bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural Characteristics and In Vitro Digestibility of Malic Acid-Treated Corn Starch with Different pH Conditions
Authors: Lee Chang Joo , Na Jong Hee , Park Jun-Young , Chang Pahn-Shick
Published: May 2019

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of pH value on the in vitro digestibility of malic acid-treated corn starch in relation to its structural properties. Varying pH values (1.5–8.5) of 2 M malic acid solution were combined with corn starch in a forced-air oven at 130 °C for 12 h. Using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), carbonyl groups were detected in malic acid-treated corn starch, indicating cross-linking through esterification. As the pH value of malic acid-treated corn starch decreased from 8.5 to 1.5, the resistant starch content increased from 18.2 to 74.8%. This was the result of an increased degree of substitution and was maintained after gelatinization. The granular structure of malic acid-treated corn starches was not destroyed, and the starches maintained birefringence. This malic acid-treated corn starch could be utilized in heat processed foods such as bread and cookies as well as in products with reduced calories.
Discovery of 2-(1-(3-(4-Chloroxyphenyl)-3-oxo- propyl)pyrrolidine-3-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-4-carboxamide: A Potent Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP) Inhibitor for Treatment of Cancer
Authors: Min Rui , Wu Weibin , Wang Mingzhong , Tang Lin , Chen Dawei , Zhao Huan , Zhang Cunlong , Jiang Yuyang
Published: May 2019

A series of benzimidazole carboxamide derivatives have been synthesized and characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS. PARP inhibition assays and cellular proliferation assays have also been carried out. Compounds 5cj and 5cp exhibited potential anticancer activities with IC50 values of about 4 nM against both PARP-1 and PARP-2, similar to the reference drug veliparib. The two compounds also displayed slightly better in vitro cytotoxicities against MDA-MB-436 and CAPAN-1 cell lines than veliparib and olaparib, with values of 17.4 µM and 11.4 µM, 19.8 µM and 15.5 µM, respectively. The structure-activity relationship based on molecular docking was discussed as well.
A Portable Setup for the Voltammetric Determination of Total Mercury in Fish with Solid and Nanostructured Gold Electrodes
Authors: Ruo Redda Andrea , Abollino Ornella , Malandrino Mery , Squadrone Stefania , Abete Maria Cesarina , Berto Silvia , Toniolo Rosanna , Durbiano Francesca , Giacomino Agnese
Published: May 2019

A simple procedure for field fish sample pretreatment was developed. This treatment in combination with square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SW-ASV) with solid gold electrodes (SGE) and gold nanoparticle-modified glassy carbon electrodes (AuNPs-GCE) was applied for the determination of total mercury content. A certified reference material (CRM, Tuna Fish BCR 463), ten freeze-dried samples of canned tuna and two fresh fish samples were analysed both with a bench-top voltammetric analyser after microwave digestion and with a portable potentiostat after mild eating using a small commercial food warmer. The results obtained by the two SW-ASV approaches and by a Direct Mercury Analyser (DMA), the official method for mercury determination, were in very good agreement. In particular, (i) the results obtained with in field procedure are consistent with those obtained with the conventional microwave digestion; (ii) the presence of gold nanoparticles on the active electrode surface permits an improvement of the analytical performance in comparison to the SGE: the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) for mercury in fish-matrix was 0.1 μg L−1 (Hg cell concentration), corresponding to 0.06 mg kg−1 wet fish, which is a performance comparable to that of DMA. The pretreatment proposed in this study is very easy and applicable to fresh fish; in combination with a portable potentiostat, it proved to be an interesting procedure for on-site mercury determination.
Precise Layer Control of MoTe2 by Ozone Treatment
Authors: Wang Qiyuan , Chen Jing , Zhang Youwei , Hu Laigui , Liu Ran , Cong Chunxiao , Qiu Zhi-Jun
Published: May 2019

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) demonstrate great potential in numerous applications. However, these applications require a precise control of layer thickness at the atomic scale. In this work, we present an in-situ study of the self-limiting oxidation process in MoTe2 by ozone (O3) treatment. A precise layer-by-layer control of MoTe2 flakes can be achieved via multiple cycles of oxidation and wet etching. The thinned MoTe2 flakes exhibit comparable optical properties and film quality to the pristine exfoliated ones. Besides, an additional p-type doping is observed after O3 oxidation. Such a p-doping effect converts the device properties of MoTe2 from electron-dominated to hole-dominated ambipolar characteristics.
Study of Magnetic Properties of Fe100-xNix Nanostructures Using the Mössbauer Spectroscopy Method
Authors: Kadyrzhanov Kayrat K. , Rusakov Vyacheslav S. , Fadeev Maxim S. , Kiseleva Tatyana Yu. , Kozlovskiy Artem L. , Kenzhina Inesh E. , Zdorovets Maxim V.
Published: May 2019

