resolution. The FDA-MIMO radar, a hybrid of FDA and MIMO radar, can be used for target parameter estimation. This paper investigates a tensor-based reduced-dimension multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method, which is used for target parameter estimation in the FDA-MIMO radar. The existing subspace methods deteriorate quickly in performance with small samples and a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). To deal with the deterioration difficulty, the sparse estimation method is then proposed. However, the sparse algorithm has high computation complexity and poor stability, making it difficult to apply in practice. Therefore, we use tensor to capture the multi-dimensional structure of the received signal, which can optimize the effectiveness and stability of parameter estimation, reduce computation complexity and overcome performance degradation in small samples or low SNR simultaneously. In our work, we first obtain the tensor-based subspace by the high-order-singular value decomposition (HOSVD) and establish a two-dimensional spectrum function. Then the Lagrange multiplier method is applied to realize a one-dimensional spectrum function, estimate the direction of arrival (DOA) and reduce computation complexity. The transmitting steering vector is obtained by the partial derivative of the Lagrange function, and automatic pairing of target parameters is then realized. Finally, the range can be obtained by using the least square method to process the phase of transmitting steering vector. Method analysis and simulation results prove the superiority and reliability of the proposed method.
Combined GRACE and MT-InSAR to Assess the Relationship between Groundwater Storage Change and Land Subsidence in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region
Authors: Yu Wen , Gong Huili , Chen Beibei , Zhou Chaofan , Zhang Qingquan
Published: September 2021

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) has been suffering from severe groundwater storage (GWS) consumption and land subsidence (LS) for a long period. The overexploitation of groundwater brings about severe land subsidence, which affects the safety and development of BTH. In this paper, we utilized multi-frame synthetic aperture radar datasets obtained by the Rardarsat-2 satellite to monitor land subsidence’s temporal and spatial distribution in the BTH from 2012 to 2016 based on multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR). In addition, we also employed the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mascon datasets acquired by the Center for Space Research (CSR) and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to obtain the GWS anomalies (GWSA) of BTH from 2003 to 2016. Then we evaluate the accuracy of the results obtained. Furthermore, we explored the relationship between the regional GWSA and the average cumulative subsidence in the BTH. The total volume change of subsidence is 59.46% of the total volume change of groundwater storage. Moreover, the long-term decreasing trend of the GWSA (14.221 mm/year) and average cumulative subsidence (17.382 mm/year) show a relatively high consistency. Finally, we analyze the heterogeneity of GWS change (GWSC) and LS change (LSC) in the four typical areas by the Lorenz curve model. The implementation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MSWDP) affects the heterogeneity of GWSC and LSC. It can be seen that the largest heterogeneity of LSC lags behind the GWSC in the Tianjin-Langfang-Hengshui-Baoding area. The largest uneven subsidence in Beijing and Tianjin occurred in 2015, and the largest uneven subsidence in Hengshui-Baoding occurred in 2014. After that, the heterogeneity of subsidence gradually tends to stable.
Contactless Gait Assessment in Home-like Environments
Authors: Botros Angela , Gyger Nathan , Schütz Narayan , Single Michael , Nef Tobias , Gerber Stephan M.
Published: September 2021

Gait analysis is an important part of assessments for a variety of health conditions, specifically neurodegenerative diseases. Currently, most methods for gait assessment are based on manual scoring of certain tasks or restrictive technologies. We present an unobtrusive sensor system based on light detection and ranging sensor technology for use in home-like environments. In our evaluation, we compared six different gait parameters, based on recordings from 25 different people performing eight different walks each, resulting in 200 unique measurements. We compared the proposed sensor system against two state-of-the art technologies, a pressure mat and a set of inertial measurement unit sensors. In addition to test usability and long-term measurement, multi-hour recordings were conducted. Our evaluation showed very high correlation (r>0.95) with the gold standards across all assessed gait parameters except for cycle time (r=0.91). Similarly, the coefficient of determination was high (R2>0.9) for all gait parameters except cycle time. The highest correlation was achieved for stride length and velocity (r≥0.98,R2≥0.95). Furthermore, the multi-hour recordings did not show the systematic drift of measurements over time. Overall, the unobtrusive gait measurement system allows for contactless, highly accurate long- and short-term assessments of gait in home-like environments.
Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment with MEG Functional Connectivity Using Wavelet-Based Neuromarkers
Authors: Yang Su , Bornot Jose Miguel Sanchez , Fernandez Ricardo Bruña , Deravi Farzin , Hoque Sanaul , Wong-Lin KongFatt , Prasad Girijesh
Published: September 2021

