bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochronology, Geochemistry, and Pb–Hf Isotopic Composition of Mineralization-Related Magmatic Rocks in the Erdaohezi Pb–Zn Polymetallic Deposit, Great Xing’an Range, Northeast China
Authors: Xu Zhitao , Sun Jinggui , Liang Xiaolong , Xu Zhikai , Chu Xiaolei
Published: March 2020

Late Mesozoic intermediate–felsic volcanics and hypabyssal intrusions are common across the western slope of the Great Xing’an Range (GXAR). Spatiotemporally, these hypabyssal intrusions are closely associated with epithermal Pb–Zn polymetallic deposits. However, few studies have investigated the petrogenesis, contributions and constraints of these Pb–Zn polymetallic mineralization-related intrusions. Therefore, we examine the representative Erdaohezi deposit and show that these mineralization-related hypabyssal intrusions are composed of quartz porphyry and andesite porphyry with concordant zircon U–Pb ages of 160.3 ± 1.4 Ma and 133.9 ± 0.9 Ma, respectively. These intrusions are peraluminous and high-K calc-alkaline or shoshonitic with high Na2O + K2O contents, enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g., Rb, Th, and U), and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g., Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), similar to continental arc intrusions. The zircon εHf(t) values range from 3.1 to 8.0, and the 176Hf/177Hf values range from 0.282780 to 0.282886, with Hf-based Mesoproterozoic TDM2 ages. No differences exist in the Pb isotope ratios among the quartz porphyry, andesite porphyry and ore body sulfide minerals. Detailed elemental and isotopic data imply that the quartz porphyry originated from a mixture of lower crust and newly underplated basaltic crust, while the andesite porphyry formed from the partial melting of Mesoproterozoic lower crust with the minor input of mantle materials. Furthermore, a magmatic–hydrothermal origin is favored for the Pb–Zn polymetallic mineralization in the Erdaohezi deposit. Integrating new and published tectonic evolution data, we suggest that the polymetallic mineralization-related magmatism in the Erdaohezi deposit occurred in a back-arc extensional environment at ~133 Ma in response to the rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.
Functionalization of Gold Nanoparticles by Inorganic Entities
Authors: Dumur Frédéric , Dumas Eddy , Mayer Cédric R.
Published: March 2020

The great affinity of gold surface for numerous electron-donating groups has largely contributed to the rapid development of functionalized gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). In the last years, a new subclass of nanocomposite has emerged, based on the association of inorganic molecular entities (IME) with Au-NPs. This highly extended and diversified subclass was promoted by the synergy between the intrinsic properties of the shell and the gold core. This review—divided into four main parts—focuses on an introductory section of the basic notions related to the stabilization of gold nanoparticles and defines in a second part the key role played by the functionalizing agent. Then, we present a wide range of inorganic molecular entities used to prepare these nanocomposites (NCs). In particular, we focus on four different types of inorganic systems, their topologies, and their current applications. Finally, the most recent applications are described before an overview of this new emerging field of research.
Amplified Fluorescence by ZnO Nanoparticles vs. Quantum Dots for Bovine Mastitis Acute Phase Response Evaluation in Milk
Authors: Nirala Narsingh R. , Shtenberg Giorgi
Published: March 2020

Bovine mastitis (BM) is a prominent inflammatory disease affecting the dairy industry worldwide, originated by pathogenic agent invasion onto the mammary gland. The early detection of new BM cases is of high importance for infection control within the herd. During inflammation, various biomarkers are released into the blood circulation, which are consequently found in milk. Herein, the lysosomal activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAGase), a predominant BM indicator, was utilized for highly sensitive clinical state differentiation. The latter is achieved by the precise addition of tetraethyl orthosilicate-coated zinc oxide nanostructures (quantum dots or nanoparticles, individually) onto a conventional assay. Enhanced fluorescence due to the nanomaterial accumulative near-field effect is achieved within real milk samples, contaminated with Streptococcus dysgalactiae, favoring quantum dots over nanoparticles (>7-fold and 3-fold, respectively), thus revealing significant differentiation between various somatic cell counts. The main advantage of the presented sensing concept, besides its clinically relevant concentrations, is the early bio-diagnostic detection of mastitis (subclinical BM) by using a simple and cost-effective experimental setup. Moreover, the assay can be adapted for BM recovery prognosis evaluation, and thus impact on udder health status, producing an alternative means for conventional diagnosis practices.
Ultra-Broadband High-Efficiency Solar Absorber Based on Double-Size Cross-Shaped Refractory Metals
Authors: Li Hailiang , Niu Jiebin , Zhang Congfen , Niu Gao , Ye Xin , Xie Changqing
Published: March 2020