Hyperfine interactions of 57Fe nuclei in Fe100-xNix nanostructures synthesized in polymer ion-track membranes were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The main part of obtained nanostructures was Fe100-xNix nanotubes with bcc structure for 0 ≤ x ≤ 40, and with fcc structure for 50 ≤ x ≤ 90. The length, outside diameter and wall thickness of nanotubes were 12 μm, 400 ± 10 nm and 120 ± 5 nm respectively. For the studied nanotubes a magnetic texture is observedalong their axis. The average value of the angle between the direction of the Fe atom magnetic moment and the nanotubes axis decreases with increasing of Ni concentration for nanotubes with bcc structure from ~50° to ~40°, and with fcc structure from ~55° to ~46°. The concentration dependences of the hyperfine parameters of nanotubes Mössbauer spectra are qualitatively consistent with the data for bulk polycrystalline samples. With Ni concentration increasing the average value of the hyperfine magnetic field increases from ~328 kOe to ~335 kOe for the bcc structure and drops to ~303 kOe in the transition to the fcc structure and then decreases to ~290 kOe at x = 90. Replacing the Fe atom with the Ni atom in the nearest environment of Fe atom within nanotubes with bcc structure lead to an increase in the hyperfine magnetic field by “6–9 kOe”, and in tubes with fcc structure—to a decrease in the hyperfine magnetic field by “11–16 kOe”. The changes of the quadrupole shift and hyperfine magnetic field are linearly correlated with the coefficient −(15 ± 5)·10−4 mm/s/kOe.
Chinese White Wax Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as a Novel Nanocarrier of Curcumin for Inhibiting the Formation of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms
Authors: Luan Lin , Chi Zhe , Liu Chenguang
Published: May 2019

Chinese white wax solid lipid nanoparticles (cwSLNs) were prepared by high shear homogenization and ultrasound methods. Using an optimized formula, spherical cwSLNs with an average particle size of 401.9 ± 21.3 nm were obtained. The cwSLNs showed high entrapment efficiency, approximately 84.6%, for loading curcumin. The curcumin loaded cwSLNs (Cur-cwSLNs) exhibited sustained drug release properties. Notably, Cur-cwSLNs had a higher drug release rate at pH 4.5 than at pH 7.4, which suggested their applicability in an acidic environment. Cur-cwSLNs were able to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and were more effective at reducing the biofilms produced by this bacterium compared to free curcumin. This study confirmed that cwSLNs may be novel carriers for increasing the bioavailability of curcumin with the potential to inhibit the formation of S. aureus biofilms.
Exploring the Experiences of People with Obesity Using Portion Control Tools—A Qualitative Study
Authors: Almiron-Roig Eva , Majumdar Anne , Vaughan David , Jebb Susan A.
Published: May 2019

Large portion sizes increase consumption and eating smaller portions is recommended as a weight control strategy. However, many people report difficulties enacting this advice. This study examined the experience of individuals using two commercially available portion-control tools to try to manage their weight. In a crossover design, 29 adults with obesity (18 women) who had attended a previous weight loss intervention in the community were invited to use two portion-control tool sets over a period of four weeks (two weeks each) and to complete a semi-structured questionnaire about their experience. The tools were a guided crockery set (sector plate, calibrated bowl, and calibrated glass) and a set of calibrated serving spoons (one for starch, one for protein, and one for vegetables). Data were analyzed using thematic framework analysis. A key theme was related to the educational benefits of the tools, such as generating awareness, guidance, and gaining an independent ability to judge appropriate portions. Other key themes were tool usability, acceptability, and feasibility of usage. Barriers identified by participants included unclear markings/instructions and the inconvenience of using the tool when eating away from home. Overall, the tools were perceived to be educationally useful, easy to use, and potentially effective for learning to control portions, which suggested that these instruments could help in weight management interventions alongside other strategies. Elements of the tool design could influence the ability of participants to adhere to using the tool, and hence allow the educational effect to be mediated.
The Impact of Mediterranean Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy on Maternal and Offspring Health
Authors: Amati Federica , Hassounah Sondus , Swaka Alexandra
Published: May 2019

(1) Background: Pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child are affected by many environmental factors. The importance of pregnancy for ‘early life programming’ is well established and maternal nutrition is an important factor contributing to a favourable environment for developing offspring. We aim to assess whether following a Mediterranean Diet during pregnancy is beneficial for maternal and offspring outcomes; (2) Methods: a systematic review was performed using standardized reporting guidelines with the National Heart Lung and Blood Iinstitute quality assessment tool for selection and extraction; (3) Results: results show that being on a Mediterranean Diet during pregnancy is associated with favourable outcomes for both maternal and offspring health, particularly for gestational diabetes in mothers and congenital defects in offspring (4) Conclusions: Following a Mediterranean dietary pattern during gestation is beneficial for the health of both the mother and offspring. Pregnant women and those trying to conceive should be advised to follow a Mediterranean Diet to potentially decrease, for example, the likelihood of atopy (OR 0.55) in the offspring and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the mother (OR 0.73).
Maintaining the Outcomes of a Successful Weight Gain Prevention Intervention in Mid-Age Women: Two Year Results from the 40-Something Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Williams Lauren T. , Collins Clare E. , Morgan Philip J. , Hollis Jenna L.
Published: May 2019

