bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tackling Antibiotic Resistance: Influence of Aliphatic Branches on Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Polytriazoles against ESKAPE Group Pathogens
Authors: Rangel-Núñez Cristian , Molina-Pinilla Inmaculada , Ramírez-Trujillo Cristina , Suárez-Cruz Adrián , Martínez Samuel Bernal , Bueno-Martínez Manuel
Published: November 2022

One of the most important threats to public health is the appearance of multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria, since they are the cause of a high number of deaths worldwide. Consequently, the preparation of new effective antibacterial agents that do not generate antimicrobial resistance is urgently required. We report on the synthesis of new linear cationic antibacterial polytriazoles that could be a potential source of new antibacterial compounds. These polymers were prepared by thermal- or copper-catalyzed click reactions of azide and alkyne functions. The antibacterial activity of these materials can be modulated by varying the size or nature of their side chains, as this alters the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance. Antibacterial activity was tested against pathogens of the ESKAPE group. The P3TD polymer, which has butylated side chains, was found to have the highest bactericidal activity. The toxicity of selected polytriazoles was investigated using human red blood cells and a human gingival fibroblast cell line. The propensity of prepared polytriazoles to induce resistance in certain bacteria was studied. Some of them were found to not produce resistance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The interaction of these polytriazoles with the Escherichia coli membrane produces both depolarization and disruption of the membrane.
Wetspun Polymeric Fibrous Systems as Potential Scaffolds for Tendon and Ligament Repair, Healing and Regeneration
Authors: Rocha Joana , Araújo Joana C. , Fangueiro Raul , Ferreira Diana P.
Published: November 2022

Tendon and ligament traumatic injuries are among the most common diagnosed musculoskeletal problems. Such injuries limit joint mobility, reduce musculoskeletal performance, and most importantly, lower people’s comfort. Currently, there are various treatments that are used to treat this type of injury, from surgical to conservative treatments. However, they’re not entirely effective, as reinjures are frequent and, in some cases, fail to re-establish the lost functionality. Tissue engineering (TE) approaches aim to overcome these disadvantages by stimulating the regeneration and formation of artificial structures that resemble the original tissue. Fabrication and design of artificial fibrous scaffolds with tailored mechanical properties are crucial for restoring the mechanical function of the tissues. Recently, polymeric nanofibers produced by wetspinning have been largely investigated to mimic, repair, and replace the damaged tissue. Wetspun fibrous structures are extensively used due to their exceptional properties, such as the ability to mimic the native tissue, their biodegradability and biocompatibility, and good mechanical properties. In this review, the tendon and ligament structure and biomechanics are presented. Then, promising wetspun multifunctional fibrous structures based on biopolymers, more specifically polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polyethylenes, will be discussed, as well as reinforcing agents such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), nanoparticles, and growth factors.
Quercetin Loaded Cationic Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in a Mucoadhesive In Situ Gel—A Novel Intravesical Therapy Tackling Bladder Cancer
Authors: Shawky Sylvia , Makled Shaimaa , Awaad Ashraf , Boraie Nabila
Published: November 2022

The study aim was to develop an intravesical delivery system of quercetin for bladder cancer management in order to improve drug efficacy, attain a controlled release profile and extend the residence time inside the bladder. Either uncoated or chitosan coated quercetin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were prepared and evaluated in terms of colloidal, morphological and thermal characteristics. Drug encapsulation efficiency and its release behaviour were assessed. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of SLNs on T-24 cells was evaluated. Ex vivo studies were carried out using bovine bladder mucosa. Spherical SLNs (≈250 nm) ensured good entrapment efficiencies (EE > 97%) and sustained drug release up to 142 h. Cytotoxicity profile revealed concentration-dependent toxicity recording an IC50 in the range of 1.6–8.9 μg/mL quercetin. SLNs were further dispersed in in situ hydrogels comprising poloxamer 407 (20%) with mucoadhesive polymers. In situ gels exhibited acceptable gelation temperatures (around 25 °C) and long erosion time (24–27 h). SLNs loaded gels displayed remarkably enhanced retention on bladder tissues relative to SLNs dispersions. Coated SLNs exhibited better penetration abilities compared to uncoated ones, while coated SLNs dispersed in gel (G10C-St-QCT-SLNs-2) showed the highest penetration up to 350 μm. Hence, G10C-St-QCT-SLNs-2 could be considered as a platform for intravesical quercetin delivery.
Probing Pharmaceutical Strategies to Promote the Skin Delivery of Asiatic Acid from Hydrogels: Enhancement Effects of Organic Amine Counterions, Chemical Enhancers, and Microneedle Pretreatment
Authors: Li Mingming , Wang Qiuyue , Chen Naiying , Yao Sicheng , Sun Xinxing , Quan Peng , Chen Yang
Published: November 2022