In this paper, a theoretical simulation based on a finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) shows that the solar absorber can reach ultra-broadband and high-efficiency by refractory metals titanium (Ti) and titanium nitride (TiN). In the absorption spectrum of double-size cross-shaped absorber, the absorption bandwidth of more than 90% is 1182 nm (415.648–1597.39 nm). Through the analysis of the field distribution, we know the physical mechanism is the combined action of propagating plasmon resonance and local surface plasmon resonance. After that, the paper has a discussion about the influence of different structure parameters, polarization angle and angle of incident light on the absorptivity of the absorber. At last, the absorption spectrum of the absorber under the standard spectrum of solar radiance Air Mass 1.5 (AM1.5) is studied. The absorber we proposed can be used in solar energy absorber, thermal photovoltaics, hot-electron devices and so on.
Delivery of siRNA to Ewing Sarcoma Tumor Xenografted on Mice, Using Hydrogenated Detonation Nanodiamonds: Treatment Efficacy and Tissue Distribution
Authors: Claveau Sandra , Nehlig Émilie , Garcia-Argote Sébastien , Feuillastre Sophie , Pieters Grégory , Girard Hugues A. , Arnault Jean-Charles , Treussart François , Bertrand Jean-Rémi
Published: March 2020

Nanodiamonds of detonation origin are promising delivery agents of anti-cancer therapeutic compounds in a whole organism like mouse, owing to their versatile surface chemistry and ultra-small 5 nm average primary size compatible with natural elimination routes. However, to date, little is known about tissue distribution, elimination pathways and efficacy of nanodiamonds-based therapy in mice. In this report, we studied the capacity of cationic hydrogenated detonation nanodiamonds to carry active small interfering RNA (siRNA) in a mice model of Ewing sarcoma, a bone cancer of young adults due in the vast majority to the EWS-FLI1 junction oncogene. Replacing hydrogen gas by its radioactive analog tritium gas led to the formation of labeled nanodiamonds and allowed us to investigate their distribution throughout mouse organs and their excretion in urine and feces. We also demonstrated that siRNA directed against EWS-FLI1 inhibited this oncogene expression in tumor xenografted on mice. This work is a significant step to establish cationic hydrogenated detonation nanodiamond as an effective agent for in vivo delivery of active siRNA.
Estimating 24-Hour Sodium Excretion from Spot Urine Samples in Chinese Adults: Can Spot Urine Substitute 24-Hour Urine Samples?
Authors: Xu Jianwei , Zhang Jiyu , Liu Min , Bai Yamin , Guo Xiaolei , Dong Jing , Xu Aiqiang , Wu Jing
Published: March 2020

Several estimating equations for predicting 24-h urinary sodium (24-hUNa) excretion using spot urine (SU) samples have been developed, but have not been readily available to Chinese populations. We aimed to compare and validate the six existing methods at population level and individual level. We extracted 1671 adults eligible for both 24-h urine and SU sample collection. Mean biases (95% CI) of predicting 24-hUNa excretion using six formulas were 58.6 (54.7, 62.5) mmol for Kawasaki, −2.7 (−6.2, 0.9) mmol for Tanaka, −24.5 (−28.0, −21.0) mmol for the International Cooperative Study on Salt, Other Factors, and Blood Pressure (INTERSALT) with potassium, –26.8 (−30.1, −23.3) mmol for INTERSALT without potassium, 5.9 (2.3, 9.6) mmol for Toft, and −24.2 (−27.7, −20.6) mmol for Whitton. The proportions of relative difference >40% with the six methods were nearly a third, and the proportions of absolute difference >51.3 mmol/24-h (3 g/day salt) were more than 40%. The misclassification rate were all >55% for the six methods at the individual level. Although the Tanaka method could offer a plausible estimation for surveillance of the population sodium excretion in Shandong province, caution remains when using the Tanaka formula for other provincial populations in China. However, these predictive methods were inadequate to evaluate individual sodium excretion.
Changes in Faecal Short-Chain Fatty Acids after Weight-Loss Interventions in Subjects with Morbid Obesity
Authors: Farup Per G , Valeur Jørgen
Published: March 2020

The gut microbiota and their metabolites, e.g., short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), are associated with obesity. The primary aims were to study faecal SCFA levels and the changes in SCFA levels after weight-loss interventions in subjects with obesity, and secondarily, to study factors associated with the faecal SCFA levels. In total, 90 subjects (men / women: 15/75) with a mean age of 44.4 (SD 8.4) years, BMI 41.7 (SD 3.7) kg/m2 and morbid obesity (BMI > 40 or > 35 kg/m2 with obesity-related complications) were included. Faecal SCFA and other variables were measured at inclusion and after a six-month conservative weight-loss intervention followed by bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or gastric sleeve). Six months after surgery, the total amount of SCFA was reduced, the total and relative amounts of the main straight SCFA (acetic-, propionic-, and butyric- acids) were reduced, and the total and relative amounts of branched SCFA (isobutyric-, isovaleric-, and isocaproic- acids) were increased. The changes indicate a shift toward a proteolytic fermentation pattern with unfavorable health effects. The amount of SCFA was associated with the diet but not with metabolic markers or makers of the faecal microbiota composition. Dietary interventions could counteract the unfavorable effects.
Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of a Novel Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor, DWP16001, with Dapagliflozin and Ipragliflozin
Authors: Choi Min-Koo , Nam So Jeong , Ji Hye-Young , Park Mi Jie , Choi Ji-Soo , Song Im-Sook
Published: March 2020