Despite the life stage of menopause being identified as a high risk for weight gain, there are few obesity prevention interventions for this target group, and no evidence on maintenance of intervention effects after intervention support is withdrawn. In the 40-Something Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) (ACTRN12611000064909), a five-consultation health professional (dietitian and exercise physiologist) obesity prevention intervention, using motivational interviewing principles (MI) over 12 months, achieved significantly greater weight loss than a self-directed intervention (SDI) (tailored written material) in 54 non-obese (body mass index (BMI): 18.5–29.9 kg/m2), premenopausal women (44–50 years). The aim of the current paper is to report on whether the intervention effects were maintained at two years. Anthropometric, biochemical and health behavior data were collected at baseline, 12 months (end of intervention) and 24 months (end of maintenance period). Forty participants (22 = MI, 18 = SDI) who completed all measures to 12 months were invited to participate in the monitoring phase and 30 (MI = 16, SDI = 14) consented. The primary outcome of weight at 24 months was assessed using intention to treat principles (n = 54), adjusting for baseline weight. The MI group had a significantly lower weight at 24 months (64.6 kg, 95% CI: 63.2, 66.6, p = 0.015) compared with the SDI group (67.3 kg, 95% CI: 65.7, 68.8), and the secondary outcomes of percentage body fat and waist circumference were also significantly lower in the MI group. The low-intensity, health professional weight control intervention utilizing MI principles was more efficacious in maintaining a significant weight loss compared to a self-directed intervention, and both were successful in preventing obesity.
Genetic and Non-Genetic Factor-Adjusted Association between Coffee Drinking and High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Taiwanese Adults: Stratification by Sex
Authors: Hsu Tsui-Wen , Tantoh Disline Manli , Lee Kuan-Jung , Ndi Oswald Nfor , Lin Long-Yau , Chou Ming-Chih , Liaw Yung-Po
Published: May 2019

Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of global mortality. We aimed to determine the effect of coffee drinking and sex and their interaction, as well as rs1800588 and rs1800775 polymorphisms on HDL-C levels in Taiwanese adults. Data of 4262 men and 4813 women, aged 30–70 years, were retrieved from Taiwan Biobank. The interaction between sex and coffee drinking on HDL-C was significant (p = 0.0452). Coffee consumption was significantly associated with higher HDL-C levels in only women (β = 0.81679; p = 0.0246). However, rs1800588 and rs1800775 variants were significantly associated with HDL-C in both sexes. In women, β-values were 0.99080; p = 0.0059 and 3.16277; p < 0.0001 for rs1800588 CT and TT genotypes, respectively and −1.80954; p < 0.0001 and −2.81512; p < 0.0001 for rs1800775 AC and CC genotypes, respectively. In men, β-values were 1.32430; p < 0.0001 and 3.24976; p < 0.0001 for rs1800775 CT and TT genotypes, respectively and −1.96232; p < 0.0001 and −2.71536, p < 0.0001 for the AC and CC genotypes, respectively. In conclusion, coffee drinking was significantly associated with higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in women but not men after adjusting for confounders including rs1800588 (LIPC) and rs1800775 (CETP) variants.
Gender and Age Variations in Pharmacists’ Job Satisfaction in the United States
Authors: Carvajal Manuel J. , Popovici Ioana , Hardigan Patrick C.
Published: May 2019

While several studies have attested the presence of systematic gender and age variations in pharmacists’ satisfaction with their jobs, only a few of them have considered both classifications simultaneously. None have done so while systematically examining multiple facets of practitioners’ work. This article estimated U.S. pharmacists’ satisfaction levels with various facets of their work, compared them simultaneously between genders and among age groups, and tested for the presence of gender–age interaction effects. The study was based on self-reported survey data collected from 701 pharmacists (31.0% response rate). Mean and standard deviation values for 18 indices related to pharmacists’ work were calculated. When age groups were controlled, female pharmacists expressed overall higher levels of satisfaction with their job than male pharmacists; they also expressed greater satisfaction with multiple specific facets and with the profession, as well as greater workload and stress than male pharmacists. The findings revealed few significant differences among age groups and a limited gender–age interaction effect for pharmacists’ satisfaction with key facets of their work. These findings should contribute to the development and refinement of rational criteria for increasing sources of satisfaction in pharmacy settings.
3D Bioprinted Nanocellulose-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications: A Brief Review
Authors: Athukoralalage Sandya S. , Balu Rajkamal , Dutta Naba K. , Roy Choudhury Namita
Published: May 2019

Nanocellulosic materials, such as cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibers, and bacterial nanocellulose, that display high surface area, mechanical strength, biodegradability, and tunable surface chemistry have attracted great attention over the last decade for biomedical applications. Simultaneously, 3D printing is revolutionizing the field of biomedical engineering, which enables the fast and on-demand printing of customizable scaffolds, tissues, and organs. Nanocellulosic materials hold tremendous potential for 3D bioprinting due to their printability, their shear thinning behavior, their ability to live cell support and owing to their excellent biocompatibility. The amalgamation of nanocellulose-based feedstocks and 3D bioprinting is therefore of critical interest for the development of advanced functional 3D hydrogels. In this context, this review briefly discusses the most recent key developments and challenges in 3D bioprinting nanocellulose-based hydrogel constructs that have been successfully tested for mammalian cell viability and used in tissue engineering applications.
The Stability of Intercalated Sericite by Cetyl Trimethylammonium Ion under Different Conditions and the Preparation of Sericite/Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Liang Yu , Yang Dexin , Yang Tao , Liang Ning , Ding Hao
Published: May 2019

