bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modulating Fermentative, Varietal and Aging Aromas of Wine Using non-Saccharomyces Yeasts in a Sequential Inoculation Approach
Authors: Oliveira Inês , Ferreira Vicente
Published: June 2019

The goal of this study is to assess to what extent non-Saccharomyces yeasts can introduce aromatic changes of industrial interest in fermentative, varietal and aged aromas of wine. Aroma precursors from Riesling and Garnacha grapes were extracted and used in two independent sequential experiments. Synthetic musts were inoculated, either with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc) or with Pichia kluyveri (Pk), Torulaspora delbrueckii (Td) or Lachancea thermotolerans (Lt), followed by Sc. The fermented samples were subjected to anoxic aging at 50 °C for 0, 1, 2 or 5 weeks before an aroma analysis. The fermentative aroma profiles were consistently changed by non-Saccharomyces: all strains induced smaller levels of isoamyl alcohol; Pk produced huge levels of aromatic acetates and can induce high levels of fatty acids (FA) and their ethyl esters (EE); Td produced large levels of branched acids and of their EE after aging, and induced smaller levels of FA and their EE; Lt produced reduced levels of FA and their EE. The varietal aroma was also deeply affected: TDN (1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2- dihydronaphthalene) levels in aged wines were reduced by Pk and enhanced by Lt in Garnacha; the levels of vinylphenols can be much reduced, particularly by Lt and Pk. TD and Lt can increase linalool and geraniol in young, but not in aged wines.
Mechanochemical Treatment to Remove Arsenic from Copper Ore
Authors: Ishihara Shingo , Shinoda Kozo , Kano Junya
Published: June 2019

This study tested the removal of arsenic from copper ore concentrate via a mechanochemical treatment by planetary ball milling. The harmful components of ore, such as arsenic, are increasing year by year and decreasing the copper grade, therefore there is a strong need to improve the separation of arsenic from copper ore. The effect of grinding as a result of chemical activation caused by mechanochemical treatment was evaluated by XRD and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements. From the results of the XRD analysis, several crystalline minerals were identified from the original samples. The diffraction peaks of the original samples were reduced by grinding, although grinding did not generate any new diffraction peaks. The comparison of the results of grinding in dry and wet conditions showed that the rate of disappearance of the crystalline minerals was faster in dry grinding than in wet grinding. To clarify the chemical state of arsenic in copper ore, XAS analysis was carried out. The results indicated that the arsenic compound changed from sulfide, in the original sample, to oxide after grinding. As a result of oxidation, the arsenic was easy to dissolve in a water and alkaline solution, and optimized dry and wet grinding conditions achieved up to 76% arsenic removal efficiency.
Inhibitory Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Root Extract on Linoleic Acid Hydroperoxide-induced Lung Mitochondrial Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Liau Pei Ru , Wu Ming Shun , Lee Ching Kuo
Published: June 2019

In this study, we evaluated the ability of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi to protect lipid-peroxidation (LPO) in lung tissue after free radical-induced injury. We prepared S. baicalensis root (SBR) extracts using different solvents. The total flavonoid and total phenol contents of each extract were measured, and the ROS damage protection was evaluated by analyzing linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LHP)-induced LPO in rat lung mitochondria. Moreover, evaluating diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging abilities and using metal chelating assays were used to determine in vitro antioxidant activity. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract showed high ROS scavenging ability, and four compounds were subsequently isolated and purified from this extract: baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, and oroxylin A. Baicalein in rat lung mitochondria the most significant LHP-induced LPO inhibition was shown and extracted with EtOAc that contained the highest amount of baicalein. Thus, baicalein and the EtOAc extract of SBR may be efficient in conferring ROS damage protection and inhibiting LHP-induced LPO in rat lung mitochondria. Additional studies are warranted to investigate their use as antioxidant therapy for respiration infections, nutrition supplements, and lead compounds in pharmaceuticals.
The Optimized Workflow for Sample Preparation in LC-MS/MS-Based Urine Proteomics
Authors: Saito Suguru , Hirao Yoshitoshi , Quadery Ali F. , Xu Bo , Elguoshy Amr , Fujinaka Hidehiko , Koma Shohei , Yamamoto Keiko , Yamamoto Tadashi
Published: June 2019

The sample condition is an important factor in urine proteomics with stability and accuracy. However, a general protocol of urine protein preparation in mass spectrometry analysis has not yet been established. Here, we proposed a workflow for optimized sample preparation based on methanol/chloroform (M/C) precipitation and in-solution trypsin digestion in LC-MS/MS-based urine proteomics. The urine proteins prepared by M/C precipitation showed around 80% of the protein recovery rate. The samples showed the largest number of identified proteins, which were over 1000 on average compared with other precipitation methods in LC-MS/MS-based urine proteomics. For further improvement of the workflow, the essences were arranged in protein dissolving and trypsin digestion step for the extraction of urine proteins. Addition of Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) dramatically enhanced the dissolution of protein and promoted the trypsin activity in the digestion step because the treatment increased the number of identified proteins with less missed cleavage sites. Eventually, an optimized workflow was established by a well-organized strategy for daily use in the LC-MS/MS-based urine proteomics. The workflow will be of great help for several aims based on urine proteomics approaches, such as diagnosis and biomarker discovery.
Performance-Enhanced 365 nm UV LEDs with Electrochemically Etched Nanoporous AlGaN Distributed Bragg Reflectors
Authors: Lu Xingdong , Li Jing , Su Kang , Ge Chang , Li Zhicong , Zhan Teng , Wang Guohong , Li Jinmin
Published: June 2019