Since sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduced blood glucose level by inhibiting renal tubular glucose reabsorption mediated by SGLT2, we aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics and kidney distribution of DWP16001, a novel SGLT2 inhibitor, and to compare these properties with those of dapagliflozin and ipragliflozin, representative SGLT2 inhibitors. The plasma exposure of DWP16001 was comparable with that of ipragliflozin but higher than that of dapagliflozin. DWP16001 showed the highest kidney distribution among three SGLT2 inhibitors when expressed as an area under curve (AUC) ratio of kidney to plasma (85.0 ± 16.1 for DWP16001, 64.6 ± 31.8 for dapagliflozin and 38.4 ± 5.3 for ipragliflozin). The organic anion transporter-mediated kidney uptake of DWP16001 could be partly attributed to the highest kidney uptake. Additionally, DWP16001 had the lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) to SGLT2, a target transporter (0.8 ± 0.3 nM for DWP16001, 1.6 ± 0.3 nM for dapagliflozin, and 8.9 ± 1.7 nM for ipragliflozin). The inhibition mode of DWP16001 on SGLT2 was reversible and competitive, but the recovery of the SGLT2 inhibition after the removal of SGLT2 inhibitors in CHO cells overexpressing SGLT2 was retained with DWP16001, which is not the case with dapagliflozin and ipragliflozin. In conclusion, selective and competitive SGLT2 inhibition of DWP16001 could potentiate the efficacy of DWP16001 in coordination with the higher kidney distribution and retained SGLT2 inhibition of DWP16001 relative to dapagliflozin and ipragliflozin.
Crosslinked Hyaluronan Electrospun Nanofibers for Ferulic Acid Ocular Delivery
Authors: Grimaudo Maria Aurora , Concheiro Angel , Alvarez-Lorenzo Carmen
Published: March 2020

Electrospun nanofibers are gaining interest as ocular drug delivery platforms that may adapt to the eye surface and provide sustained release. The aim of this work was to design an innovative ophthalmic insert composed of hyaluronan (HA) nanofibers for the dual delivery of an antioxidant (ferulic acid, FA) and an antimicrobial peptide (ε-polylysine, ε-PL). Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was added to facilitate the electrospinning process. Fibers with diameters of approx. 100 nm were obtained with PVP 5%-HA 0.8% w/v and PVP 10%-HA 0.5% w/v mixtures in ethanol:water 4:6 v/v. An increase in PVP concentration to 20% w/v in both presence and absence of HA rendered fibers of approx. 1 µm. PVP 5%-HA 0.8% w/v fibers were loaded with 83.3 ± 14.0 µg FA per mg. After nanofibers crosslinking with ε-PL, blank and FA-loaded inserts showed a mean thickness of 270 ± 21 µm and 273 ± 41 µm, respectively. Blank and FA-loaded inserts completely released ε-PL within 30 min under sink conditions, whereas FA-loaded inserts released the antioxidant within 20 min. Both blank and FA-loaded inserts were challenged against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, demonstrating their efficacy against relevant microbial species.
Affinity Effects on the Release of Non-Conventional Antifibrotics from Polymer Depots
Authors: Rohner Nathan A. , Nguyen Dung , von Recum Horst A.
Published: March 2020

For many chronic fibrotic conditions, there is a need for local, sustained antifibrotic drug delivery. A recent trend in the pharmaceutical industry is the repurposing of approved drugs. This paper investigates drugs that are classically used for anthelmintic activity (pyrvinium pamoate (PYR)), inhibition of adrenal steroidgenesis (metyrapone (MTP)), bactericidal effect (rifampicin (RIF), and treating iron/aluminum toxicity (deferoxamine mesylate (DFOA)), but are also under investigation for their potential positive effect in wound healing. In this role, they have not previously been tested in a localized delivery system suitable for obtaining the release for the weeks-to-months timecourse needed for wound resolution. Herein, two cyclodextrin-based polymer systems, disks and microparticles, are demonstrated to provide the long-term release of all four tested non-conventional wound-healing drugs for up to 30 days. Higher drug affinity binding, as determined from PyRx binding simulations and surface plasmon resonance in vitro, corresponded with extended release amounts, while drug molecular weight and solubility correlated with the improved drug loading efficiency of cyclodextrin polymers. These results, combined, demonstrate that leveraging affinity interactions, in combination with drug choice, can extend the sustained release of drugs with an alternative, complimentary action to resolve wound-healing and reduce fibrotic processes.
Substandard and Falsified Medicines in Myanmar
Authors: Sakuda Mirai , Yoshida Naoko , Takaoka Takashi , Sanada Tomoko , Rahman Mohammad Sofiqur , Tanimoto Tsuyoshi , Zin Theingi , Kimura Kazuko , Tsuboi Hirohito
Published: March 2020

Background: substandard and falsified medicines (SFMs) are a threat to public health. The availability of SFMs in Myanmar was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1999, but there have been few systematic surveys on falsified medicines in Myanmar since then. The aim of this study is to examine the extent of SFMs for sale in Myanmar. Methods: target medicines were tablets of candesartan, metformin, and pioglitazone, and infusions of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Samples were collected from hospitals, pharmacies, and wholesalers located in the Mandalay region in 2015. We carried out observation testing, authenticity investigation, and quality testing to search for SFMs, and analyzed the relationship between SFMs and the price and store type. Results: There were no falsified medicines found in the authenticity check, though there remained a problem due to low response rates from manufacturers and regulatory authorities. In the quality test, some tablets of metformin and pioglitazone made in India failed the dissolution test. Conclusions: although no serious problems were found, some substandard medicines were detected. Regular surveys to monitor SFMs are therefore recommended, together with further regulatory guidance to improve conditions in all medicine manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies.
Evaluation of Metaxylem Vessel Histogenesis and the Occurrence of Vessel Collapse during Early Development in Primary Roots of Zea mays ssp. mexicana: A Result of Premature Programmed Cell Death?
Authors: Saito Susumu , Niki Teruo , Gladish Daniel K.
Published: March 2020