Layered silicates are suitable for use as fillers in nanocomposites based on their particular features, such as large aspect ratio, easy availability, and chemical resistance. Among them, sericite is distinguished for its higher aspect ratio, higher resilience, and ultraviolet shielding and absorption. Previously, sericite was structure-modified and intercalated by CTAB to expand its interlayer space. The intercalated sericite seems promising for use in the fabrication of polymer/sericite composites or pillared sericite. However, special attention should be paid to the stability of the intercalated sericite because the CTAB inside the layer may be de-intercalated, which would affect the interlayer spacing and its surface properties. In this article, the stability of the sericite intercalated by CTAB was tested by changing different variables, such as different washing solvents, different temperatures, ultrasonic cleaning, and different solution conditions. Finally, sericite/polymer nanocomposites were produced with the stable intercalated sericite, and showed excellent properties compared with pure epoxy resin.
Threads Made with Blended Biopolymers: Mechanical, Physical and Biological Features
Authors: Visco Annamaria , Scolaro Cristina , Giamporcaro Alberto , De Caro Salvatore , Tranquillo Elisabetta , Catauro Michelina
Published: May 2019

Poly (Lactic Acid), PLA, and Poly (ε-CaproLactone), PCL, compatibilized with Ethyl Ester l-Lysine Triisocyanate (LTI) can be employed as biomaterials. We mixed PLA with PCL and LTI in a twin extruder and by a melt spinning process obtained threads with an average diameter of about 0.3 mm. In order to study the possible application of these threads, mechanical tensile (with the calorimetric and morphological investigations) and biological tests were performed. The results highlighted these biopolymers as promising materials for sutures since they can be rigid and elastic (especially by increasing the PCL amount in the blend), and they are bioactive, able to inhibit bacterial growth. This paper represents a starting point to optimize the blend composition for biomedical suture application.
Electrical Properties of Thiol-ene-based Shape Memory Polymers Intended for Flexible Electronics
Authors: Frewin Christopher L. , Ecker Melanie , Joshi-Imre Alexandra , Kamgue Jonathan , Waddell Jeanneane , Danda Vindhya Reddy , Stiller Allison M. , Voit Walter E. , Pancrazio Joseph J.
Published: May 2019

Thiol-ene/acrylate-based shape memory polymers (SMPs) with tunable mechanical and thermomechanical properties are promising substrate materials for flexible electronics applications. These UV-curable polymer compositions can easily be polymerized onto pre-fabricated electronic components and can be molded into desired geometries to provide a shape-changing behavior or a tunable softness. Alternatively, SMPs may be prepared as a flat substrate, and electronic circuitry may be built directly on top by thin film processing technologies. Whichever way the final structure is produced, the operation of electronic circuits will be influenced by the electrical and mechanical properties of the underlying (and sometimes also encapsulating) SMP substrate. Here, we present electronic properties, such as permittivity and resistivity of a typical SMP composition that has a low glass transition temperature (between 40 and 60 °C dependent on the curing process) in different thermomechanical states of polymer. We fabricated parallel plate capacitors from a previously reported SMP composition (fully softening (FS)-SMP) using two different curing processes, and then we determined the electrical properties of relative permittivity and resistivity below and above the glass transition temperature. Our data shows that the curing process influenced the electrical permittivity, but not the electrical resistivity. Corona-Kelvin metrology evaluated the quality of the surface of FS-SMP spun on the wafer. Overall, FS-SMP demonstrates resistivity appropriate for use as an insulating material.
Heat Flux Estimation at Pool Boiling Processes with Computational Intelligence Methods
Authors: Alic Erdem , Das Mehmet , Kaska Onder
Published: May 2019

It is difficult to manually process and analyze large amounts of data. Therefore, to solve a given problem, it is easier to reach the solution by studying the data obtained from the environment of the problem with computational intelligence methods. In this study, pool boiling heat flux was estimated in the isolated bubble regime using two optimization methods (genetic and artificial bee colony algorithm) and three machine learning algorithms (decision tree, artificial neural network, and support vector machine). Six boiling mechanisms containing eighteen different parameters in the genetic and the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithms were used to calculate overall heat flux of the isolated bubble regime. Support vector machine regression (SVMReg), alternating model tree (ADTree), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) regression only used the heat transfer equation input parameters without heat transfer equations for prediction of pool boiling heat transfer over a horizontal tube. The performance of computational intelligence methods were determined according to the results of error analysis. Mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) error were used to calculate the validity of the predictive model in genetic algorithm, ABC algorithm, SVMReg, MLP regression, and alternating model tree. According to the MAPE error analysis, the accuracy values of MLP regression (0.23) and alternating model tree (0.22) methods were the same. The SVMReg method used for pool boiling heat flux estimation performed better than the other methods, with 0.17 validation error rate of MAPE.
The Fulcrum of Experience in Indian Yoga and Possession Trance
Authors: Smith Frederick M.
Published: May 2019