A 365-nm UV LED was fabricated based on embedded nanoporous AlGaN distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) by electrochemical etching. The porous DBR had a reflectance of 93.5% at the central wavelength of 365 nm; this is the highest value of porous AlGaN DBRs below 370 nm which has been reported so far. An innovative two-step etching method with a SiO2 sidewall protection layer (SPL) was proposed to protect the n-AlGaN layer and active region of UV LED from being etched by the electrolyte. The DBR-LED with SPL showed 54.3% improvement of maximal external quantum efficiency (EQE) and 65.7% enhancement of optical power at 100 mA without any degeneration in electrical properties, compared with the un-etched standard LED sample. This work has paved the way for the application of electrically-pumped UV LEDs and VCSELs based on nanoporous AlGaN DBRs.
Optical Amplification in Hollow-Core Negative-Curvature Fibers Doped with Perovskite CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals
Authors: Navarro-Arenas Juan , Suárez Isaac , Martínez-Pastor Juan P. , Ferrando Albert , Gualdrón-Reyes Andrés F. , Mora-Seró Iván , Gao Shou-Fei , Wang Ying-Ying , Wang Pu , Sun Zhipei
Published: June 2019

We report a hollow-core negative-curvature fiber (HC-NCF) optical signal amplifier fabricated by the filling of the air microchannels of the fiber with all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs). The optimum fabrication conditions were found to enhance the optical gain, up to +3 dB in the best device. Experimental results were approximately reproduced by a gain assisted mechanism based on the nonlinear optical properties of the PNCs, indicating that signal regeneration can be achieved under low pump powers, much below the threshold of stimulated emission. The results can pave the road for new functionalities of the HC-NCF with PNCs, such as optical amplification, nonlinear frequency conversion and gas sensors.
Relationships between Atherosclerosis and Plasma Antioxidant Micronutrients or Red Blood Cell Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in People Living with HIV
Authors: Schwenger Katherine J. P. , Arendt Bianca M. , Smieja Marek , Ma David W. L. , Smaill Fiona , Allard Johane P.
Published: June 2019

Background: People living with human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (PLWH) are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Diet-related factors may contribute. The aim of this pilot study was to determine, in PLWH, the relationship between atherosclerosis assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and (A) plasma antioxidant micronutrients and oxidative stress or (B) red blood cell polyunsaturated fatty acids (RBC PUFA), particularly long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). Methods: (A) In a cross-sectional study, subjects had CIMT evaluated by high resolution carotid artery ultrasound. Plasma was collected for vitamin C, measured by spectrophotometry; and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, retinol, and malondialdehyde—a marker of oxidative stress—using high pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence spectrophotometry. (B) In a prospective cohort study, other subjects had RBC PUFA measured at baseline, using gas chromatography, and CIMT assessed at baseline and repeated after 2 years. Clinical data was also collected. Results: (A) 91 PLWH participated. Only alpha- and gamma-tocopherol levels were positively correlated with CIMT. In a multivariate analysis, age and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with CIMT with gamma-tocopherol near significance (p = 0.053). (B) 69 PLWH participated. At baseline, docosahexaenoic acid (n-3 PUFA) and the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid (n-6 PUFA) were significantly and negatively correlated with CIMT. However, a multivariate analysis failed to detect a significant relationship either at baseline or 2 years after. Conclusion: In addition to age and systolic blood pressure, atherosclerosis assessed by CIMT might be associated with higher serum gamma-tocopherol levels. There was a non-significant association between CIMT and RBC n-3 PUFA or the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFA.
The Source Term of the Non-Equilibrium Statistical Operator
Authors: Röpke Gerd
Published: June 2019

The method of Zubarev allows one to construct a statistical operator for the nonequilibrium. The von Neumann equation is modified introducing a source term that is considered as an infinitesimal small correction. This approach provides us with a very general and unified treatment of nonequilibrium processes. Considering as an example the electrical conductivity, we discuss the modification of the von Neumann equation to describe a stationary nonequilibrium process. The Zubarev approach has to be generalized to open quantum systems. The interaction of the system with the irrelevant degrees of freedom of the bath is globally described by the von Neumann equation with a finite source term. This is interpreted as a relaxation process to an appropriate relevant statistical operator. As an alternative, a quantum master equation can be worked out where the coupling to the bath is described by a dissipator. The production of entropy is analyzed.
Effect of a Cationic Surfactant on Microemulsion Globules and Drug Release from Hydrogel Contact Lenses
Authors: Torres-Luna Cesar , Hu Naiping , Koolivand Abdollah , Fan Xin , Zhu Yuli , Domszy Roman , Yang Jeff , Yang Arthur , Wang Nam Sun
Published: June 2019