Root apical meristem histological organization in Zea mays has been carefully studied previously. Classical histology describes its system as having a “closed organization” and a development of xylem that conforms to predictable rules. Among the first cell types to begin differentiation are late-maturing metaxylem (LMX) vessels. As part of a larger study comparing domestic maize root development to a wild subspecies of Z. mays (teosinte), we encountered a metaxylem development abnormality in a small percentage of our specimens that begged further study, as it interrupted normal maturation of LMX. Primary root tips of young seedlings of Zea mays ssp. mexicana were fixed, embedded in appropriate resins, and sectioned for light and transmission electron microscopy. Longitudinal and serial transverse sections were analyzed using computer imaging to determine the position and timing of key xylem developmental events. We observed a severe abnormality of LMX development among 3.5% of the 227 mexicana seedlings we screened. All LMX vessel elements in these abnormal roots collapsed and probably became non-functional shortly after differentiation began. Cytoplasm and nucleoplasm in the abnormal LMX elements became condensed and subdivided into irregularly-shaped “macrovesicles” as their cell walls collapsed inward. We propose that these seedlings possibly suffered from a mutation that affected the timing of the programmed cell death (PCD) that is required to produce functional xylem vessels, such that autolysis of the cytoplasm was prematurely executed, i.e., prior to the development and lignification of secondary walls.
Design of Ultra-Thin PEO/PDMAEMA Polymer Coatings for Tunable Protein Adsorption
Authors: Bratek-Skicki Anna
Published: March 2020

Protein adsorption on solid surfaces provides either beneficial or adverse outcomes, depending on the application. Therefore, the desire to predict, control, and regulate protein adsorption on different surfaces is a major concern in the field of biomaterials. The most widely used surface modification approach to prevent or limit protein adsorption is based on the use of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO). On the other hand, the amount of protein adsorbed on poly(2-(dimethylamine)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) coatings can be regulated by the pH and ionic strength of the medium. In this work, ultra-thin PEO/PDMAEMA coatings were designed from solutions with different ratios of PEO to PDMAEMA, and different molar masses of PEO, to reversibly adsorb and desorb human serum albumin (HSA), human fibrinogen (Fb), lysozyme (Lys), and avidine (Av), four very different proteins in terms of size, shape, and isoelectric points. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the mixed polymer coatings, revealing the presence of both polymers in the layers, in variable proportions according to the chosen parameters. Protein adsorption at pH 7.4 and salt concentrations of 10−3 M was monitored by QCM. Lys and Av did not adsorb on the homo-coatings and the mixed coatings. The amount of HSA and Fb adsorbed decreased with increasing the PEO ratio or its molar mass in a grafting solution. It was demonstrated that HSA and Fb, which were adsorbed at pH 7.4 and at an ionic strength of 10−3 M, can be fully desorbed by rinsing with a sodium chloride solution at pH 9.0 and ionic strength 0.15 M from the mixed PEO5/PDMAEMA coatings with PEO/PDMAEMA mass ratios of 70/30, and 50/50, respectively. The results demonstrate that mixed PEO/PDMAEMA coatings allow protein adsorption to be finely tuned on solid surfaces.
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Metal-Containing Linseed Oil-Based Waterborne Urethane Oil Wood Coatings
Authors: Lu Kun-Tsung , Chang Jing-Ping
Published: March 2020

In this study, the antimicrobial agents of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate (M(HEEP)2) with different metal of M = Zn, Mn, Pb, and Ca were synthesized from diethylene glycol (DEG), phthalic anhydride (PA), and divalent metal acetates including calcium acetate, zinc acetate, manganese acetate, and lead acetate, respectively. The waterborne urethane oil (WUO) dispersions synthesized from linseed oil, diisocyanates (hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)), dimethylolpropionic acid at NCO/OH molars of 0.9, by acetone processing method were described as in our previous report. The M(HEEP)2 antimicrobial agents as well as the commercial nanosilver powder were added into WUO dispersions as the antimicrobial coatings. The effects of various antimicrobial agents and dosages (0.0, 0.2, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 phr) on antimicrobial activity of WUO films against gram-negative bacterium of Escherichia coli, gram-positive bacterium of Staphylococcus aureus, brown-rot fungus of Gloeophyllum trabeum, and white-rot fungus of Lenzites betulina were assessed. In addition, the film properties of the best antimicrobial WUO coatings were also examined. The results showed that the antimicrobial agents of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl) phthalate M(HEEP)2 (M = Zn, Mn, Pb, and Ca) powders should certainly be synthesized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) identifications and the yields of them were 43–55%. The results also revealed that the WUO film synthesizing with HDI films containing Zn(HEEP)2 of 2.0 phr and Pb(HEEP)2 of 0.4 phr had the best antibacterial activity for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The IPDI films containing Zn(HEEP)2 of 1.0 phr had the best antibacterial activity for both E. coli and S. aureus. For antifungal activity, the WUO film synthesizing with HDI films containing Pb(HEEP)2 of 0.8 phr and Zn(HEEP)2 of 2.0 phr as well as IPDI films containing Mn(HEEP)2 of 0.2 phr and Zn(HEEP)2 of 4.0 phr had the best performances against G. trabeum and L. betulina, respectively. Comparing with commercial nanoAg powder, the Zn(HEEP)2 and Pb(HEEP)2 had a superior antifungal efficiency for G. trabeum and L. betulina, while it had a slightly inferior efficiency in the antibacterial activity for E. coli and S. aureus. On the properties of WUO films, adding metal-containing antimicrobial agents could slightly enhance the thermal stability, but lowered the gloss of all films, however, the Tg value increased for HDI film and decreased for IPDI film. In addition to this, they had no significant difference in the film properties including hardness, impact resistance, bending resistance, adhesion, mass retention, and light-fastness between the WUO films with and without adding antimicrobial agents.
PEEK Composites as Self-Lubricating Bush Materials for Articulating Revolute Pin Joints
Authors: Zhu Juanjuan , Xie Fang , Dwyer-Joyce R S
Published: March 2020

