bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Newly Developed Vacuum Dried Microtiter Plate for Rapid Biocide Susceptibility Testing of Clinical Enterococcus faecium Isolates
Authors: Roedel Alice , Dieckmann Ralf , Makarewicz Oliwia , Hartung Anita , Noll Matthias , Pletz Mathias W. , Dahouk Sascha Al , Vincze Szilvia
Published: April 2020

We investigated the suitability of a newly developed biocide susceptibility test system based on microtiter plates containing vacuum dried biocides as a fast and reliable screening method. The evaluated substances included the cationic biocides benzalkonium chloride (BAC), chlorhexidine dihydrochloride (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride, didecyldimethylammonium chloride, and octenidine dihydrochloride. Testing a selection of Escherichia coli and enterococci, the biocide microtiter plates provided results comparable to those obtained from broth microdilution according to ISO 20776-1. Broad MIC ranges allowed for testing gram-positive and gram-negative species with the same plate design. In the second part of our study, we applied the established method to analyze the susceptibility of 90 clinical Enterococcus faecium isolates from a German university hospital, as previous studies have indicated a link between reduced susceptibility to substances such as CHX and BAC and vancomycin resistance. We therefore determined MIC and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) for 48 non-clonal vancomycin susceptible and 42 non-clonal vancomycin resistant isolates, but MIC95 and MBC95 were quite similar in both groups. Our easy to handle and ready to use test system enables the routine surveillance of bacterial tolerance towards disinfectants in hospitals. As a result, hygiene measures can be adapted and nosocomial infections controlled despite increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Transformation of Pb, Cd, and Zn Minerals Using Phosphates
Authors: Andrunik Magdalena , Wołowiec Magdalena , Wojnarski Daniel , Zelek-Pogudz Sylwia , Bajda Tomasz
Published: April 2020

Heavy metal contamination in soils has become one of the most critical environmental issues. The most efficient in-situ remediation technique is chemical immobilization that uses cost-effective soil amendments such as phosphate compounds to decrease Pb, Cd and Zn accessibility in the contaminated soils. The present study examined the effectiveness of KH2PO4 in immobilizing Pb, Cd and Zn in three samples of contaminated soils collected from ZGH “Bolesław” (Mining and Smelting Plant “Bolesław”). Effectiveness was evaluated using the following methods: a toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP)-based experiment, sequential extraction, X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The most efficient percentage reduction of total leachable metal concentration assessed by TCLP was observed for lead (50%–80%), and the least reduction was observed for zinc (1%–17%). The most effective immobilization of stable compounds assessed by sequential extraction was noted for lead, while the weakest immobilization was noted for cadmium. New insoluble mineral phases were identified by SEM-EDS analysis. Cd, Zn, and Pb formed new stable mineral substances with phosphates. The predominant crystal forms were dripstones and groups of needles, which were easily formed by dissolved carbon rock surfaces containing zinc ions. The alkaline nature of the soil and a large number of carbonates mainly influenced the formation of new structures.
Fabrication and Characterization of Solid Composite Yarns from Carbon Nanotubes and Poly(dicyclopentadiene)
Authors: Xin Wenbo , Severino Joseph , Venkert Arie , Yu Hang , Knorr Daniel , Yang Jenn-Ming , Carlson Larry , Hicks Robert , De Rosa Igor
Published: April 2020

In this report, networks of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are transformed into composite yarns by infusion, mechanical consolidation and polymerization of dicyclopentadiene (DCPD). The microstructures of the CNT yarn and its composite are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and a focused ion beam used for cross-sectioning. Pristine yarns have tensile strength, modulus and elongation at failure of 0.8 GPa, 14 GPa and 14.0%, respectively. In the composite yarn, these values are significantly enhanced to 1.2 GPa, 68 GPa and 3.4%, respectively. Owing to the consolidation and alignment improvement, its electrical conductivity was increased from 1.0 × 105 S/m (raw yarn) to 5.0 × 105 S/m and 5.3 × 105 S/m for twisted yarn and composite yarn, respectively. The strengthening mechanism is attributed to the binding of the DCPD polymer, which acts as a capstan and increases frictional forces within the nanotube bundles, making it more difficult to pull them apart.
Preferential Growth of ZnO Micro- and Nanostructure Assemblies on Fs-Laser-Induced Periodic Structures
Authors: Sotillo Belén , Ariza Rocio , Siegel Jan , Solis Javier , Fernández Paloma
Published: April 2020