The present study evaluates the in vitro release of diclofenac sodium (DFNa) from contact lenses based on poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) hydrogels containing an embedded microemulsion to extend release duration. The oil (ethyl butyrate)-in-water microemulsion systems are prepared with two non-ionic surfactants, Brij 97 or Tween 80, together with a long-alkyl chain cationic surfactant, cetalkonium chloride (CKC). Without CKC, Brij 97 or Tween 80-based microemulsions showed average droplet sizes of 12 nm and 18 nm, respectively. The addition of CKC decreased the average droplet sizes to 2–5 nm for both non-ionic surfactants. Such significant reduction in the average droplet size corresponds to an increase in the DFNa release duration as revealed by the in vitro experiments. Contact lens characterization showed that important properties such as optical transparency and water content of Brij 97-based contact lenses with cationic microemulsions was excellent. However, the optical transparency of the corresponding Tween 80 based contact lenses was unsatisfactory. The results indicate that cationic microemulsion-laden contact lenses can benefit from combinatory effects of microemulsions and cationic surfactant at low CKC weight percentage, e.g., with the release of 70% of the drug in 45, 10, and 7 h for B97-CKC-0.45%, CKC-0.45%, and control lenses, respectively. However, the microemulsion effect on extending DFNa release became negligible at the highest CKC weight percentage (1.8%).
Nasal Administration and Plasma Pharmacokinetics of Parathyroid Hormone Peptide PTH 1-34 for the Treatment of Osteoporosis
Authors: Pearson Richard G. , Masud Tahir , Blackshaw Elaine , Naylor Andrew , Hinchcliffe Michael , Jeffery Kirk , Jordan Faron , Shabir-Ahmed Anjumn , King Gareth , Lewis Andrew L. , Illum Lisbeth , Perkins Alan C.
Published: June 2019

Nasal delivery of large peptides such as parathyroid 1-34 (PTH 1-34) can benefit from a permeation enhancer to promote absorption across the nasal mucosa into the bloodstream. Previously, we have published an encouraging bioavailability (78%), relative to subcutaneous injection in a small animal preclinical model, for a liquid nasal spray formulation containing the permeation enhancer polyethylene glycol (15)-hydroxystearate (Solutol® HS15). We report here the plasma pharmacokinetics of PTH 1-34 in healthy human volunteers receiving the liquid nasal spray formulation containing Solutol® HS15. For comparison, data for a commercially manufactured teriparatide formulation delivered via subcutaneous injection pen are also presented. Tc-99m-DTPA gamma scintigraphy monitored the deposition of the nasal spray in the nasal cavity and clearance via the inferior meatus and nasopharynx. The 50% clearance time was 17.8 min (minimum 10.9, maximum 74.3 min). For PTH 1-34, mean plasma Cmax of 5 pg/mL and 253 pg/mL were obtained for the nasal spray and subcutaneous injection respectively; relative bioavailability of the nasal spray was ≤1%. Subsequently, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of the liquid nasal spray formulation as well as a dry powder nasal formulation also containing Solutol® HS15 in a crossover study in an established ovine model. In this preclinical model, the relative bioavailability of liquid and powder nasal formulations was 1.4% and 1.0% respectively. The absolute bioavailability of subcutaneously administered PTH 1-34 (mean 77%, range 55–108%) in sheep was in agreement with published human data for teriparatide (up to 95%). These findings have important implications in the search for alternative routes of administration of peptides for the treatment of osteoporosis, and in terms of improving translation from animal models to humans.
Prevalence and Duration of Use of Medicines Recommended for Short-Term Use in Aged Care Facility Residents
Authors: Kalisch Ellett Lisa M. , Kassie Gizat M. , Pratt Nicole L. , Kerr Mhairi , Roughead Elizabeth E.
Published: June 2019

Background: Multiple studies have assessed the appropriateness of the use of medicines for nursing home residents; however, few have included duration of use in their assessment. The aim of this study was to assess the level and duration of use of medications recommended for short-term use in residents of aged care facilities in Australia. Methods: Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) administrative claims data were used for this study. Veterans eligible for all health services subsidised by DVA were followed for one year from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. The number of days covered for each medicine was calculated by multiplying the number of prescriptions dispensed during the year by the pack duration for the medicine. The pack duration was calculated by dividing the quantity supplied at each dispensing by the usual number of doses per day in older people according to Australian prescribing guidelines. The proportion of patients using each medicine and the number of days covered during the study period were determined. Results: 14, 237 residents met the inclusion criteria. One in five participants were dispensed antipsychotics, and the median duration of use was 180 days in the one-year period. More than one-third were dispensed a benzodiazepine, and the median duration of use was 240 days in the year. Half were dispensed an opioid analgesic with a median duration of use of 225 days in the year. Fifty-two percent were dispensed proton pump inhibitors with a median duration of use of 360 days in the year. A quarter received an antibiotic recommended for the management of urinary tract infection, with a median duration of use of 14 days in the year. Conclusion: Long-term use of antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, opioid analgesics and proton pump inhibitors is common in aged care residents. Ensuring appropriate duration of use for these medicines is necessary to reduce risk of harm.
Process Evaluation of the Community Pharmacist-Led Allergic Rhinitis Management (C-PhARM) Service in Singapore
Authors: Yap Joanne Shi Ying , Tang Colin Wei Qiang , Hor Helena Mei Ling , Chong Joy Boon Ka , Yap Kai Zhen
Published: June 2019