Asiatic acid (AA) is a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Centella asiatica, holding great promise for treating a variety of skin disorders. However, the dermal application of AA is limited by its poor solubility and permeability. This study aimed to identify a hydrogel formulation for AA and improve its skin penetration by various penetration enhancement methods. Four kinds of hydrogel bases were selected to prepare the AA hydrogel, in which different organic amines and chemical enhancers were incorporated in combination with microneedle pretreatment. The results showed that AA had good release profiles in the presence of hyaluronic acid as the hydrogel base and organic amines as the counter-ions. Diethylamine and Span 80 could promote drug penetration into the skin, and pretreatment with microneedles could further increase the drug permeability. In conclusion, the optimized hyaluronic acid hydrogel has great potential for use in the topical delivery of AA, and its penetration via the skin can be further improved by different pharmaceutical approaches.
Bioadhesive Tannic-Acid-Functionalized Zein Coating Achieves Engineered Colonic Delivery of IBD Therapeutics via Reservoir Microdevices
Authors: Kamguyan Khorshid , Kjeldsen Rolf Bech , Moghaddam Saeed Zajforoushan , Nielsen Melanie Randahl , Thormann Esben , Zór Kinga , Nielsen Line Hagner , Boisen Anja
Published: November 2022

The biggest challenge in oral delivery of anti-inflammatory drugs such as 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is to (i) prevent rapid absorption in the small intestine and (ii) achieve localized release at the site of inflammation in the lower gut, i.e., the colon. Here, we present an advanced biopolymeric coating comprising of tannic-acid-functionalized zein protein to provide a sustained, colon-targeted release profile for 5-ASA and enhance the mucoadhesion of the dosage form via a mussel-inspired mechanism. To enable localized delivery and provide high local concentration, 5-ASA is loaded into the microfabricated drug carriers (microcontainers) and sealed with the developed coating. The functionality and drug release profile of the coating are characterized and optimized in vitro, showing great tunability, scalability, and stability toward proteases. Further, ex vivo experiments demonstrate that the tannic acid functionalization can significantly enhance the mucoadhesion of the coating, which is followed up by in vivo investigations on the intestinal retention, and pharmacokinetic evaluation of the 5-ASA delivery system. Results indicate that the developed coating can provide prolonged colonic delivery of 5-ASA. Therefore, the here-developed biodegradable coating can be an eco-friendly substitute to the state-of-the-art commercial counterparts for targeted delivery of 5-ASA and other small molecule drugs.
Upcycling Polystyrene
Authors: Capricho Jaworski C. , Prasad Krishnamurthy , Hameed Nishar , Nikzad Mostafa , Salim Nisa
Published: November 2022

Several environmental and techno-economic assessments highlighted the advantage of placing polystyrene-based materials in a circular loop, from production to waste generation to product refabrication, either following the mechanical or thermochemical routes. This review provides an assortment of promising approaches to solving the dilemma of polystyrene waste. With a focus on upcycling technologies available in the last five years, the review first gives an overview of polystyrene, its chemistry, types, forms, and varied applications. This work presents all the stages that involve polystyrene’s cycle of life and the properties that make this product, in mixtures with other polymers, command a demand on the market. The features and mechanical performance of the studied materials with their associated images give an idea of the influence of recycling on the structure. Notably, technological assessments of elucidated approaches are also provided. No single approach can be mentioned as effective per se; hybrid technologies appear to possess the highest potential. Finally, this review correlates the amenability of these polystyrene upcycling methodologies to frontier technologies relating to 3D printing, human space habitation, flow chemistry, vertical farming, and green hydrogen, which may be less intuitive to many.
Optimal Surface Pre-Reacted Glass Filler Ratio in a Dental Varnish Effective for Inhibition of Biofilm-Induced Root Dentin Demineralization
Authors: Murtuza Syed Ali , Matin Khairul , Hiraishi Noriko , Shimada Yasushi
Published: November 2022

A unique type of dental varnish (DV) containing surface pre-reacted glass (S-PRG) fillers of different concentrations was evaluated to determine the unpresented optimal ratio for inhibiting root dentin bio-demineralization. S-PRG DVs (10% to 40%)—10%-S, 20%-S, 30%-S, and 40%-S—were applied to bovine root dentin blocks and compared with controls—0%-f (no S-PRG) and 5%-NaF (5%-NaF). The Streptococcus mutans biofilm challenge was executed inside and outside an oral biofilm reactor for 7 days. The specimens were examined using a confocal laser scanning microscope and swept-source optical coherence tomography. Furthermore, they were observed using a scanning electron microscope and analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The roughness (SzJIS) due to leaching of DV materials and demineralization depth were significantly less in the S-PRG groups than the control groups (p < 0.05). Complete or partially plugged dentinal tubules (DTs) were observed in 20%-S, 30%-S, and 40%-S, while wide-open DTs were observed more in controls. Cylindrical tags were present in groups containing more than 20% S-PRG. F, Na, Al, and Sr were detected in a higher percentile ratio in the 20%-S, 30%-S, and 40%-S groups compared to 0%-f and 10%-S. Nonetheless, it is suggested that incorporating 20% to 30% S-PRG fillers in DVs would be effective enough as an anti-demineralization coating, together with supplementing minerals; further evaluation is required to validate these findings.
Height-to-Diameter Ratio and Porosity Strongly Influence Bulk Compressive Mechanical Properties of 3D-Printed Polymer Scaffolds
Authors: Contreras Raggio José I. , Arancibia Carlos Toro , Millán Carola , Ploeg Heidi-Lynn , Aiyangar Ameet , Vivanco Juan F.
Published: November 2022