The “inner organ” (antaḥkaraṇa) in the Indian philosophical school called Sāṃkhya is applied in two different experiential contexts: in the act of transcendence according to the path of yoga explored in the Yogasūtras of Patañjali (ca. 350 CE) and in the process of identity shift that occurs in possession by a deity in a broader range of Indian cultural practices. The act of transcendence will be better understood if we look at the antaḥkaraṇa through an emic lens, which is to say as an actual organ that is activated by experiential shifts, rather than as a concept or explanation that is indicative of a collocation of characteristics of the individuating consciousness or merely by reducing it to nonepistemic objective or subjective factors.
Post-Disaster Recovery Assessment with Machine Learning-Derived Land Cover and Land Use Information
Authors: Sheykhmousa Mohammadreza , Kerle Norman , Kuffer Monika , Ghaffarian Saman
Published: May 2019

Post-disaster recovery (PDR) is a complex, long-lasting, resource intensive, and poorly understood process. PDR goes beyond physical reconstruction (physical recovery) and includes relevant processes such as economic and social (functional recovery) processes. Knowing the size and location of the places that positively or negatively recovered is important to effectively support policymakers to help readjust planning and resource allocation to rebuild better. Disasters and the subsequent recovery are mainly expressed through unique land cover and land use changes (LCLUCs). Although LCLUCs have been widely studied in remote sensing, their value for recovery assessment has not yet been explored, which is the focus of this paper. An RS-based methodology was created for PDR assessment based on multi-temporal, very high-resolution satellite images. Different trajectories of change were analyzed and evaluated, i.e., transition patterns (TPs) that signal positive or negative recovery. Experimental analysis was carried out on three WorldView-2 images acquired over Tacloban city, Philippines, which was heavily affected by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Support vector machine, a robust machine learning algorithm, was employed with texture features extracted from the grey level co-occurrence matrix and local binary patterns. Although classification results for the images before and four years after the typhoon show high accuracy, substantial uncertainties mark the results for the immediate post-event image. All land cover (LC) and land use (LU) classified maps were stacked, and only changes related to TPs were extracted. The final products are LC and LU recovery maps that quantify the PDR process at the pixel level. It was found that physical and functional recovery can be mainly explained through the LCLUC information. In addition, LC and LU-based recovery maps support a general and a detailed recovery understanding, respectively. It is therefore suggested to use the LC and LU-based recovery maps to monitor and support the short and the long-term recovery, respectively.
Infrared Hyperspectral and Ultraviolet Remote Measurements of Volcanic Gas Plume at MT Etna during IMAGETNA Campaign
Authors: Huret Nathalie , Segonne Charlotte , Payan Sébastien , Salerno Giuseppe , Catoire Valéry , Ferrec Yann , Roberts Tjarda , Pola Fossi Armande , Rodriguez Delphy , Croizé Laurence , Chevrier Stéphane , Langlois Stéphane , La Spina Alessandro , Caltabiano Tommaso
Published: May 2019

Quantification of gaseous emission fluxes from volcanoes can yield valuable insights on processes occurring in the Earth’s interior as part of hazard monitoring. It is also an important task in the framework of climate change, in order to refine estimates of natural emissions. Passive open-path UltraViolet (UV) scattered observation by UV camera allows the imaging of volcanic plumes and evaluation of sulfur dioxide (SO2) fluxes at high temporal resolution during daytime. Another technique of imaging is now available in the InfraRed (IR) spectral domain. Infrared hyperspectral imagers have the potential to overcome the boundary of daytime sampling of the UV, providing measurements also during the night and giving access simultaneously to additional relevant gas species. In this context the IMAGETNA campaign of measurements took place at Mt Etna (Italy) in June 2015. Three different IR imagers (commercial and under developments) were deployed, together with a Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometer (FTIR) instrument, a UV camera, a Long Wavelength InfraRed (LWIR) camera and a radiometer. We present preliminary results obtained by the two IR cameras under development, and then the IR hyperspectral imager results, coming from full physics retrieval, are compared to those of the UV camera. The comparison points out an underestimation of the SO2 Slant Column Densities (SCD) of the UV camera by a factor of 3.6. The detailed study of the retrieved SO2 SCD highlights the promising application of IR imaging in volcanology for remotely volcanic plume gas measurements. It also provides a way to investigate uncertainties in the SO2 SCD imaging in the UV and the IR.
Sea State Bias Variability in Satellite Altimetry Data
Authors: Cheng Yongcun , Xu Qing , Gao Le , Li Xiaofeng , Zou Bin , Liu Ting
Published: May 2019