A community pharmacist-led allergic rhinitis management (C-PhARM) service involving structured patient assessment, individualised recommendations and follow-up was developed in Watson’s Personal Care Stores Pte Ltd (Singapore) to ensure optimal allergic rhinitis (AR) self-management and appropriate use of intranasal corticosteroids (INC) in Singapore. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the C-PhARM service processes and identify areas for improving the quality of service. Relevant data was extracted from archived clinical forms, customer satisfaction surveys and pharmacist quality improvement surveys to evaluate the “reach”, “recruitment”, “context” and “fidelity” of service implementation, as well as the “intervention delivered” and “received”. Over the nine months since the launch of the C-PhARM service in April 2016, 45 customers were enrolled, and 32 (71.1%) customers had received at least one follow-up. Recommendations provided at baseline included oral antihistamines (32, 71.1%), INC sprays (28, 62.2%) and counselling on non-pharmacological strategies (27, 60.0%). Among the 29 customers who exited the service, 20 (69%) responded to a satisfaction survey. Although customers deemed pharmacists to be professional and knowledgeable in providing clear and detailed information about AR, pharmacists reported a lack of protected time and interest from customers as service barriers. Sufficient protected time is required for pharmacists to effectively provide clinical service in a community pharmacy.
Never the Two Shall Mix: Robust Indel Markers to Ensure the Fidelity of Two Pivotal and Closely-Related Accessions of Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Brew-Appiah Rhoda A. T. , Peracchi Luigi M. , Sanguinet Karen A.
Published: June 2019

Brachypodium distachyon is an established model for monocotyledonous plants. Numerous markers intended for gene discovery and population genetics have been designed. However to date, very few indel markers with larger and easily scored length polymorphism differences, that distinguish between the two morphologically similar and highly utilized B. distachyon accessions, Bd21, the reference genome accession, and Bd21-3, the transformation-optimal accession, are publically available. In this study, 22 indel markers were designed and utilized to produce length polymorphism differences of 150 bp or more, for easy discrimination between Bd21 and Bd21-3. When tested on four other B. distachyon accessions, one case of multiallelism was observed. It was also shown that the markers could be used to determine homozygosity and heterozygosity at specific loci in a Bd21 x Bd3-1 F2 population. The work done in this study allows researchers to maintain the fidelity of Bd21 and Bd21-3 stocks for both transgenic and nontransgenic studies. It also provides markers that can be utilized in conjunction with others already available for further research on population genetics, gene discovery and gene characterization, all of which are necessary for the relevance of B. distachyon as a model species.
Transcriptional Regulation of Abscission Zones
Authors: Kim Joonyup , Chun Jong-Pil , Tucker Mark L.
Published: June 2019

Precise and timely regulation of organ separation from the parent plant (abscission) is consequential to improvement of crop productivity as it influences both the timing of harvest and fruit quality. Abscission is tightly associated with plant fitness as unwanted organs (petals, sepals, filaments) are shed after fertilization while seeds, fruits, and leaves are cast off as means of reproductive success or in response to abiotic/biotic stresses. Floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis has been a useful model to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the separation processes, and multiple abscission signals associated with the activation and downstream pathways have been uncovered. Concomitantly, large-scale analyses of omics studies in diverse abscission systems of various plants have added valuable insights into the abscission process. The results suggest that there are common molecular events linked to the biosynthesis of a new extracellular matrix as well as cell wall disassembly. Comparative analysis between Arabidopsis and soybean abscission systems has revealed shared and yet disparate regulatory modules that affect the separation processes. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the transcriptional regulation of abscission in several different plants that has improved on the previously proposed four-phased model of organ separation.
Signaling in Pollen Tube Growth: Beyond the Tip of the Polarity Iceberg
Authors: Scheible Nolan , McCubbin Andrew
Published: June 2019

The coordinated growth of pollen tubes through floral tissues to deliver the sperm cells to the egg and facilitate fertilization is a highly regulated process critical to the Angiosperm life cycle. Studies suggest that the concerted action of a variety of signaling pathways underlies the rapid polarized tip growth exhibited by pollen tubes. Ca2+ and small GTPase-mediated pathways have emerged as major players in the regulation of pollen tube growth. Evidence suggests that these two signaling pathways not only integrate with one another but also with a variety of other important signaling events. As we continue to elucidate the mechanisms involved in pollen tube growth, there is a growing importance in taking a holistic approach to studying these pathways in order to truly understand how tip growth in pollen tubes is orchestrated and maintained. This review considers our current state of knowledge of Ca2+-mediated and GTPase signaling pathways in pollen tubes, how they may intersect with one another, and other signaling pathways involved. There will be a particular focus on recent reports that have extended our understanding in these areas.
Performance Evaluation of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene-Modified Stone Mastic Asphalt with Basalt Fiber Using Different Compaction Methods
Authors: Wang Wensheng , Cheng Yongchun , Zhou Peilei , Tan Guojin , Wang Haitao , Liu Hanbing
Published: June 2019