In this study, bearing bushes made of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), 30 wt % carbon fibre reinforced PEEK, 30 wt % glass fibre reinforced PEEK, each 10 wt % of PTFE, graphite and carbon fibre modified PEEK were investigated on a purpose built pin joint test rig. The unlubricated friction and wear behaviour was assessed in sliding contact with a 300M shaft, subjected to a nominal pressure of 93 MPa, articulating sliding speed of 45 °/s. The worn surface and the subsurface layer were studied using optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Due to thermal sensitivity of PEEK composites, friction energy and temperature rise were analysed for determining the friction and wear mechanism. The bush made of PTFE, graphite and carbon fibre (each 10 wt %) modified PEEK presented the best performance for friction coefficient, wear loss, friction energy and temperature rise. Current work demonstrated that reinforcement modified PEEK composite possesses desirable properties to perform as a load bearing bush in certain tribological applications.
A Novel Zirconium Modified Arylacetylene Resin: Preparation, Thermal Properties and Ceramifiable Mechanism
Authors: Mei Qilin , Wang Honghua , Chen Xiaocheng , Wang Ying , Huang Zhixiong
Published: March 2020

With the rapid development of thermal protection systems for the aerospace industry and power electronics, polyarylacetylene (PAA) resin plays an important role because of its good mechanical properties, high glass transition temperature (Tg), low water absorption, high char yield (Yc), and the fact that there is no byproduct released in the curing process. In order to further improve the thermal property of PAA based FRP for the thermal protection field, the introduction of a zirconium element into arylacetylene is promising. In this paper, zirconium modified arylacetylene (ZAA) resin was prepared by two-step synthesis. The FTIR analysis characterized its molecular structure and confirmed the products. The viscosity of ZAA was about 6.5 Pa·s when the temperature was above 120 °C. The DSC analysis showed that the ZAA had a low curing temperature, and its apparent activation energy was 103.86 kJ/mol in the Kissinger method and 106.46 kJ/mol in the Ozawa method. The dielectric constant at 1 MHz of poly(zirconium modified arylacetylene) (PZAA) was 3.4. The TG analysis showed that the temperatures of a weight loss of 5% (Td5) and char yield (Yc) at 800 °C of PZAA were 407.5 °C and 61.4%, respectively. The XRD results showed the presence of SiO2 and ZrO2 in the PZAA residue after ablation. The XRF results showed that the contents of SiO2 and ZrO2 in PZAA residual after ablation were, respectively, 15.3% and 12.4%. The SEM showed that the surface of PZAA after ablation had been covered with a dense and rigid ceramic phase composed of ZrO2 and SiO2. Therefore, the introduction of Zr into arylacetylene greatly improved the densification of the surface after ablation, and improved the heat resistant property.
Amṛtasiddhi A Posteriori: An Exploratory Study on the Possible Impact of the Amṛtasiddhi on the Subsequent Sanskritic Vajrayāna Tradition
Authors: Grimes Samuel
Published: March 2020

Recent research into source materials for haṭhayoga (Birch, Mallinson, Szántó) has revealed that the physical techniques and esoteric anatomy traditionally associated with Śaiva practitioners likely found a genesis within Vajrayāna Buddhist communities. The physiology and practices for longevity described in the 11th-or-12th-century Amṛtasiddhi are easily traced in the development of subsequent physical yoga, but prior to the discovery of the text’s Buddhist origin, analogues to a haṭhayoga esoteric anatomy found in Vajrayāna sources have been regarded as coincidental. This paper considers both the possibility that the Amṛtasiddhi, or a tradition related to it, had a lasting impact on practices detailed in subsequent tantric Buddhist texts and that this haṭhayoga source text can aid in interpreting unclear passages in these texts.
The BIOMASS Level 2 Prototype Processor: Design and Experimental Results of Above-Ground Biomass Estimation
Authors: Banda Francesco , Giudici Davide , Le Toan Thuy Le , Mariotti d’Alessandro Mauro Mariotti , Papathanassiou Kostas , Quegan Shaun , Riembauer Guido , Scipal Klaus , Soja Maciej , Tebaldini Stefano , Ulander Lars , Villard Ludovic
Published: March 2020