In this work, we demonstrate the use of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) as templates for the selective growth of ordered micro- and nanostructures of ZnO. Different types of LIPSS were first produced in Si-(100) substrates including ablative low-frequency spatial (LSF) LIPSS, amorphous-crystalline (a–c) LIPSS, and black silicon structures. These laser-structured substrates were subsequently used for depositing ZnO using the vapor–solid (VS) method in order to analyze the formation of organized ZnO structures. We used scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy to assess the morphological and structural characteristics of the ZnO micro/nano-assemblies obtained and to identify the characteristics of the laser-structured substrates inducing the preferential deposition of ZnO. The formation of aligned assemblies of micro- and nanocrystals of ZnO was successfully achieved on LSF-LIPSS and a–c LIPSS. These results point toward a feasible route for generating well aligned assemblies of semiconductor micro- and nanostructures of good quality by the VS method on substrates, where the effect of lattice mismatch is reduced by laser-induced local disorder and likely by a small increase of surface roughness.
Ab Initio Study of Ferroelectric Critical Size of SnTe Low-Dimensional Nanostructures
Authors: Shimada Takahiro , Minaguro Koichiro , Xu Tao , Wang Jie , Kitamura Takayuki
Published: April 2020

Beyond a ferroelectric critical thickness of several nanometers existed in conventional ferroelectric perovskite oxides, ferroelectricity in ultimately thin dimensions was recently discovered in SnTe monolayers. This discovery suggests the possibility that SnTe can sustain ferroelectricity during further low-dimensional miniaturization. Here, we investigate a ferroelectric critical size of low-dimensional SnTe nanostructures such as nanoribbons (1D) and nanoflakes (0D) using first-principle density-functional theory calculations. We demonstrate that the smallest (one-unit-cell width) SnTe nanoribbon can sustain ferroelectricity and there is no ferroelectric critical size in the SnTe nanoribbons. On the other hand, the SnTe nanoflakes form a vortex of polarization and lose their toroidal ferroelectricity below the surface area of 4 × 4 unit cells (about 25 Å on one side). We also reveal the atomic and electronic mechanism of the absence or presence of critical size in SnTe low-dimensional nanostructures. Our result provides an insight into intrinsic ferroelectric critical size for low-dimensional chalcogenide layered materials.
Soil Application of Nano Silica on Maize Yield and Its Insecticidal Activity Against Some Stored Insects After the Post-Harvest
Authors: El-Naggar Mehrez E. , Abdelsalam Nader R. , Fouda Moustafa M.G. , Mackled Marwa I. , Al-Jaddadi Malik A.M. , Ali Hayssam M. , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Kandil Essam E.
Published: April 2020

Maize is considered one of the most imperative cereal crops worldwide. In this work, high throughput silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) were prepared via the sol–gel technique. SiO2-NPs were attained in a powder form followed by full analysis using the advanced tools (UV-vis, HR-TEM, SEM, XRD and zeta potential). To this end, SiO2-NPs were applied as both nanofertilizer and pesticide against four common pests that infect the stored maize and cause severe damage to crops. As for nanofertilizers, the response of maize hybrid to mineral NPK, “Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)” (0% = untreated, 50% of recommended dose and 100%), with different combinations of SiO2-NPs; (0, 2.5, 5, 10 g/kg soil) was evaluated. Afterward, post-harvest, grains were stored and fumigated with different concentrations of SiO2-NPs (0.0031, 0.0063. 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, 5, 10 g/kg) in order to identify LC50 and mortality % of four common insects, namely Sitophilus oryzae, Rhizopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum, and Orizaephilus surinamenisis. The results revealed that, using the recommended dose of 100%, mineral NPK showed the greatest mean values of plant height, chlorophyll content, yield, its components, and protein (%). By feeding the soil with SiO2-NPs up to 10 g/kg, the best growth and yield enhancement of maize crop is noticed. Mineral NPK interacted with SiO2-NPs, whereas the application of mineral NPK at the rate of 50% with 10 g/kg SiO2-NPs, increased the highest mean values of agronomic characters. Therefore, SiO2-NPs can be applied as a growth promoter, and in the meantime, as strong unconventional pesticides for crops during storage, with a very small and safe dose.
Shift of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Gluten-Free Hemp-Enriched Sourdough Bread: A Metabolomic Approach
Authors: Nissen Lorenzo , Bordoni Alessandra , Gianotti Andrea
Published: April 2020

Hemp seed flour represents a potential ingredient for protein enrichment of gluten-free bakery products, the nutritional value of which could be further increased by fermentation with sourdough or with beneficial lactic acid bacteria strains. In this study, a metabolomic approach was used to evaluate the effect of hemp seed flour addition and sourdough fermentation on the production of flavoring and health-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a gluten-free bread. Multivariate analysis of VOCs provided an in-depth description of the effects of hemp seed flour addition and sourdough fermentation on flavoring and bioactive compounds. In particular, an increased concentration of antimicrobial compounds, a larger spectrum of bioactive VOCs and a typical flavoring profile was evidenced in comparison to standard products. Furthermore, an increase of fermentation metabolites was observed in comparison to a standard dough, relating to abundances of 2-butanone-3-hydroxy, acetic acid, ethanol, and 1,4-butanediol. This study provides new insights on the evolution of flavoring and bioactive hemp seed flour constituents during sourdough fermentation, evidencing their retention in baked goods, and describes a new approach that could guide the formulation of innovative, fermented food with enhanced nutritional value.
Possible Role of Vitamin D in Celiac Disease Onset
Authors: Vici Giorgia , Camilletti Dalia , Polzonetti Valeria
Published: April 2020