Superpave gyratory compaction (SGC) and Marshall compaction methods are essentially designed according to volumetric properties. In spite of the similarity, the optimum asphalt contents (OAC) of the two methods are greatly affected by the laboratory compaction process, which would further influence their performance. This study aims to evaluate the performance of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)-modified stone mastic asphalt (SMA) with basalt fiber by using SGC and Marshall compaction methods. Basalt fiber was proved to improve and strength the basic properties of SBS-asphalt according to test results of asphalt binder. The effects of SGC and Marshall compaction methods on OAC and volumetric properties, i.e., density, air voids (VA), voids in mineral aggregates (VMA), and voids filled with asphalt (VFA), were evaluated in detail. Finally, the pavement performance of asphalt mixture prepared by SGC and Marshall compaction methods were compared in order to analyze the high-temperature creep, low-temperature splitting, and moisture stability performance. Results showed that the OAC of SGC (~5.70%) was slightly lower than that of Marshall method (5.80%). Furthermore, the pavement performance of SGC specimens were improved to a certain extent compared with Marshall specimens, indicating that SGC has a better compaction effect and mechanical performance.
Relationship between Degree of Polymeric Ionisation and Hydrolytic Degradation of Eudragit® E Polymers under Extreme Acid Conditions
Authors: Linares Valentina , Yarce Cristhian J. , Echeverri Juan D. , Galeano Elkin , Salamanca Constain H.
Published: June 2019

The commercial copolymers Eudragit® E 100 and Eudragit® PO are widely used materials in the pharmaceutical field as coating systems. Such materials derived from amino-methacrylate groups under acidulated conditions may acquire an ionisable fraction or undergo hydrolytic degradation of the polymeric structure. This work focused on establishing the chemical, physical, and surface changes of two reprocessed polymeric materials, here named as EuCl-E-100 and EuCl-E-PO, which were obtained from the commercial Eudragit® E 100 and Eudragit® E PO, respectively. The commercial materials were exposed to extreme acid conditions, where the polymers were solubilised and subsequently dried by the refractance window method. The materials obtained were chemically characterised by potentiometric titration, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR and 13C NMR) in one and two dimensions (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Changes in the physical properties of the materials were evaluated through studies of flowability, compactability, and their ability to gain and lose humidity. Surface thermodynamic studies were carried out through contact angle measurements using the sessile drop method. The results showed that the processed polymeric materials acquired a substantial degree of ionisation without undergoing hydrolysis of the esterified groups. Furthermore, such changes improved the flow characteristics of the material and the solubility in aqueous media at pH > 5, while also maintaining the hydrophobicity degree of the polymeric surface.
Systems Evaluation through New Grey Relational Analysis Approach: An Application on Thermal Conductivity—Petrophysical Parameters’ Relationships
Authors: Javed Saad , Khan Aqib , Dong Wenjie , Raza Adil , Liu Sifeng
Published: June 2019

The current study introduces a new technique for the analysis of uncertain systems and uncertain processes in geothermics/earth sciences. The method is the second synthetic grey relational analysis (SSGRA) model, which incorporated the advantages of both Deng’s GRA model and the bidirectional absolute GRA model. The SSGRA model has been earlier successfully applied in project management and healthcare systems. The current study is a pioneer in demonstrating the feasibility of the SSGRA model in a geothermal environment. In the current study, the model was used to determine the associations between thermal conductivity and petrophysical parameters in an Algerian reservoir. The results revealed that thermal conductivity is most strongly associated with porosity followed by density and permeability. Their relationships are also discussed. The study concludes with valuable insights about the model and its application in engineering and natural sciences especially when the system contains uncertainty, which may arise either due to insufficient data or uncertain relationships among the parameters associated with the system or its processes.
Syngas Production from Combined Steam Gasification of Biochar and a Sorption-Enhanced Water–Gas Shift Reaction with the Utilization of CO2
Authors: Chimpae Supanida , Wongsakulphasatch Suwimol , Vivanpatarakij Supawat , Glinrun Thongchai , Wiwatwongwana Fasai , Maneeprakorn Weerakanya , Assabumrungrat Suttichai
Published: June 2019

This research aims at evaluating the performance of a combined system of biochar gasification and a sorption-enhanced water–gas shift reaction (SEWGS) for synthesis gas production. The effects of mangrove-derived biochar gasification temperature, pattern of combined gasification and SEWGS, amount of steam and CO2 added as gasifying agent, and SEWGS temperature were studied in this work. The performances of the combined process were examined in terms of biochar conversion, gaseous product composition, and CO2 emission. The results revealed that the hybrid SEWGS using one-body multi-functional material offered a greater amount of H2 with a similar amount of CO2 emissions when compared with separated sorbent/catalyst material. The gasification temperature of 900 °C provided the highest biochar conversion of ca. 98.7%. Synthesis gas production was found to depend upon the amount of water and CO2 added and SEWGS temperature. Higher amounts of H2 were observed when increasing the amount of water and the temperature of the SEWGS system.
Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Biomarkers Detection on MRI-Sensor-Based Image and Deep Learning
Authors: Hsieh Yi-Zeng , Luo Yu-Cin , Pan Chen , Su Mu-Chun , Chen Chi-Jen , Hsieh Kevin Li-Chun
Published: June 2019