BIOMASS is ESA’s seventh Earth Explorer mission, scheduled for launch in 2022. The satellite will be the first P-band SAR sensor in space and will be operated in fully polarimetric interferometric and tomographic modes. The mission aim is to map forest above-ground biomass (AGB), forest height (FH) and severe forest disturbance (FD) globally with a particular focus on tropical forests. This paper presents the algorithms developed to estimate these biophysical parameters from the BIOMASS level 1 SAR measurements and their implementation in the BIOMASS level 2 prototype processor with a focus on the AGB product. The AGB product retrieval uses a physically-based inversion model, using ground-canceled level 1 data as input. The FH product retrieval applies a classical PolInSAR inversion, based on the Random Volume over Ground Model (RVOG). The FD product will provide an indication of where significant changes occurred within the forest, based on the statistical properties of SAR data. We test the AGB retrieval using modified airborne P-Band data from the AfriSAR and TropiSAR campaigns together with reference data from LiDAR-based AGB maps and plot-based ground measurements. For AGB estimation based on data from a single heading, comparison with reference data yields relative Root Mean Square Difference (RMSD) values mostly between 20% and 30%. Combining different headings in the estimation process significantly improves the AGB retrieval to slightly less than 20%. The experimental results indicate that the implemented retrieval scheme provides robust results that are within mission requirements.
Light-addressable Electrodes for Dynamic and Flexible Addressing of Biological Systems and Electrochemical Reactions
Authors: Welden Rene , Schöning Michael J. , Wagner Patrick H. , Wagner Torsten
Published: March 2020

In this review article, we are going to present an overview on possible applications of light-addressable electrodes (LAE) as actuator/manipulation devices besides classical electrode structures. For LAEs, the electrode material consists of a semiconductor. Illumination with a light source with the appropiate wavelength leads to the generation of electron-hole pairs which can be utilized for further photoelectrochemical reaction. Due to recent progress in light-projection technologies, highly dynamic and flexible illumination patterns can be generated, opening new possibilities for light-addressable electrodes. A short introduction on semiconductor–electrolyte interfaces with light stimulation is given together with electrode-design approaches. Towards applications, the stimulation of cells with different electrode materials and fabrication designs is explained, followed by analyte-manipulation strategies and spatially resolved photoelectrochemical deposition of different material types.
Comparative Electroanalytical Studies of Graphite Flake and Multilayer Graphene Paste Electrodes
Authors: Festinger Natalia , Morawska Kamila , Ivanovski Vladimir , Ziąbka Magdalena , Jedlińska Katarzyna , Ciesielski Witold , Smarzewska Sylwia
Published: March 2020

In this paper, the fabrication, surface characterisation and electrochemical properties of graphite flake (GFPE) and multilayer graphene (MLGPE) paste electrodes are described. The Raman investigations and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyze and compare structure of both carbon materials. The electroanalytical performance of both electrodes was examined and compared on the basis of the square-wave and cyclic voltammetric behavior of acetaminophen and model redox systems. Results of those studies revealed that GFPE has a larger electroactive surface area and better conductive properties, whilst MLGPE demonstrate better analytical characteristic in case of acetaminophen (AC) determination. AC determination was developed using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and square wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV). For both working electrodes, the process of accumulation enabled us to obtain an extended linear range and to lower the detection limit. In pharmaceutical formulations, AC was determined with good recovery.
Generative Adversarial Learning Enhanced Fault Diagnosis for Planetary Gearbox under Varying Working Conditions
Authors: Wen Weigang , Bai Yihao , Cheng Weidong
Published: March 2020

Planetary gearbox is a critical component for many mechanical systems. It is essential to monitor the planetary gearbox health and performance in order to maintain the whole machine works well. The methodology of mechanical fault diagnosis is increasingly intelligent with the extensive application of deep learning. However, the cross-domain issue caused by varying working conditions becomes an enormous encumbrance to fault diagnosis based on deep learning. In this paper, in order to fully excavate potentialities of deep neural network architectures, a novel generative adversarial learning method was introduced for a completely new fault diagnosis based on a deep convolution neural network. In addition, the intelligent fault diagnostic scheme for planetary gearbox under varying speed conditions was developed. After that, some experiments on measured vibration signals of planetary gearbox were conducted to verify the validity and efficiency of the fault diagnostic scheme. The results showed that the proposed method enhanced the capability of the intelligent diagnosis for planetary gear faults under varying speed conditions.
Research on Structure Optimization and Measurement Method of a Large-Range Deep Displacement 3D Measuring Sensor
Authors: Shentu Nanying , Wang Sheng , Li Qing , Tong Renyuan , An Siguang , Qiu Guohua
Published: March 2020