Sea State Bias (SSB) contributes to global mean sea level variability and it needs cm-level range adjustment due to the instrumental drift over time. To investigate its variations and correct the global and regional sea level trend precisely, we calculate the temporal and spatial variability of the SSB correction in TOPEX, Jason-1, Jason-2 and Jason-3 missions, separately, as well as in the combined missions over the period 1993–2017. The long-term trend in global mean operational 2D non-parametric SSB correction is about −0.03 ± 0.03 mm/yr, which accounts for 1% of current global mean sea level change rate during 1993–2016. This correction contributes to sea level change rates of −1.27 ± 0.21 mm/yr and −0.26 ± 0.13 mm/yr in TOPEX-A and Jason-2 missions, respectively. The global mean SSB varies up to 7–10 mm during the very strong ENSO events in 1997–1998 and 2015–2016. Furthermore, the TOPEX SSB trend, which is consistent with recently reported sea level trend drift during 1993–1998, may leak into the determined global sea level trend in the period. Moreover, the Jason-1/2 zonal SSB variability is highly correlated with the significant wave height (SWH). On zonal average, SSB correction causes about 1% uncertainty in mean sea level trend. At high SWH regions, the uncertainties grow to 2–4% near the 50°N and 60°S bands. This should be considered in the study of regional sea level variability.
The Radiance Differences between Wavelength and Wavenumber Spaces in Convolving Hyperspectral Infrared Sounder Spectrum to Broadband for Intercomparison
Authors: Di Di , Min Min , Li Jun , Gunshor Mathew M.
Published: May 2019

Converting the hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounder radiance spectrum to broadband is a common approach for intercomparison/calibration. Usually the convolution is performed in wavenumber space. However, numerical experiments presented here indicate that there are brightness temperature (BT) differences between wavelength and wavenumber spaces in convolving hyperspectral IR sounder spectrum to broadband. The magnitudes of differences are related to the spectral region and the width of the spectral response functions (SRFs). In addition, the central wavelength and central wavenumber should be determined separately in wavelength and wavenumber spaces, respectively; they cannot be converted to each other directly for broadband BT calculations. There exist BT differences (BTDs) between interpolating the resolution of SRF to hyperspectral IR sounder spectrum, and vice versa, for convolution. This study provides clarity on convolution, central wavelength/wavenumber determination, and spectral resolution matching between broadband SRFs and hyperspectral IR sounder radiances for intercomparison/calibration.
Methodological Ambiguity and Inconsistency Constrain Unmanned Aerial Vehicles as A Silver Bullet for Monitoring Ecological Restoration
Authors: Buters Todd M. , Bateman Philip W. , Robinson Todd , Belton David , Dixon Kingsley W. , Cross Adam T.
Published: May 2019

The last decade has seen an exponential increase in the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to ecological monitoring research, though with little standardisation or comparability in methodological approaches and research aims. We reviewed the international peer-reviewed literature in order to explore the potential limitations on the feasibility of UAV-use in the monitoring of ecological restoration, and examined how they might be mitigated to maximise the quality, reliability and comparability of UAV-generated data. We found little evidence of translational research applying UAV-based approaches to ecological restoration, with less than 7% of 2133 published UAV monitoring studies centred around ecological restoration. Of the 48 studies, > 65% had been published in the three years preceding this study. Where studies utilised UAVs for rehabilitation or restoration applications, there was a strong propensity for single-sensor monitoring using commercially available RPAs fitted with the modest-resolution RGB sensors available. There was a strong positive correlation between the use of complex and expensive sensors (e.g., LiDAR, thermal cameras, hyperspectral sensors) and the complexity of chosen image classification techniques (e.g., machine learning), suggesting that cost remains a primary constraint to the wide application of multiple or complex sensors in UAV-based research. We propose that if UAV-acquired data are to represent the future of ecological monitoring, research requires a) consistency in the proven application of different platforms and sensors to the monitoring of target landforms, organisms and ecosystems, underpinned by clearly articulated monitoring goals and outcomes; b) optimization of data analysis techniques and the manner in which data are reported, undertaken in cross-disciplinary partnership with fields such as bioinformatics and machine learning; and c) the development of sound, reasonable and multi-laterally homogenous regulatory and policy framework supporting the application of UAVs to the large-scale and potentially trans-disciplinary ecological applications of the future.
Georeferencing of Laser Scanner-Based Kinematic Multi-Sensor Systems in the Context of Iterated Extended Kalman Filters Using Geometrical Constraints
Authors: Vogel Sören , Alkhatib Hamza , Bureick Johannes , Moftizadeh Rozhin , Neumann Ingo
Published: May 2019

Georeferencing is an indispensable necessity regarding operating with kinematic multi-sensor systems (MSS) in various indoor and outdoor areas. Information from object space combined with various types of prior information (e.g., geometrical constraints) are beneficial especially in challenging environments where common solutions for pose estimation (e.g., global navigation satellite system or external tracking by a total station) are inapplicable, unreliable or inaccurate. Consequently, an iterated extended Kalman filter is used and a general georeferencing approach by means of recursive state estimation is introduced. This approach is open to several types of observation inputs and can deal with (non)linear systems and measurement models. The capability of using both explicit and implicit formulations of the relation between states and observations, and the consideration of (non)linear equality and inequality state constraints is a special feature. The framework presented is evaluated by an indoor kinematic MSS based on a terrestrial laser scanner. The focus here is on the impact of several different combinations of applied state constraints and the dependencies of two classes of inertial measurement units (IMU). The results presented are based on real measurement data combined with simulated IMU measurements.
Comparison and Combination of Thermal, Fluorescence, and Hyperspectral Imaging for Monitoring Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat on Spikelet Scale
Authors: Mahlein Anne-Katrin , Alisaac Elias , Al Masri Ali , Behmann Jan , Dehne Heinz-Wilhelm , Oerke Erich-Christian
Published: May 2019