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the most detailed brain structure image available today; it can identify tiny lesions or cerebral cortical abnormalities. The primary purpose of the procedure is to confirm whether there is structural variation that causes epilepsy, such as hippocampal sclerotherapy, local cerebral cortical dysplasia, and cavernous hemangioma. Cerebrovascular disease, the second most common factor of death in the world, is also the fourth leading cause of death in Taiwan, with cerebrovascular disease having the highest rate of stroke. Among the most common are large vascular atherosclerotic lesions, small vascular lesions, and cardiac emboli. The purpose of this thesis is to establish a computer-aided diagnosis system based on small blood vessel lesions in MRI images, using the method of Convolutional Neural Network and deep learning to analyze brain vascular occlusion by analyzing brain MRI images. Blocks can help clinicians more quickly determine the probability and severity of stroke in patients. We analyzed MRI data from 50 patients, including 30 patients with stroke, 17 patients with occlusion but no stroke, and 3 patients with dementia. This system mainly helps doctors find out whether there are cerebral small vessel lesions in the brain MRI images, and to output the found results into labeled images. The marked contents include the position coordinates of the small blood vessel blockage, the block range, the area size, and if it may cause a stroke. Finally, all the MRI images of the patient are synthesized, showing a 3D display of the small blood vessels in the brain to assist the doctor in making a diagnosis or to provide accurate lesion location for the patient.
Neural Network Direct Control with Online Learning for Shape Memory Alloy Manipulators
Authors: Gómez-Espinosa Alfonso , Castro Sundin Roberto , Loidi Eguren Ion , Cuan-Urquizo Enrique , Treviño-Quintanilla Cecilia D.
Published: June 2019

New actuators and materials are constantly incorporated into industrial processes, and additional challenges are posed by their complex behavior. Nonlinear hysteresis is commonly found in shape memory alloys, and the inclusion of a suitable hysteresis model in the control system allows the controller to achieve a better performance, although a major drawback is that each system responds in a unique way. In this work, a neural network direct control, with online learning, is developed for position control of shape memory alloy manipulators. Neural network weight coefficients are updated online by using the actuator position data while the controller is applied to the system, without previous training of the neural network weights, nor the inclusion of a hysteresis model. A real-time, low computational cost control system was implemented; experimental evaluation was performed on a 1-DOF manipulator system actuated by a shape memory alloy wire. Test results verified the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme to control the system angular position, compensating for the hysteretic behavior of the shape memory alloy actuator. Using a learning algorithm with a sine wave as reference signal, a maximum static error of 0.83° was achieved when validated against several set-points within the possible range.
Semantic Segmentation with Transfer Learning for Off-Road Autonomous Driving
Authors: Sharma Suvash , Ball John E. , Tang Bo , Carruth Daniel W. , Doude Matthew , Islam Muhammad Aminul
Published: June 2019

Since the state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms demand a large training dataset, which is often unavailable in some domains, the transfer of knowledge from one domain to another has been a trending technique in the computer vision field. However, this method may not be a straight-forward task considering several issues such as original network size or large differences between the source and target domain. In this paper, we perform transfer learning for semantic segmentation of off-road driving environments using a pre-trained segmentation network called DeconvNet. We explore and verify two important aspects regarding transfer learning. First, since the original network size was very large and did not perform well for our application, we proposed a smaller network, which we call the light-weight network. This light-weight network is half the size to the original DeconvNet architecture. We transferred the knowledge from the pre-trained DeconvNet to our light-weight network and fine-tuned it. Second, we used synthetic datasets as the intermediate domain before training with the real-world off-road driving data. Fine-tuning the model trained with the synthetic dataset that simulates the off-road driving environment provides more accurate results for the segmentation of real-world off-road driving environments than transfer learning without using a synthetic dataset does, as long as the synthetic dataset is generated considering real-world variations. We also explore the issue whereby the use of a too simple and/or too random synthetic dataset results in negative transfer. We consider the Freiburg Forest dataset as a real-world off-road driving dataset.
An Indoor Localization Method for Pedestrians Base on Combined UWB/PDR/Floor Map
Authors: Liu Fei , Wang Jian , Zhang Jixian , Han Houzeng
Published: June 2019