Studies on developing effective neuromarkers based on magnetoencephalographic (MEG) signals have been drawing increasing attention in the neuroscience community. This study explores the idea of using source-based magnitude-squared spectral coherence as a spatial indicator for effective regions of interest (ROIs) localization, subsequently discriminating the participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from a group of age-matched healthy control (HC) elderly participants. We found that the cortical regions could be divided into two distinctive groups based on their coherence indices. Compared to HC, some ROIs showed increased connectivity (hyper-connected ROIs) for MCI participants, whereas the remaining ROIs demonstrated reduced connectivity (hypo-connected ROIs). Based on these findings, a series of wavelet-based source-level neuromarkers for MCI detection are proposed and explored, with respect to the two distinctive ROI groups. It was found that the neuromarkers extracted from the hyper-connected ROIs performed significantly better for MCI detection than those from the hypo-connected ROIs. The neuromarkers were classified using support vector machine (SVM) and k-NN classifiers and evaluated through Monte Carlo cross-validation. An average recognition rate of 93.83% was obtained using source-reconstructed signals from the hyper-connected ROI group. To better conform to clinical practice settings, a leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) approach was also employed to ensure that the data for testing was from a participant that the classifier has never seen. Using LOOCV, we found the best average classification accuracy was reduced to 83.80% using the same set of neuromarkers obtained from the ROI group with functional hyper-connections. This performance surpassed the results reported using wavelet-based features by approximately 15%. Overall, our work suggests that (1) certain ROIs are particularly effective for MCI detection, especially when multi-resolution wavelet biomarkers are employed for such diagnosis; (2) there exists a significant performance difference in system evaluation between research-based experimental design and clinically accepted evaluation standards.
Robot-Assisted Gait Self-Training: Assessing the Level Achieved
Authors: Scheidig Andrea , Schütz Benjamin , Trinh Thanh Quang , Vorndran Alexander , Mayfarth Anke , Sternitzke Christian , Röhner Eric , Gross Horst-Michael
Published: September 2021

This paper presents the technological status of robot-assisted gait self-training under real clinical environment conditions. A successful rehabilitation after surgery in hip endoprosthetics comprises self-training of the lessons taught by physiotherapists. While doing this, immediate feedback to the patient about deviations from the expected physiological gait pattern during training is important. Hence, the Socially Assistive Robot (SAR) developed for this type of training employs task-specific, user-centered navigation and autonomous, real-time gait feature classification techniques to enrich the self-training through companionship and timely corrective feedback. The evaluation of the system took place during user tests in a hospital from the point of view of technical benchmarking, considering the therapists’ and patients’ point of view with regard to training motivation and from the point of view of initial findings on medical efficacy as a prerequisite from an economic perspective. In this paper, the following research questions were primarily considered: Does the level of technology achieved enable autonomous use in everyday clinical practice? Has the gait pattern of patients who used additional robot-assisted gait self-training for several days been changed or improved compared to patients without this training? How does the use of a SAR-based self-training robot affect the motivation of the patients?
Multichannel Approach for Arrayed Waveguide Grating-Based FBG Interrogation Systems
Authors: Marrazzo Vincenzo Romano , Fienga Francesco , Riccio Michele , Irace Andrea , Breglio Giovanni
Published: September 2021

In this manuscript, an optically passive fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogation system able to perform high-frequency measurement is proposed. The idea is mainly based on the use of an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device which is used to discriminate the fiber optic sensor (FOS) wavelength encoded response under test in function of its output channels. As made clear by the theoretical model studied in the proposed manuscript, the Bragg wavelength shift can be detected as in linear dependence with the proposed interrogation function which changes with the voltage produced by two (or more) adjacent AWG output channels. To prove the feasibility of the system, some experimental analyses are conducted with a custom electrical module characterized by high-speed and low-noise operational amplifiers. As static measurements, three FBGs with different full width at half maximum (FWHM) have been monitored under wide-range wavelength variation; while, as dynamic measurement, one FBG, glued onto a metal plate, in order to sense the vibration at low and high frequency, was detected. The output signals have been processed by a digital acquisition (DAQ) board and a graphical user interface (GUI). The presented work highlights the characteristics of the proposed idea as competitor among the entire class of interrogation systems currently used. This is because here, the main device, that is the AWG, is passive and reliable, without the need to use modulation signals, or moving parts, that affect the speed of the system. In addition, the innovative multi-channel detection algorithm allows the use of any type of FOS without the need to have a perfectly match of spectra. Moreover, it is also characterized by a high dynamic range without loss of sensitivity.
Correction of Biogeochemical-Argo Radiometry for Sensor Temperature-Dependence and Drift: Protocols for a Delayed-Mode Quality Control
Authors: Jutard Quentin , Organelli Emanuele , Briggs Nathan , Xing Xiaogang , Schmechtig Catherine , Boss Emmanuel , Poteau Antoine , Leymarie Edouard , Cornec Marin , D’Ortenzio Fabrizio , Claustre Hervé
Published: September 2021