Although the architectural design parameters of 3D-printed polymer-based scaffolds—porosity, height-to-diameter (H/D) ratio and pore size—are significant determinants of their mechanical integrity, their impact has not been explicitly discussed when reporting bulk mechanical properties. Controlled architectures were designed by systematically varying porosity (30–75%, H/D ratio (0.5–2.0) and pore size (0.25–1.0 mm) and fabricated using fused filament fabrication technique. The influence of the three parameters on compressive mechanical properties—apparent elastic modulus Eapp, bulk yield stress σy and yield strain εy—were investigated through a multiple linear regression analysis. H/D ratio and porosity exhibited strong influence on the mechanical behavior, resulting in variations in mean Eapp of 60% and 95%, respectively. σy was comparatively less sensitive to H/D ratio over the range investigated in this study, with 15% variation in mean values. In contrast, porosity resulted in almost 100% variation in mean σy values. Pore size was not a significant factor for mechanical behavior, although it is a critical factor in the biological behavior of the scaffolds. Quantifying the influence of porosity, H/D ratio and pore size on bench-top tested bulk mechanical properties can help optimize the development of bone scaffolds from a biomechanical perspective.
Development of Bioactive Opuntia ficus-indica Edible Films Containing Probiotics as a Coating for Fresh-Cut Fruit
Authors: Todhanakasem Tatsaporn , Boonchuai Pratana , Itsarangkoon Na Ayutthaya Pavarunya , Suwapanich Rachit , Hararak Bongkot , Wu Bo , Young Briana M.
Published: November 2022

Bioactive edible films have received more attention in recent years as a method for food preservation with value-added functions. The aim of this study was to develop a bioactive edible film containing mucilage of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) and incorporating the probiotic strain Enterococcus faecium FM11-2 as an active component to promote consumer health benefits. Opuntia ficus-indica is rich in nutritional and bioactive compounds and the abundance of this cactus makes it attractive for food applications. Mucilage of Opuntia ficus-indica contained 0.47 ± 0.06 mg/g total sugar, 0.33 ± 0.06 mg AGE/mL phenolic content, 0.14 mg/ mL vitamin C, and possessed 35.51 ± 1.88% DPPH scavenging activity. The edible film that was developed exhibited the following characteristics: thickness of 0.02–0.11 mm, percent moisture content 0.19–0.24%, water solubility 30.66–59.41% and water vapor permeability of 0.15–1.5 g·mm/m2·min·kpa, while the range of the variation depended on the type of plasticizer used (either sorbitol or glycerol). The addition of sorbitol in the film provided the maximum mechanical strength based on the evaluation of tensile strength, Young’s modulus and elongation at break (44.71 ± 0.78 MPa, 113.22 ± 0.23 MPa and 39.47 ± 0.61%, respectively). The optimal formulation of the edible film, according to the physicochemical, physical and maintenance of fresh-cut apple slices, contained cactus mucilage, gelatin, glycerol and a probiotic. The incorporation of a probiotic into the cactus film created a bioactive edible film that could provide a health benefit. While improvement is needed to maintain the survival rate of the probiotic, this work presents an exciting method for furthering the study of food preservation with edible films.
Temperature Controlled Mechanical Reinforcement of Polyacrylate Films Containing Nematic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Zair Latifa , Berrayah Abdelkader , Arabeche Khadidja , Bouberka Zohra , Best Andreas , Koynov Kaloian , Maschke Ulrich
Published: November 2022

This investigation reports on the thermomechanical properties of Poly-tripropyleneglycoldiacrylate (Poly-TPGDA)/liquid crystal (LC) blends, developed via free radical polymerization processes, which are induced by Electron Beam (EB) and Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The EB-cured Poly-TPGDA network exhibits a higher glass transition temperature (Tg), a higher tensile storage, and Young moduli than the corresponding UV-cured sample, indicating a lower elasticity and a shorter distance between the two adjacent crosslinking points. Above Tg of Poly-TPGDA/LC blends, the LC behaves as a plasticizing agent, whereas, for EB-cured networks, at temperatures below Tg, the LC shows a strong temperature dependence on the storage tensile modulus: the LC reinforces the polymer due to the presence of nano-sized phase separated glassy LC domains, confirmed by electron microscopy observations. In the case of the UV-cured TPGDA/LC system, the plasticizing effect of the LC remains dominant in both the whole composition and the temperature ranges explored. The rubber elasticity and Tg of Poly-TPGDA/LC films were investigated using mechanical measurements.
Development of Water Repellent, Non-Friable Tannin-Furanic-Fatty Acids Biofoams
Authors: Azadeh Elham , Abdullah Ummi Hani , Ali Nurul Basirah Md , Pizzi Antonio , Gerardin-Charbonnier Christine , Gerardin Philippe , Samiun Wan Sarah , Ashari Siti Efliza
Published: November 2022