This paper propose a scheme for indoor pedestrian location, based on UWB (Ultra Wideband)/PDR (Pedestrian Dead Reckoning) and Floor Map data. Firstly, a robust algorithm that uses Tukey weight factor and a pathological parameter for UWB positioning is proposed. The ill-conditioned position problem is solved for a scene where UWB anchors are placed on the same elevation of a narrow corridor. Secondly, a heading angle-computed strategy of PDR is put forward. According to the UWB positioning results, the location of pedestrians is mapped to the Floor Map, and 16 possible azimuth directions with 22.5° interval in this position are designed virtually. Compared to the heading angle of PDR, the center direction of the nearest interval is adopted as the heading. However, if the difference between the head angles of PDR and the nearest map direction is less than five degrees, the heading angle of PDR is regarded as the moving heading. Thirdly, an EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) algorithm is suggested for UWB/PDR/Floor Map fusion. By utilizing the positioning results of UWB, PDR, and the possible heading angle of Floor Map, high precision positioning results are acquired. Finally, two experimental scenarios are designed in a narrow corridor and computer room at a university. The accuracy of pedestrian positioning when all the data are available is verified in the first scenario; the positioning accuracy of a situation where part of UWB is unlock is verified in the second scenario. The results show that the proposed scheme can reliably achieve decimeter-level positioning.
An Affinity Propagation-Based Self-Adaptive Clustering Method for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wang Jin , Gao Yu , Wang Kai , Sangaiah Arun , Lim Se-Jung
Published: June 2019

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is an essential component of the Internet of Things (IoTs) for information exchange and communication between ubiquitous smart objects. Clustering techniques are widely applied to improve network performance during the routing phase for WSN. However, existing clustering methods still have some drawbacks such as uneven distribution of cluster heads (CH) and unbalanced energy consumption. Recently, much attention has been paid to intelligent clustering methods based on machine learning to solve the above issues. In this paper, an affinity propagation-based self-adaptive (APSA) clustering method is presented. The advantage of K-medoids, which is a traditional machine learning algorithm, is combined with the affinity propagation (AP) method to achieve more reasonable clustering performance. AP is firstly utilized to determine the number of CHs and to search for the optimal initial cluster centers for K-medoids. Then the modified K-medoids is utilized to form the topology of the network by iteration. The presented method effectively avoids the weakness of the traditional K-medoids in aspects of the homogeneous clustering and convergence rate. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms some latest work such as the unequal cluster-based routing scheme for multi-level heterogeneous WSN (UCR-H), the low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy using affinity propagation (LEACH-AP) algorithm, and the energy degree distance unequal clustering (EDDUCA) algorithm.
Adaptable Xerogel-Layered Amperometric Biosensor Platforms on Wire Electrodes for Clinically Relevant Measurements
Authors: Hughes Lillian B. , Labban Najwa , Conway Grace E. , Pollock Julie A. , Leopold Michael C.
Published: June 2019

Biosensing strategies that employ readily adaptable materials for different analytes, can be miniaturized into needle electrode form, and function in bodily fluids represent a significant step toward the development of clinically relevant in vitro and in vivo sensors. In this work, a general scheme for 1st generation amperometric biosensors involving layer-by-layer electrode modification with enzyme-doped xerogels, electrochemically-deposited polymer, and polyurethane semi-permeable membranes is shown to achieve these goals. With minor modifications to these materials, sensors representing potential point-of-care medical tools are demonstrated to be sensitive and selective for a number of conditions. The potential for bedside measurements or continuous monitoring of analytes may offer faster and more accurate clinical diagnoses for diseases such as diabetes (glucose), preeclampsia (uric acid), galactosemia (galactose), xanthinuria (xanthine), and sepsis (lactate). For the specific diagnostic application, the sensing schemes have been miniaturized to wire electrodes and/or demonstrated as functional in synthetic urine or blood serum. Signal enhancement through the incorporation of platinum nanoparticle film in the scheme offers additional design control within the sensing scheme. The presented sensing strategy has the potential to be applied to any disease that has a related biomolecule and corresponding oxidase enzyme and represents rare, adaptable, sensing capabilities.
Disposable Potentiometric Sensory System for Skin Antioxidant Activity Evaluation
Authors: Brainina Khiena , Tarasov Aleksey , Khamzina Ekaterina , Kazakov Yan , Stozhko Natalia
Published: June 2019

The skin is a natural barrier between the external and internal environment. Its protective functions and the relationship of its state with the state of health of the organism as a whole are very important. It is known that oxidant stress (OS) is a common indicator of health status. This paper describes a new sensory system for monitoring OS of the skin using antioxidant activity (AOA) as its criteria. The contact hybrid potentiometric method (CHPM) and new electrochemical measuring scheme were used. A new sensory system, including disposable modified screen-printed carbon and silver electrodes covered by membrane impregnated by mediator, was developed. Its informative ability was demonstrated in the evaluation of the impact of fasting, consumption of food and food enriched by vitamins (antioxidants) on skin AOA. This device consisting of a sensory system and potentiometric analyzer can be used in on-site and in situ formats.
In-Situ Monitoring and Diagnosing for Fused Filament Fabrication Process Based on Vibration Sensors
Authors: Li Yongxiang , Zhao Wei , Li Qiushi , Wang Tongcai , Wang Gong
Published: June 2019