Deep displacement monitoring of rock and soil mass is the focus of current geological hazard research. In the previous works, we proposed a geophysical deep displacement characteristic information detection method by implanting magneto-electric sensing arrays in boreholes, and preliminarily designed the sensor prototype and algorithm of deep displacement three-dimensional (3D) measurement. On this basis, we optimized the structure of the sensing unit through 3D printing and other technologies, and improved the shape and material parameters of the permanent magnet after extensive experiments. Through in-depth analysis of the experimental data, based on the data query algorithm and the polynomial least square curve fitting theory, a new mathematical model for 3D measurement of deep displacement has been proposed. By virtue of it, the output values of mutual inductance voltage, Hall voltage and tilt measuring voltage measured by the sensing units can be converted into the variations of relative horizontal displacement, vertical displacement and axial tilt angle between any two adjacent sensing units in real time, and the measuring errors of horizontal and vertical displacement are tested to be 0–1.5 mm. The combination of structural optimization and measurement method upgrading extends the measurement range of the sensing unit from 0–30 mm to 0–50 mm. It shows that our revised deep displacement 3D measuring sensor can better meet the needs of high-precision monitoring at the initial stage of rock and soil deformation and large deformation monitoring at the rapid change and imminent-sliding stage.
Rolling-Element Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using Improved LeNet-5 Network
Authors: Wan Lanjun , Chen Yiwei , Li Hongyang , Li Changyun
Published: March 2020

To address the problems of low recognition accuracy, slow convergence speed and weak generalization ability of traditional LeNet-5 network used in rolling-element bearing fault diagnosis, a rolling-element bearing fault diagnosis method using improved 2D LeNet-5 network is put forward. The following improvements to the traditional LeNet-5 network are made: the convolution and pooling layers are reasonably designed and the size and number of convolution kernels are carefully adjusted to improve fault classification capability; the batch normalization (BN) is adopted after each convolution layer to improve convergence speed; the dropout operation is performed after each full-connection layer except the last layer to enhance generalization ability. To further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fault diagnosis, on the basis of improved 2D LeNet-5 network, an end-to-end rolling-element bearing fault diagnosis method based on the improved 1D LeNet-5 network is proposed, which can directly perform 1D convolution and pooling operations on raw vibration signals without any preprocessing. The results show that the improved 2D LeNet-5 network and improved 1D LeNet-5 network achieve a significant performance improvement than traditional LeNet-5 network, the improved 1D LeNet-5 network provides a higher fault diagnosis accuracy with a less training time in most cases, and the improved 2D LeNet-5 network performs better than improved 1D LeNet-5 network under small training samples and strong noise environment.
Large-Scale ALS Data Semantic Classification Integrating Location-Context-Semantics Cues by Higher-Order CRF
Authors: Han Wei , Wang Ruisheng , Huang Daqing , Xu Cheng
Published: March 2020

We designed a location-context-semantics-based conditional random field (LCS-CRF) framework for the semantic classification of airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds. For ALS datasets of high spatial resolution but with severe noise pollutions, more contexture and semantics cues, besides location information, can be exploited to surmount the decrease of discrimination of features for classification. This paper mainly focuses on the semantic classification of ALS data using mixed location-context-semantics cues, which are integrated into a higher-order CRF framework by modeling the probabilistic potentials. The location cues modeled by the unary potentials can provide basic information for discriminating the various classes. The pairwise potentials consider the spatial contextual information by establishing the neighboring interactions between points to favor spatial smoothing. The semantics cues are explicitly encoded in the higher-order potentials. The higher-order potential operates at the clusters level with similar geometric and radiometric properties, guaranteeing the classification accuracy based on semantic rules. To demonstrate the performance of our approach, two standard benchmark datasets were utilized. Experiments show that our method achieves superior classification results with an overall accuracy of 83.1% on the Vaihingen Dataset and an overall accuracy of 94.3% on the Graphics and Media Lab (GML) Dataset A compared with other classification algorithms in the literature.
Prediction of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes under Multiple Daily Injections Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Physical Activity Monitor
Authors: Bertachi Arthur , Viñals Clara , Biagi Lyvia , Contreras Ivan , Vehí Josep , Conget Ignacio , Giménez Marga
Published: March 2020

(1) Background: nocturnal hypoglycemia (NH) is one of the most challenging side effects of multiple doses of insulin (MDI) therapy in type 1 diabetes (T1D). This work aimed to investigate the feasibility of a machine-learning-based prediction model to anticipate NH in T1D patients on MDI. (2) Methods: ten T1D adults were studied during 12 weeks. Information regarding T1D management, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), and from a physical activity tracker were obtained under free-living conditions at home. Supervised machine-learning algorithms were applied to the data, and prediction models were created to forecast the occurrence of NH. Individualized prediction models were generated using multilayer perceptron (MLP) and a support vector machine (SVM). (3) Results: population outcomes indicated that more than 70% of the NH may be avoided with the proposed methodology. The predictions performed by the SVM achieved the best population outcomes, with a sensitivity and specificity of 78.75% and 82.15%, respectively. (4) Conclusions: our study supports the feasibility of using ML techniques to address the prediction of nocturnal hypoglycemia in the daily life of patients with T1D on MDI, using CGM and a physical activity tracker.
Vibration-Based Structural Health Monitoring Using Piezoelectric Transducers and Parametric t-SNE
Authors: Agis David , Pozo Francesc
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we evaluate the performance of the so-called parametric t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (P-t-SNE), comparing it to the performance of the t-SNE, the non-parametric version. The methodology used in this study is introduced for the detection and classification of structural changes in the field of structural health monitoring. This method is based on the combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and P-t-SNE, and it is applied to an experimental case study of an aluminum plate with four piezoelectric transducers. The basic steps of the detection and classification process are: (i) the raw data are scaled using mean-centered group scaling and then PCA is applied to reduce its dimensionality; (ii) P-t-SNE is applied to represent the scaled and reduced data as 2-dimensional points, defining a cluster for each structural state; and (iii) the current structure to be diagnosed is associated with a cluster employing two strategies: (a) majority voting; and (b) the sum of the inverse distances. The results in the frequency domain manifest the strong performance of P-t-SNE, which is comparable to the performance of t-SNE but outperforms t-SNE in terms of computational cost and runtime. When the method is based on P-t-SNE, the overall accuracy fluctuates between 99.5% and 99.75%.
Analysis of Multiple-Access Discrimination Techniques for the Development of a PSD-Based VLP System
Authors: De-La-Llana-Calvo Álvaro , Lázaro-Galilea José-Luis , Gardel-Vicente Alfredo , Rodríguez-Navarro David , Rubiano-Muriel Borja , Bravo-Muñoz Ignacio
Published: March 2020