Measuring the underwater light field is a key mission of the international Biogeochemical-Argo program. Since 2012, 0–250 dbar profiles of downwelling irradiance at 380, 412 and 490 nm besides photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) have been acquired across the globe every 1 to 10 days. The resulting unprecedented amount of radiometric data has been previously quality-controlled for real-time distribution and ocean optics applications, yet some issues affecting the accuracy of measurements at depth have been identified such as changes in sensor dark responsiveness to ambient temperature, with time and according to the material used to build the instrument components. Here, we propose a quality-control procedure to solve these sensor issues to make Argo radiometry data available for delayed-mode distribution, with associated error estimation. The presented protocol requires the acquisition of ancillary radiometric measurements at the 1000 dbar parking depth and night-time profiles. A test on >10,000 profiles from across the world revealed a quality-control success rate >90% for each band. The procedure shows similar performance in re-qualifying low radiometry values across diverse oceanic regions. We finally recommend, for future deployments, acquiring daily 1000 dbar measurements and one night profile per year, preferably during moonless nights and when the temperature range between the surface and 1000 dbar is the largest.
A Novel Approach to Railway Track Faults Detection Using Acoustic Analysis
Authors: Shafique Rahman , Siddiqui Hafeez-Ur-Rehman , Rustam Furqan , Ullah Saleem , Siddique Muhammad Abubakar , Lee Ernesto , Ashraf Imran , Dudley Sandra
Published: September 2021

Regular inspection of railway track health is crucial for maintaining safe and reliable train operations. Factors, such as cracks, ballast issues, rail discontinuity, loose nuts and bolts, burnt wheels, superelevation, and misalignment developed on the rails due to non-maintenance, pre-emptive investigations and delayed detection, pose a grave danger and threats to the safe operation of rail transport. The traditional procedure of manually inspecting the rail track using a railway cart is both inefficient and prone to human error and biases. In a country like Pakistan where train accidents have taken many lives, it is not unusual to automate such approaches to avoid such accidents and save countless lives. This study aims at enhancing the traditional railway cart system to address these issues by introducing an automatic railway track fault detection system using acoustic analysis. In this regard, this study makes two important contributions: data collection on Pakistan railway tracks using acoustic signals and the application of various classification techniques to the collected data. Initially, three types of tracks are considered, including normal track, wheel burnt and superelevation, due to their common occurrence. Several well-known machine learning algorithms are applied such as support vector machines, logistic regression, random forest and decision tree classifier, in addition to deep learning models like multilayer perceptron and convolutional neural networks. Results suggest that acoustic data can help determine the track faults successfully. Results indicate that the best results are obtained by RF and DT with an accuracy of 97%.
Satellite-Assisted Cell-Free Massive MIMO Systems with Multi-Group Multicast
Authors: Li Jiamin , Chen Lingling , Zhu Pengcheng , Wang Dongming , You Xiaohu
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we use satellite-assisted and multi-group multicast mechanisms to relieve ground traffic pressure and improve data transmission efficiency of cell-free massive MIMO systems. We propose to estimate channel state information (CSI) by common pilot scheme. Given the estimated CSI, we derive the closed-form expressions of achievable rate with maximum ratio transmission (MRT) and zero-forcing (ZF) precoding. The correctness of the closed-form expressions is verified through simulations. The results show that with the help of satellite and multicast, the average system spectrum efficiency (SE) can be significantly improved.
skillsChain: A Decentralized Application That Uses Educational Robotics and Blockchain to Disrupt the Educational Process
Authors: Christodoulou Panayiotis , Andreou Andreas S. , Zinonos Zinon
Published: September 2021

Our epoch is continuously disrupted by the rapid technological advances in various scientific domains that aim to drive forward the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This disruption resulted in the introduction of fields that present advanced ways to train students as well as ways to secure the exchange of data and guarantee the integrity of those data. In this paper, a decentralized application (dApp), namely skillsChain, is introduced that utilizes Blockchain in educational robotics to securely track the development of students’ skills so as to be transferable beyond the confines of the academic world. This work outlines a state-of-the-art architecture in which educational robotics can directly execute transactions on a public ledger when certain requirements are met without the need of educators. In addition, it allows students to safely exchange their skills’ records with third parties. The proposed application was designed and deployed on a public distributed ledger and the final results present its efficacy.