Tannin-furanic foams were prepared with a good yield using the addition of relatively small proportions of a polyflavonoid tannin extract esterified with either palmitic acid, oleic acid, or lauric acid by its reaction with palmitoyl chloride, oleyl chloride, or lauryl chloride. FTIR analysis allowed us to ascertain the esterification of the tannin, and MALDI-TOF analysis allowed us to identify a number of multi-esterified flavonoid oligomers as well as some linked to residual carbohydrates related to the equally esterified tannin. These foams presented a markedly decreased surface friability or no friability at all, and at densities lower than the standard foam they were compared to. Equally, these experimental foams presented a much-improved water repellence, as indicated by their initial wetting angle, its small variation over time, and its stabilization at a high wetting angle value, while the wetting angle of the standard foam control went to zero very rapidly. This conclusion was supported by the calculation of the total surface energy of their surfaces as well as of their dispersive and polar components.
Phenomenology and Transcendence: On Openness and Metaphysics in Husserl and Heidegger
Authors: Cassara Bruno
Published: November 2022

In this paper I examine the relationship between phenomenology and metaphysics by reassessing the relationship between phenomenological and metaphysical transcendence. More specifically, I examine the notion of phenomenological transcendence in Husserl and the early Heidegger: Husserl defines transcendence primarily as the mode of givenness of phenomena that do not appear all at once, but must be given in partial profiles; Heidegger defines transcendence primarily as Dasein’s capacity to go beyond entities toward being. I argue that these divergent understandings of phenomenological transcendence have resulted in a significant difference in reception among French phenomenologists of religion. These thinkers assert that phenomenology, when properly conceived and utilized, can make room for the divine and its revelation, i.e., for a metaphysical transcendence. I further argue that these thinkers prefer Heidegger’s phenomenology to Husserl’s because they understand Heidegger’s transcendence as the subject’s openness to being, while they understand Husserl’s transcendence as a limit, as the inability to capture worldly objects. I take up Jean-Luc Marion’s phenomenology of givenness as a “case study” to illustrate this point. Finally, I argue that this preference for Heidegger over Husserl is misplaced and should be reversed. A close reading of Heidegger’s Phenomenology of Religious Life shows that Dasein is confined to its own possibilities and cannot be open to a relationship with the divine. By contrast, Husserl’s phenomenology provides the radical openness necessary to welcome revelation. While Husserl cannot envision a “worldly God,” the structures of horizonality and temporality characterize a subject capable of an authentic openness to revelation.
Sea-Crossing Bridge Detection in Polarimetric SAR Images Based on Windowed Level Set Segmentation and Polarization Parameter Discrimination
Authors: Liu Chun , Li Chao , Yang Jian , Hu Liping
Published: November 2022

As sea-crossing bridges are important hubs connecting separated land areas, their detection in SAR images is of great significance. However, under complex scenarios, the sea surface conditions, the distribution of coastal terrain morphologies, and the scattering components of different structures in the bridge area are very complex and diverse, which makes the accurate and robust detection of sea-crossing bridges difficult, including the sea–land segmentation and bridge feature extraction on which the detection depends. In this paper, we propose a polarimetric SAR image detection method for sea-crossing bridges based on windowed level set segmentation and polarization parameter discrimination. Firstly, the sea and land are segmented by a proposed windowed level set segmentation method, which replaces the construction of the level set segmentation energy function based on the isolated pixel distribution with a joint distribution of pixels in a certain window region. Secondly, water regions of interest are extracted by a proposed water region merging algorithm combining the distances of the water contour and polarization similarity parameter. Finally, the bridge regions of interest (ROIs) are extracted by merging close water contours, and the ROIs are discriminated by the polarimetric parameters of the polarization entropy and scattering angle. Experimental results using multiple AirSAR, RADARSAT-2, and TerraSAR-X quad-polarization SAR data from the coastal areas of San Francisco in the USA, Singapore, and Fuzhou, Fujian, and Zhanjiang, Guangdong, in China show that the proposed method can achieve 100% detection of sea-crossing bridges in different bands for different scenes, and the accuracy of the intersection of the ground-truth (IoG) index of bridge body recognition can reach more than 85%. The proposed method can improve the detection rate and reduce the false alarm rate compared with the traditional spatial-based method.
Classification of Radar Targets with Micro-Motion Based on RCS Sequences Encoding and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Xu Xuguang , Feng Cunqian , Han Lixun
Published: November 2022