There are several technologies and techniques available when developing indoor positioning systems (IPS). Recently, the development of positioning systems based on optical signals has aroused great interest, mainly those using visible light from the lighting infrastructure. In this work, we analyze which techniques give better results to lay the foundations for the development of a Visible Light Positioning system (VLP). Working only with a receiver, it is analyzed what the result of determining the position of different emitters is when they emit simultaneously and without any synchronism. The results obtained by Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) (with digital bandpass filters, I/Q demodulation, and FFT) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) are compared. The interference between signals when emitted simultaneously from multiple emitters is analyzed as well as the errors they cause and how these effects can be mitigated. As a result of the research, the advantages and disadvantages using different multiple-access determination techniques are determined. In addition, advantages and disadvantages of using FDMA and CDMA techniques as well as hardware requirements that make one more feasible than the other are presented. The system behavior, in terms of errors, is established using FDMA and different configurations such as: I/Q, RMS, or FFT. The work also determines the error rates that can be obtained with the different FDMA and CDMA configurations, considering different error scenarios and integration time. Synthetic emulations and empirical tests were performed, which concluded that IPS systems based on optical signals and PSD sensors can achieve very high measurement accuracies and a high measurement rate. Obtained positioning errors in a room of 3 m height are less than 1 cm when working in noisy environments.
An Empirical Study of the Impact of Urbanization on Industry Water Footprint in China
Authors: Kan Daxue , Huang Weichiao
Published: March 2020

How to advance new urbanization initiatives and reduce the water footprint of industries is one urgent issue about urbanization that needs to be resolved. Based on spatial dynamic panel data, we used the system GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) to study the impact of urbanization on the industrial water footprint. The results show that, overall, urbanization increases the industrial water footprint, industrial virtual water footprint, and industrial gray water footprint in China. There are sectoral and regional differences in the impact of urbanization. Specifically, urbanization reduces the agricultural water footprint and agricultural virtual water footprint but raises the agricultural gray water footprint. Urbanization increases the manufacturing water footprint, manufacturing virtual water footprint, and gray water footprint. Urbanization reduces the virtual water footprint of the service industry but increases the water footprint and gray water footprint in the service industry. At the regional level, urbanization increases the industrial water footprint and gray water footprint across the three major regions. In the eastern region, urbanization has little effect on increasing the industrial water footprint, and reduces the industrial virtual water footprint, whereas in the central and western regions urbanization increases the industrial virtual water footprint. In all three regions, urbanization reduces the agricultural water footprint, increases the manufacturing and service water footprints, reduces the virtual water footprints of agriculture and services, and increases the gray water footprint of agriculture, manufacturing, and services. In the eastern region, the reducing effect of urbanization is the greatest and the increasing effect of urbanization is the smallest. Additionally, in the eastern region, urbanization has reduced the virtual water footprint of manufacturing, whereas in the central and western regions urbanization has increased the virtual water footprint of manufacturing.
An Energy-Efficient Distributed Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation Algorithm for Passive Optical Access Networks
Authors: Khalili Hamzeh , Rincón David , Sallent Sebastià , Piney José Ramón
Published: March 2020

The rapid deployment of passive optical access networks (PONs) increases the global energy consumption of networking infrastructure. This paper focuses on the minimization of energy consumption in Ethernet PONs (EPONs). We present an energy-efficient, distributed dynamic bandwidth allocation (DBA) algorithm able to power off the transmitter and receiver of an optical network unit (ONU) when there is no upstream or downstream traffic. Our main contribution is combining the advantages of a distributed DBA (namely, a smaller packet delay compared to centralized DBAs, due to less time being needed to allocate the transmission slot) with energy saving features (that come at a price of longer delays due to the longer queue waiting times when transmitters are switched off). The proposed algorithm analyzes the queue size of the ONUs in order to switch them to doze/sleep mode when there is no upstream/downstream traffic in the network, respectively. Our results show that we minimized the ONU energy consumption across a wide range of network loads while keeping delay bounded.