Beside skeletal system maintenance and protection, possible extra-calcium roles of vitamin D have been recently described. In particular, studies have investigated possible roles of vitamin D as a key modulator of inflammation and immune mechanisms and of the intestinal mucosa barrier. In this regard, vitamin D has been considered as a factor that affects different conditions such as immune-mediated diseases. The new emerging role of vitamin D and its involvement in immune modulation has led it to be considered as a possible key factor involved in celiac disease (CD) onset. CD is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy of the small intestine that is triggered by dietary gluten protein exposure in individuals who are genetically predisposed. However, along with gluten, other environmental factors are also involved in CD onset. The renewed interest in a molecule that offers great possibilities for new roles has led to an increase in studies, although there remains a lack of studies aimed at contextualizing the role of vitamin D on CD. This review aims to define the possible role of vitamin D in CD onset as it is presently understood, taking into account potential links among vitamin D, the immune system and CD.
Dietary Patterns of Nurses on Rotational Shifts Are Marked by Redistribution of Energy into the Nightshift
Authors: Flanagan Alan , Lowson Elizabeth , Arber Sara , Griffin Bruce A. , Skene Debra J.
Published: April 2020

Nightshift work is associated with adverse health outcomes, which may be related to eating during the biological night, when circadian rhythms and food intake are misaligned. Nurses often undertake nightshift work, and we aimed to investigate patterns of energy distribution and dietary intake across 14 days in 20 UK National Health Service (NHS) nurses working rotational shifts. We hypothesised that the proportion of daily energy consumed during the nightshift would increase over consecutive nights. Primary and secondary outcome measures included intakes of energy and macronutrients. Our results show that nurses consumed the same total daily energy on nightshifts and non-nightshifts, but redistributed energy to the nightshift period in increasing proportions with a significant difference between Night 1 and 2 in the proportion of total daily energy consumed (26.0 ± 15.7% vs. 33.5 ± 20.2%, mean ± SD; p < 0.01). This finding indicates that, rather than increasing total energy intake, nurses redistribute energy consumed during nightshifts as a behavioural response to consecutive nightshifts. This finding informs our understanding of how the intake of energy during the biological night can influence adverse health outcomes of nightshift work.
In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Iron from Mature and Microgreen Fenugreek, Rocket and Broccoli
Authors: K. Khoja Kholoud , Buckley Amy , F. Aslam Mohamad , A. Sharp Paul , Latunde-Dada Gladys O.
Published: April 2020

Iron deficiency is a global epidemic affecting a third of the world’s population. Current efforts are focused on investigating sustainable ways to improve the bioavailability of iron in plant-based diets. Incorporating microgreens into the diet of at-risk groups in populations could be a useful tool in the management and prevention of iron deficiency. This study analysed and compared the mineral content and bioavailability of iron from microgreen and mature vegetables. The mineral content of rocket, broccoli and fenugreek microgreens and their mature counterparts was determined using microwave digestion and ICP-OES. Iron solubility and bioavailability from the vegetables were determined by a simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion and subsequent measurement of ferritin in Caco-2 cells as a surrogate marker of iron uptake. Iron contents of mature fenugreek and rocket were significantly higher than those of the microgreens. Mature fenugreek and broccoli showed significantly (p < 0.001) higher bioaccessibility and low-molecular-weight iron than found in the microgreens. Moreover, iron uptake by Caco-2 cells was significantly higher only from fenugreek microgreens than the mature vegetable. While all vegetables except broccoli enhanced FeSO4 uptake, the response to ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) was inhibitory apart from the mature rocket. Ascorbic acid significantly enhanced iron uptake from mature fenugreek and rocket. Microgreen fenugreek may be bred for a higher content of enhancers of iron availability as a strategy to improve iron nutrition in the populace.
First Whole Genome Sequence of Anaplasma platys, an Obligate Intracellular Rickettsial Pathogen of Dogs
Authors: Llanes Alejandro , Rajeev Sreekumari
Published: April 2020