Radar cross section (RCS) sequences, an easy-to-obtain target feature with small data volume, play a significant role in radar target classification. However, radar target classification based on RCS sequences has the shortcomings of limited information and low recognition accuracy. In order to overcome the shortcomings of RCS-based methods, this paper proposes a spatial micro-motion target classification method based on RCS sequences encoding and convolutional neural network (CNN). First, we establish the micro-motion models of spatial targets, including precession, swing and rolling. Second, we introduce three approaches for encoding RCS sequences as images. These three types of images are Gramian angular field (GAF), Markov transition field (MTF) and recurrence plot (RP). Third, a multi-scale CNN is developed to classify those RCS feature maps. Finally, the experimental results demonstrate that RP is best at reflecting the characteristics of the target among those three encoding methods. Moreover, the proposed network outperforms other existing networks with the highest classification accuracy.
A Multi-Path Encoder Network for GPR Data Inversion to Improve Defect Detection in Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Wang Yuanzheng , Qin Hui , Miao Feng
Published: November 2022

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has been extensively used in the routine inspection of reinforced concrete structures. However, the signatures in GPR images are reflected electromagnetic waves rather than their actual shapes. The interpretation of GPR data is a mandatory but time- and labor-consuming task. Furthermore, the rebars in the near-surface of concrete cause clutter in the GPR images, which hinders the interpretation of GPR data. This work presents a deep learning network to invert GPR B-scan images to permittivity maps of subsurface structures. The proposed network has a multi-path encoder which enables the network to leverage three kinds of GPR data: the original, migrated, and encoder–decoder-processed GPR data. Each type of processing method is designed to serve a different purpose: the original GPR images retain all the waveforms; the migration method intensifies the vertices of the subsurface anomalies; the encoder–decoder network suppresses rebar clutter and enhances the visibility of the defect echoes. The outputs of three processing methods are jointly used to interpret GPR B-scan images. We demonstrated the superiority of the proposed network by comparing it with a network with a single-path encoder. We also validated the proposed network with synthetic and experimental GPR data. The results indicate that the proposed network effectively reconstructs the defects in the reinforced concrete.
Distance Measures of Polarimetric SAR Image Data: A Survey
Authors: Qin Xianxiang , Zhang Yanning , Li Ying , Cheng Yinglei , Yu Wangsheng , Wang Peng , Zou Huanxin
Published: November 2022

Distance measure plays a critical role in various applications of polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) image data. In recent decades, plenty of distance measures have been developed for PolSAR image data from different perspectives, which, however, have not been well analyzed and summarized. In order to make better use of these distance measures in algorithm design, this paper provides a systematic survey of them and analyzes their relations in detail. We divide these distance measures into five main categories (i.e., the norm distances, geodesic distances, maximum likelihood (ML) distances, generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) distances, stochastics distances) and two other categories (i.e., the inter-patch distances and those based on metric learning). Furthermore, we analyze the relations between different distance measures and visualize them with graphs to make them clearer. Moreover, some properties of the main distance measures are discussed, and some advice for choosing distances in algorithm design is also provided. This survey can serve as a reference for researchers in PolSAR image processing, analysis, and related fields.
A Fast and Robust Heterologous Image Matching Method for Visual Geo-Localization of Low-Altitude UAVs
Authors: Sui Haigang , Li Jiajie , Lei Junfeng , Liu Chang , Gou Guohua
Published: November 2022

Visual geo-localization can achieve UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) position during GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) denial or restriction. However, The performance of visual geo-localization is seriously impaired by illumination variation, different scales, viewpoint difference, spare texture, and computer power of UAVs, etc. In this paper, a fast detector-free two-stage matching method is proposed to improve the visual geo-localization of low-altitude UAVs. A detector-free matching method and perspective transformation module are incorporated into the coarse and fine matching stages to improve the robustness of the weak texture and viewpoint data. The minimum Euclidean distance is used to accelerate the coarse matching, and the coordinate regression based on DSNT (Differentiable Spatial to Numerical) transform is used to improve the fine matching accuracy respectively. The experimental results show that the average localization precision of the proposed method is 2.24 m, which is 0.33 m higher than that of the current typical matching methods. In addition, this method has obvious advantages in localization robustness and inference efficiency on Jetson Xavier NX, which completed to match and localize all images in the dataset while the localization frequency reached the best.
Predicting Nitrogen Efficiencies in Mature Maize with Parametric Models Employing In-Season Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Olson Monica B. , Crawford Melba M. , Vyn Tony J.
Published: November 2022

Overuse of nitrogen (N), an essential nutrient in food production systems, can lead to health issues and environmental degradation. Two parameters related to N efficiency, N Conversion Efficiency (NCE) and N Internal Efficiency (NIE), measure the amount of total biomass or grain produced, respectively, per unit of N in the plant. Utilizing remote sensing to improve these efficiency measures may positively impact the stewardship of agricultural N use in maize (Zea mays L.) production. We investigated in-season hyperspectral imaging for prediction of end-season whole-plant N concentration (pN), NCE, and NIE, using partial least squares regression (PLSR) models. Image data were collected at two mid-season growth stages (V16/V18 and R1/R2) from manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles for three site years of 5 to 9 maize hybrids grown under 3 N treatments and 2 planting densities. PLSR models resulted in accurate predictions for pN at R6 (R2 = 0.73; R2 = 0.68) and NCE at R6 (R2 = 0.71; R2 = 0.73) from both imaging times. Additionally, the PLSR models based on the R1 images, the second imaging, accurately distinguished the highest and lowest ranked hybrids for pN and NCE across N rates. Neither timepoint resulted in accurate predictions for NIE. Genotype selection efficiency for end-season pN and NCE was increased through the use of the in-season PLSR imaging models, potentially benefiting early breeding screening methods.
Evaluating Satellite-Observed Ecosystem Function Changes and the Interaction with Drought in Songnen Plain, Northeast China
Authors: Li Haiyan , Huang Fang , Hong Xiuchao , Wang Ping
Published: November 2022