Optical sensors have shown high capabilities to improve the detection and monitoring of plant disease development. This study was designed to compare the feasibility of different sensors to characterize Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum. Under controlled conditions, time-series measurements were performed with infrared thermography (IRT), chlorophyll fluorescence imaging (CFI), and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) starting 3 days after inoculation (dai). IRT allowed the visualization of temperature differences within the infected spikelets beginning 5 dai. At the same time, a disorder of the photosynthetic activity was confirmed by CFI via maximal fluorescence yields of spikelets (Fm) 5 dai. Pigment-specific simple ratio PSSRa and PSSRb derived from HSI allowed discrimination between Fusarium-infected and non-inoculated spikelets 3 dai. This effect on assimilation started earlier and was more pronounced with F. graminearum. Except the maximum temperature difference (MTD), all parameters derived from different sensors were significantly correlated with each other and with disease severity (DS). A support vector machine (SVM) classification of parameters derived from IRT, CFI, or HSI allowed the differentiation between non-inoculated and infected spikelets 3 dai with an accuracy of 78, 56 and 78%, respectively. Combining the IRT-HSI or CFI-HSI parameters improved the accuracy to 89% 30 dai.
Estimating the Orientation of Objects from Tactile Sensing Data Using Machine Learning Methods and Visual Frames of Reference
Authors: Prado da Fonseca Vinicius , Alves de Oliveira Thiago Eustaquio , Petriu Emil M.
Published: May 2019

Underactuated hands are useful tools for robotic in-hand manipulation tasks due to their capability to seamlessly adapt to unknown objects. To enable robots using such hands to achieve and maintain stable grasping conditions even under external disturbances while keeping track of an in-hand object’s state requires learning object-tactile sensing data relationships. The human somatosensory system combines visual and tactile sensing information in their “What and Where” subsystem to achieve high levels of manipulation skills. The present paper proposes an approach for estimating the pose of in-hand objects combining tactile sensing data and visual frames of reference like the human “What and Where” subsystem. The system proposed here uses machine learning methods to estimate the orientation of in-hand objects from the data gathered by tactile sensors mounted on the phalanges of underactuated fingers. While tactile sensing provides local information about objects during in-hand manipulation, a vision system generates egocentric and allocentric frames of reference. A dual fuzzy logic controller was developed to achieve and sustain stable grasping conditions autonomously while forces were applied to in-hand objects to expose the system to different object configurations. Two sets of experiments were used to explore the system capabilities. On the first set, external forces changed the orientation of objects while the fuzzy controller kept objects in-hand for tactile and visual data collection for five machine learning estimators. Among these estimators, the ridge regressor achieved an average mean squared error of 0.077 ∘ . On the second set of experiments, one of the underactuated fingers performed open-loop object rotations and data recorded were supplied to the same set of estimators. In this scenario, the Multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network achieved the lowest mean squared error of 0.067 ∘ .
Ultracompact Multielectrode Array for Neurological Monitoring
Authors: Cheng Ming-Yuan , Damalerio Ramona B. , Chen Weiguo , Rajkumar Ramamoorthy , Dawe Gavin S.
Published: May 2019

Patients with paralysis, spinal cord injury, or amputated limbs could benefit from using brain–machine interface technology for communication and neurorehabilitation. In this study, a 32-channel three-dimensional (3D) multielectrode probe array was developed for the neural interface system of a brain–machine interface to monitor neural activity. A novel microassembly technique involving lead transfer was used to prevent misalignment in the bonding plane during the orthogonal assembly of the 3D multielectrode probe array. Standard microassembly and biopackaging processes were utilized to implement the proposed lead transfer technique. The maximum profile of the integrated 3D neural device was set to 0.50 mm above the pia mater to reduce trauma to brain cells. Benchtop tests characterized the electrical impedance of the neural device. A characterization test revealed that the impedance of the 3D multielectrode probe array was on average approximately 0.55 MΩ at a frequency of 1 KHz. Moreover, in vitro cytotoxicity tests verified the biocompatibility of the device. Subsequently, 3D multielectrode probe arrays were implanted in rats and exhibited the capability to record local field potentials and spike signals.
Tracking Clinical Staff Behaviors in an Operating Room
Authors: Azevedo-Coste Christine , Pissard-Gibollet Roger , Toupet Gaelle , Fleury Éric , Lucet Jean-Christophe , Birgand Gabriel
Published: May 2019