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is one of the most widely used additive manufacturing (AM) technologies and it has great potential in fabricating prototypes with complex geometry. For high quality manufacturing, monitoring the products in real time is as important as maintaining the FFF machine in the normal state. This paper introduces an approach that is based on the vibration sensors and data-driven methods for in-situ monitoring and diagnosing the FFF process. The least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM) algorithm has been applied for identifying the normal and filament jam states of the FFF machine, besides fault diagnosis in real time. The identification accuracy for the case studies explored here using LS-SVM is greater than 90%. Furthermore, to ensure the product quality during the FFF process, the back-propagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm has been used to monitor and diagnose the quality defects, as well as the warpage and material stack caused by abnormal leakage for the products in-situ. The diagnosis accuracy for the case studies explored here using BPNN is greater than 95%. Results from the experiments show that the proposed approach can accurately recognize the machine failures and quality defects during the FFF process, thus effectively assuring the product quality.
Precise Point Positioning Using World’s First Dual-Frequency GPS/GALILEO Smartphone
Authors: Elmezayen Abdelsatar , El-Rabbany Ahmed
Published: June 2019

The release of the world’s first dual-frequency GPS/Galileo smartphone, Xiaomi mi 8, in 2018 provides an opportunity for high-precision positioning using ultra low-cost sensors. In this research, the GNSS precise point positioning (PPP) accuracy of the Xiaomi mi 8 smartphone is tested in post-processing and real-time modes. Raw dual-frequency observations are collected over two different time windows from both of the Xiaomi mi 8 smartphone and a Trimble R9 geodetic-quality GNSS receiver using a short baseline, due to the lack of a nearby reference station to the observation site. The data sets are first processed in differential modes using Trimble business center (TBC) software in order to provide the reference positioning solution for both of the geodetic receiver and the smartphone. An in-house PPP software is then used to process the collected data in both of post-processing and real-time modes. Precise ephemeris obtained from the multi-GNSS experiment (MGEX) is used for post-processing PPP, while the new NAVCAST real-time GNSS service, Germany, is used for real-time PPP. Additionally, the real-time PPP solution is assessed in both of static and kinematic modes. It is shown that the dual-frequency GNSS smartphone is capable of achieving decimeter-level positioning accuracy, in both of post-processing and real-time PPP modes, respectively. Meter-level positioning accuracy is achieved in the kinematic mode.
Optical Fiber Gratings Immunoassays
Authors: Loyez Médéric , Lobry Maxime , Wattiez Ruddy , Caucheteur Christophe
Published: June 2019

Optical fibers are of growing interest for biosensing, especially for point-of-care and biomedical assays. Their intrinsic properties bestow them sought-after assets for the detection of low concentrations of analytes. Tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) photo-inscribed in the core of telecommunication-grade optical fibers are known to be highly-sensitive refractometers. In this work, we present different strategies to use them for label-free immunoassays. Bare, gold-sputtered, gold-electroless-plated (ELP) and hybrid configurations are biofunctionalized with antibodies, aiming at the detection of cancer biomarkers. We discuss the relative performances of the tested configurations and show that each leads to singular key features, which therefore drives their selection as a function of the target application. The most sensitive configuration presents a limit of detection of 10−12 g/mL in laboratory settings and was successfully used ex vivo in freshly resected lung tissues.
Multi-View Image Denoising Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Zhou Shiwei , Hu Yu-Hen , Jiang Hongrui
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we propose a novel multi-view image denoising algorithm based on convolutional neural network (MVCNN). Multi-view images are arranged into 3D focus image stacks (3DFIS) according to different disparities. The MVCNN is trained to process each 3DFIS and generate a denoised image stack that contains the recovered image information for regions of particular disparities. The denoised image stacks are then fused together to produce a denoised target view image using the estimated disparity map. Different from conventional multi-view denoising approaches that group similar patches first and then perform denoising on those patches, our CNN-based algorithm saves the effort of exhaustive patch searching and greatly reduces the computational time. In the proposed MVCNN, residual learning and batch normalization strategies are also used to enhance the denoising performance and accelerate the training process. Compared with the state-of-the-art single image and multi-view denoising algorithms, experiments show that the proposed CNN-based algorithm is a highly effective and efficient method in Gaussian denoising of multi-view images.
Real-Time Massive Vector Field Data Processing in Edge Computing
Authors: Zheng Kun , Zheng Kang , Fang Falin , Yao Hong , Yi Yunlei , Zeng Deze
Published: June 2019

The spread of the sensors and industrial systems has fostered widespread real-time data processing applications. Massive vector field data (MVFD) are generated by vast distributed sensors and are characterized by high distribution, high velocity, and high volume. As a result, computing such kind of data on centralized cloud faces unprecedented challenges, especially on the processing delay due to the distance between the data source and the cloud. Taking advantages of data source proximity and vast distribution, edge computing is ideal for timely computing on MVFD. Therefore, we are motivated to propose an edge computing based MVFD processing framework. In particular, we notice that the high volume feature of MVFD results in high data transmission delay. To solve this problem, we invent Data Fluidization Schedule (DFS) in our framework to reduce the data block volume and the latency on Input/Output (I/O). We evaluated the efficiency of our framework in a practical application on massive wind field data processing for cyclone recognition. The high efficiency our framework was verified by the fact that it significantly outperformed classical big data processing frameworks Spark and MapReduce.