Drought is considered one of the devastating natural disasters worldwide. In the context of global climate change, the frequency and intensity of drought have increased, thereby affecting terrestrial ecosystems. To date, the interactions between ecosystem change and drought, especially their mutual lag and cumulative effects is unclear. The Songnen Plain in northeastern China is one of the three major black soil areas in the world and is highly sensitive to global change. Herein, to quantify the interaction between drought and ecosystem function changes in the Songnen Plain, integrating with time-series moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), leaf area Index (LAI), evapotranspiration (ET), and gross primary productivity (GPP) data, we calculated the standardized precipitation and evapotranspiration index (SPEI) based on the meteorological data, diagnosed the causal relationship between SPEI and the ecosystem function indicators i.e., LAI, ET, and GPP, and analyzed the time-lag and cumulative effects between the degree of drought and three ecosystem function indicators using impulse response analysis. The results showed that the trend of SPEI (2000–2020) was positive in the Songnen Plain, indicating that the drought extent had eased towards wetness. LAI showed insignificant changes (taking up 88.34% of the total area), except for the decrease in LAI found in some forestland and grassland, accounting for 9.43%. The pixels showing a positive trend of ET and GPP occupied 24.86% and 54.94%, respectively. The numbers of pixels with Granger causality between LAI and SPEI (32.31%), SPEI and GPP (52.8%) were greater at the significance 0.05 level. Impulse responses between each variable pair were stronger mainly between the 6th and 8th months, but differed significantly between vegetation types. Grassland and cropland were more susceptible to drought than forest. The cumulative impulse response coefficients values indicated that the mutual impacts between all variables were mainly positive. The increased wetness positively contributed to ecosystem function, and in turn enhanced ecosystem function improved regional drought conditions to some extent. However, in the northeastern forest areas, the SPEI showed a significant negative response to increased ET and GPP, suggesting that the improved physiological functions of forest might lead to regional drought. There were regional differences in the interaction between drought conditions and ecosystem function in the Songnen Plain over the past 21 years.
A Novel Echo Separation Scheme for Space-Time Waveform-Encoding SAR Based on the Second-Order Cone Programming (SOCP) Beamformer
Authors: Han Shuo , Deng Yunkai , Wang Wei , Zhao Qingchao , Qiu Jinsong , Zhang Yongwei , Chen Zhen
Published: November 2022

Space-time waveform-encoding (STWE)-synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is an effective way to accomplish high-resolution and wide-swath (HRWS) imaging. By designing the specific signal transmit mode, the echoes from several subswaths are received within a single receiving window and overlap each other in STWE-SAR. In order to separate the overlapped echoes, the linear-constrained minimum variance (LCMV) beamformer, a single-null beamformer, is typically used. However, the LCMV beamformer has a very narrow and unstable notch depth, which is not sufficient to accurately separate the overlapped echoes with large signal energy differences between subswaths. The issue of signal energy differences in STWE-SAR is first raised in this paper. Moreover, a novel echo separation scheme based on a second-order cone programming (SOCP) beamformer is proposed. The beam pattern generated by the SOCP beamformer allows flexible adjustment of the notch width and depth, which effectively improves the quality of separation results compared to the LCMV beamformer. The simulation results illustrate that the scheme can greatly enhance the performance of echo separation. Furthermore, the experimental results based on the X-band STWE-SAR airborne system not only demonstrate the scheme’s effectiveness but also indicate that it holds great promise for future STWE-SAR missions.
V2X Communication between Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Authors: Kavas-Torris Ozgenur , Gelbal Sukru Yaren , Cantas Mustafa Ridvan , Aksun Guvenc Bilin , Guvenc Levent
Published: November 2022