Inadequate staff behaviors in an operating room (OR) may lead to environmental contamination and increase the risk of surgical site infection. In order to assess this statement objectively, we have developed an approach to analyze OR staff behaviors using a motion tracking system. The present article introduces a solution for the assessment of individual displacements in the OR by: (1) detecting human presence and quantifying movements using a motion capture (MOCAP) system and (2) observing doors’ movements by means of a wireless network of inertial sensors fixed on the doors and synchronized with the MOCAP system. The system was used in eight health care facilities sites during 30 cardiac and orthopedic surgery interventions. A total of 119 h of data were recorded and analyzed. Three hundred thirty four individual displacements were reconstructed. On average, only 10.6% individual positions could not be reconstructed and were considered undetermined, i.e., the presence in the room of the corresponding staff member could not be determined. The article presents the hardware and software developed together with the obtained reconstruction performances.
3D-Flower-Like Copper Sulfide Nanoflake-Decorated Carbon Nanofragments-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes for Simultaneous Electrocatalytic Sensing of Co-existing Hydroquinone and Catechol
Authors: Alshahrani Lina Abdullah , Miao Liqiong , Zhang Yanyu , Cheng Shengming , Sathishkumar Palanivel , Saravanakumar Balasubramaniam , Nan Junmin , Gu Feng Long
Published: May 2019

A copper sulfide nanoflakes-decorated carbon nanofragments-modified glassy carbon electrode (CuS-CNF/GCE) was fabricated for the electrocatalytic differentiation and determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC). The physicochemical properties of the CuS-CNF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The electrocatalytic determination of HQ and CC over the CuS-CNF/GCE was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. An excellent detection limit and sensitivity of the CuS-CNF/GCE are obtained (0.293 µM and 0.259 µM) with a sensitivity of 184 nA µM−1 cm−2 and 208 nA µM−1 cm−2 (S/N=3) for HQ and CC, respectively. In addition, the CuS-CNF/GCE shows a selective identification of HQ and CC over potential interfering metal ions (Zn2+, Na+, K+, NO3−, SO42−, Cl−) and organic compounds (ascorbic acid, glucose), and a satisfactory recovery is also obtained in the spiked water samples. These results suggest that the CuS-CNF/GCE can be used as an efficient electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of co-existing environmental pollutants such as HQ and CC in water environments with high selectivity and acceptable reproducibility.
An Innovative High-Precision Scheme for a GPS/MEMS-SINS Ultra-Tight Integrated System
Authors: Li Qunsheng , Zhao Yan
Published: May 2019

The Doppler-assisted error provided by a low-precision microelectromechanical system (MEMS) strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) increases rapidly. Therefore, the bandwidth of the tracking loop for a global positioning system (GPS)/MEMS-SINS ultra-tight integration system is too narrow to track Doppler shift. GPS measurement error is correlated with the MEMS-SINS velocity error when the Doppler-assisted error exists, leading to tracking loop lock loss. The estimated precision of the integrated Kalman filter (IKF) also decreases. Even the integrated system becomes unstable. To solve this problem, an innovative GPS/MEMS-SINS ultra-tight integration scheme based on using high-precision carrier phase measurements as the IKF measurements is proposed in this study. By assisting the tracking loop with time-differenced carrier phase (TDCP) velocity, the carrier loop noise bandwidth and code correlator spacing are reduced. The tracking accuracies of the carrier and code are increased. The navigation accuracy of GPS/MEMS-SINS ultra-tight integration is further improved.
Validation of Authentication Measures Implementation in Iot Mobile Applications
Authors: Fernández Bascuñana Gema
Published: May 2019

Smartphones are an integral cog of the IoT environment and a fundamental bloc of any related security solution, given that IoT mobile applications allow users not only to get information, but also to influence the environment. This paper presents a methodological instrument that can contribute to implementing and evaluating security measures in mobile applications by means of an automated analysis tool. A clear process for linking policy and high-level security guidelines and measures to concrete source code elements is depicted, as well as an automated way of testing a set of mobile applications against them. In addition, the obtained results highlight the current state of authentication measures’ implementation in IoT mobile applications; at the same time, it is important to note that the proposed approach is generic enough to accommodate other security principles as well.
Classifying Retirement Preparation Planners and Doers: A Multi-Country Study
Authors: Han Jihyung , Ko Daekyun , Choe Hyuncha
Published: May 2019

This study has three principal aims: to classify consumers by their retirement preparation planning and behavior; to examine the financial status of retirement preparation in each country; and to find ways to help consumers effectively secure financial sustainability after retirement by practicing retirement preparation. Adopting the planner–doer model, consumers were classified into four types: ‘indifferent,’ ‘just planner,’ ‘just doer,’ and ‘ideal doer.’ This study used data collected by Korea Life Insurance Association to compare the level of retirement preparation in Korea, Japan, Germany, the U.S., and the U.K. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and binary logistic regression analysis. The major findings are three-fold: first, the largest percentage of consumers in every country were ‘just doers’; second, ‘ideal doers’ are older than the other types, but have a low expected retirement age and high level of retirement preparedness; and third, ‘ideal doers’ demonstrated distinct variations in their characteristics in different countries. These findings indicate the need to help consumers recognize the necessity to prepare effectively for financial sustainability in their post-retirement lives; this requires the development of policy and gradual education programs, including effective practical suggestions.