Connectivity between ground vehicles can be utilized and expanded to include aerial vehicles for coordinated missions. Using Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technologies, a communication link can be established between Connected and Autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAVs). Hardware implementation and testing of a ground-to-air communication link are crucial for real-life applications. In this paper, the V2X communication and coordinated mission of a CAV & UAV are presented. Four methods were utilized to establish communication between the hardware and software components, namely Dedicated Short Range communication (DSRC), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), 4G internet-based WebSocket and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). These communication links were used together for a real-life use case scenario called Quick Clear demonstration. In this scenario, the first aim was to send the accident location information from the CAV to the UAV through DSRC communication. On the UAV side, the wired connection between the DSRC modem and Raspberry Pi companion computer was established through UDP to get the accident location from CAV to the companion computer. Raspberry Pi first connected to a traffic contingency management system (CMP) through TCP to send CAV and UAV location, as well as the accident location, information to the CMP. Raspberry Pi also utilized WebSocket communication to connect to a web server to send photos that were taken by the camera that was mounted on the UAV. The Quick Clear demonstration scenario was tested for both a stationary test and dynamic flight cases. The latency results show satisfactory performance in the data transfer speed between test components with UDP having the least latency. The package drop percentage analysis shows that the DSRC communication showed the best performance among the four methods studied here. All in all, the outcome of this experimentation study shows that this communication structure can be utilized for real-life scenarios for successful implementation.
Sensor Actuator Network for In Situ Studies of Antarctic Plants Physiology
Authors: Herman Krzysztof , Montanares Mauricio , Bravo Leon , Plenzler Joanna
Published: November 2022

This article documents a custom sensor–actuator network designed and implemented as a part of experimental setup, where a long-term phenological response of antarctic plants is studied. The first part of our work presents the context of the study, reports experimental methods used in antarctic plant field studies, and characterizes the environmental conditions and logistics facilities available on the measurement spot. After contextualization of the research, we present, in detail, both the network itself and some results obtained during the Antarctic summer seasons between 2019 and 2022 on the King George Island, South Shetlands. The results collected with our network and correlated with selected data registered with a reference automatic meteorological station reveal the thermal plants response. The groups of plants individuals, which were actively warmed using thermal actuators, show the nighttime temperature difference, in reference to the air temperature, of 5 ∘C, which complements the daytime difference caused by the passive method of open top chamber (OTC) used in previous studies carried out in the same localization.
ERCP: Energy-Efficient and Reliable-Aware Clustering Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: El-Fouly Fatma H. , Khedr Ahmed Y. , Sharif Md. Haidar , Alreshidi Eissa Jaber , Yadav Kusum , Kusetogullari Huseyin , Ramadan Rabie A.
Published: November 2022

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have been around for over a decade and have been used in many important applications. Energy and reliability are two of the major problems with these kinds of applications. Reliable data delivery is an important issue in WSNs because it is a key part of how well data are sent. At the same time, energy consumption in battery-based sensors is another challenge. Therefore, efficient clustering and routing are techniques that can be used to save sensors energy and guarantee reliable message delivery. With this in mind, this paper develops an energy-efficient and reliable clustering protocol (ERCP) for WSNs. First, an efficient clustering technique is proposed for sensor nodes’ energy savings considering different clustering parameters, including the link quality metric, the energy, the distance to neighbors, the distance to the sink node, and the cluster load metric. The proposed routing protocol works based on the concept of a reliable inter-cluster routing technique that saves energy. The routing decisions are made based on different parameters, such as the energy balance metric, the distance to the sink node, and the wireless link quality. Many experiments and analyses are examined to determine how well the ERCP performs. The experiment results showed that the ECRP protocol performs much better than some of the recent algorithms in both homogeneous and heterogeneous networks.
High-Performance Siamese Network for Real-Time Tracking
Authors: Du Guocai , Zhou Peiyong , Abudurexiti Ruxianguli , Mahpirat  , Aysa Alimjan , Ubul Kurban
Published: November 2022

Target tracking algorithms based on deep learning have achieved good results in public datasets. Among them, the network tracking algorithm based on Siamese tracking has a high accuracy and fast speed, which has attracted significant attention. However, the Siamese tracker uses the AlexNet network as its backbone and the network layers are relatively shallow, so it does not make full use of the ability of the deep neural network. If only the backbones of target tracking are replaced, there will be no obvious improvement, such as in the cases of ResNet and Inception. Therefore, this paper designs a wider and deeper network structure. At a wider level, a mechanism that can adaptively adjust the receptive field (RF) size is designed. Firstly, multiple branches are divided by the split operator, and each branch has a different size of kernel corresponding to a different size of RF; then, the fuse operator is used to fuse the information of each branch to obtain the selection weights; and finally, according to the selection, the aggregation feature map is weighted. At a deeper level, a new kind of residual models is designed. The channel is simplified by pruning in order to improve the tracking speed. According to the above, a wider and deeper Siamese network was proposed in this paper. The experimental results show that the structure proposed in this paper achieves a good tracking effect and real-time performance on six kinds of datasets. The proposed tracker achieves an SUC and Prec of LaSOT of 0.569 and 0.571, respectively.
Wearable Healthcare Monitoring Based on a Microfluidic Electrochemical Integrated Device for Sensing Glucose in Natural Sweat
Authors: Noura Zouaghi , Shah Imran , Aziz Shahid , Ahmed Aamouche , Jung Dong-Won , Brahim Lakssir , ElMostafa Ressami
Published: November 2022

Wearable sweat sensors offer the possibility of continuous real-time health monitoring of an individual at a low cost without invasion. A variety of sweat glucose sensors have been developed thus far to help diabetes patients frequently monitor blood glucose levels through sweat glucose as a surrogate marker. The present study demonstrates the development and characterization of a three-dimensional paper-based microfluidic electrochemical integrated device (3D PMED) for measuring glucose concentration in sweat in real-time via simple, non-invasive, capillary-action-based sample collection. The device was selective for glucose, and it detected glucose accurately in the clinically relevant range (0~2 mM) in an off-body setup. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time NEXAR™ has been used for biosensing applications. Further, the developed glucose sensor has acceptable sensitivity of 16.8 µA/mM/cm2. Importantly, in an on-body setup, the device achieved a significant amperometric response to sweat glucose in a very short amount of time (a few seconds). With detailed investigations, this proof-of-concept study could help further the development of sensitive and selective sweat-based glucose sensing devices for real-time glucose monitoring in diabetes patients.
Comparison of Oxytocin vs. Carbetocin Uterotonic Activity after Caesarean Delivery Assessed by Electrohysterography: A Randomised Trial
Authors: Paljk Likar Ivana , Becic Emra , Pezdirc Neza , Gersak Ksenija , Lucovnik Miha , Trojner Bregar Andreja
Published: November 2022

Electrohysterography has been used for monitoring uterine contractility in pregnancy and labour. Effective uterine contractility is crucial for preventing postpartum haemorrhage. The objective of our study was to compare postpartum electrohysterograms in women receiving oxytocin vs. carbetocin for postpartum haemorrhage prevention after caesarean delivery. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT04201665. We included 64 healthy women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at term scheduled for caesarean section after one previous caesarean section. After surgery, a 15 min electrohysterogram was obtained after which women were randomised to receive either five IU of oxytocin intravenously or 100 μg of carbetocin intramuscularly. A 30 min electrohysterogram was performed two hours after drug application. Changes in power density spectrum peak frequency of electrohysterogram pseudo-bursts were analysed. A significant reduction in power density spectrum peak frequency in the first two hours was observed after carbetocin but not after oxytocin (median = 0.07 (interquartile range (IQR): 0.87 Hz) compared to median = −0.63 (IQR: 0.20) Hz; p = 0.004). Electrohysterography can be used for objective comparison of uterotonic effects. We found significantly higher power density spectrum peak frequency two hours after oxytocin compared to carbetocin.
The Neuromuscular Fatigue-Induced Loss of Muscle Force Control
Authors: Pethick Jamie , Tallent Jamie
Published: November 2022

Neuromuscular fatigue is characterised not only by a reduction in the capacity to generate maximal muscle force, but also in the ability to control submaximal muscle forces, i.e., to generate task-relevant and precise levels of force. This decreased ability to control force is quantified according to a greater magnitude and lower complexity (temporal structure) of force fluctuations, which are indicative of decreased force steadiness and adaptability, respectively. The “loss of force control” is affected by the type of muscle contraction used in the fatiguing exercise, potentially differing between typical laboratory tests of fatigue (e.g., isometric contractions) and the contractions typical of everyday and sporting movements (e.g., dynamic concentric and eccentric contractions), and can be attenuated through the use of ergogenic aids. The loss of force control appears to relate to a fatigue-induced increase in common synaptic input to muscle, though the extent to which various mechanisms (afferent feedback, neuromodulatory pathways, cortical/reticulospinal pathways) contribute to this remains to be determined. Importantly, this fatigue-induced loss of force control could have important implications for task performance, as force control is correlated with performance in a range of tasks that are associated with activities of daily living, occupational duties, and sporting performance.
Remote Sensing Data for Geological Mapping in the Saka Region in Northeast Morocco: An Integrated Approach
Authors: Elaaraj Abdallah , Lhachmi Ali , Tabyaoui Hassan , Alitane Abdennabi , Varasano Antonietta , Hitouri Sliman , El Yousfi Yassine , Mohajane Meriame , Essahlaoui Narjisse , Gueddari Hicham , Pham Quoc Bao , Mobarik Fatine , Essahlaoui Ali
Published: November 2022

Together with geological survey data, satellite imagery provides useful information for geological mapping. In this context, the aim of this study is to map geological units of the Saka region, situated in the northeast part of Morocco based on Landsat Oli-8 and ASTER images. Specifically, this study aims to: (1) map the lithological facies of the Saka volcanic zone, (2) discriminate the different minerals using Landsat Oli-8 and ASTER imagery, and (3) validate the results with field observations and geological maps. To do so, in this study we used different techniques to achieve the above objectives including color composition (CC), band ratio (BR), minimum noise fraction (MNF), principal component analysis (PCA), and spectral angle mapper (SAM) classification. The results obtained show good discrimination between the different lithological facies, which is confirmed by the supervised classification of the images and validated by field missions and the geological map with a scale of 1/500,000. The classification results show that the study area is dominated by Basaltic rocks, followed by Trachy andesites then Hawaites. These rocks are encased by quaternary sedimentary rocks and an abundance of Quartz, Feldspar, Pyroxene, and Amphibole minerals.