We have assembled the first genome draft of Anaplasma platys, an obligate intracellular rickettsia, and the only known bacterial pathogen infecting canine platelets. A. platys is a not-yet-cultivated bacterium that causes infectious cyclic canine thrombocytopenia, a potentially fatal disease in dogs. Despite its global distribution and veterinary relevance, no genome sequence has been published so far for this pathogen. Here, we used a strategy based on metagenome assembly to generate a draft of the A. platys genome using the blood of an infected dog. The assembled draft is similar to other Anaplasma genomes in size, gene content, and synteny. Notable differences are the apparent absence of rbfA, a gene encoding a 30S ribosome-binding factor acting as a cold-shock protein, as well as two genes involved in biotin metabolism. We also observed differences associated with expanded gene families, including those encoding outer membrane proteins, a type IV secretion system, ankyrin repeat-containing proteins, and proteins with predicted intrinsically disordered regions. Several of these families have members highly divergent in sequence, likely to be associated with survival and interactions within the host and the vector. The sequence of the A. platys genome can benefit future studies regarding invasion, survival, and pathogenesis of Anaplasma species, while paving the way for the better design of treatment and prevention strategies against these neglected intracellular pathogens.
A Global Analysis of Enzyme Compartmentalization to Glycosomes
Authors: Durrani Hina , Hampton Marshall , Rumbley Jon N. , Zimmer Sara L.
Published: April 2020

In kinetoplastids, the first seven steps of glycolysis are compartmentalized into a glycosome along with parts of other metabolic pathways. This organelle shares a common ancestor with the better-understood eukaryotic peroxisome. Much of our understanding of the emergence, evolution, and maintenance of glycosomes is limited to explorations of the dixenous parasites, including the enzymatic contents of the organelle. Our objective was to determine the extent that we could leverage existing studies in model kinetoplastids to determine the composition of glycosomes in species lacking evidence of experimental localization. These include diverse monoxenous species and dixenous species with very different hosts. For many of these, genome or transcriptome sequences are available. Our approach initiated with a meta-analysis of existing studies to generate a subset of enzymes with highest evidence of glycosome localization. From this dataset we extracted the best possible glycosome signal peptide identification scheme for in silico identification of glycosomal proteins from any kinetoplastid species. Validation suggested that a high glycosome localization score from our algorithm would be indicative of a glycosomal protein. We found that while metabolic pathways were consistently represented across kinetoplastids, individual proteins within those pathways may not universally exhibit evidence of glycosome localization.
Screening Tools Used by Clinical Pharmacists to Identify Elderly Patients at Risk of Drug-Related Problems on Hospital Admission: A Systematic Review
Authors: Brady Amanda , Curtis Chris , Jalal Zahraa
Published: April 2020

In recent years, a number of studies have examined tools to identify elderly patients who are at increased risk of drug-related problems (DRPs). There has been interest in developing tools to prioritise patients for clinical pharmacist (CP) review. This systematic review (SR) aimed to identify published primary research in this area and critically evaluate the quality of prediction tools to identify elderly patients at increased risk of DRPs and/or likely to need CP intervention. The PubMed, EMBASE, OVID HMIC, Cochrane Library, PsychInfo, CINAHL PLUS, Web of Science and ProQuest databases were searched. Keeping up to date with research and citations, the reference lists of included articles were also searched to identify relevant studies. The studies involved the development, utilisation and/or validation of a prediction tool. The protocol for this SR, CRD42019115673, was registered on PROSPERO. Data were extracted and systematically assessed for quality by considering the four key stages involved in accurate risk prediction models—development, validation, impact and implementation—and following the Checklist for the critical Appraisal and data extraction for systematic Reviews of prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS). Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Variations in study design, participant characteristics and outcomes made meta-analysis unsuitable. The tools varied in complexity. Most studies reported the sensitivity, specificity and/or discriminatory ability of the tool. Only four studies included external validation of the tool(s), namely of the BADRI model and the GerontoNet ADR Risk Score. The BADRI score demonstrated acceptable goodness of fit and good discrimination performance, whilst the GerontoNet ADR Risk Score showed poor reliability in external validation. None of the models met the four key stages required to create a quality risk prediction model. Further research is needed to either refine the tools developed to date or develop new ones that have good performance and have been externally validated before considering the potential impact and implementation of such tools.
FAIR Digital Objects for Science: From Data Pieces to Actionable Knowledge Units
Authors: De Smedt Koenraad , Koureas Dimitris , Wittenburg Peter
Published: April 2020

Data science is facing the following major challenges: (1) developing scalable cross-disciplinary capabilities, (2) dealing with the increasing data volumes and their inherent complexity, (3) building tools that help to build trust, (4) creating mechanisms to efficiently operate in the domain of scientific assertions, (5) turning data into actionable knowledge units and (6) promoting data interoperability. As a way to overcome these challenges, we further develop the proposals by early Internet pioneers for Digital Objects as encapsulations of data and metadata made accessible by persistent identifiers. In the past decade, this concept was revisited by various groups within the Research Data Alliance and put in the context of the FAIR Guiding Principles for findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable data. The basic components of a FAIR Digital Object (FDO) as a self-contained, typed, machine-actionable data package are explained. A survey of use cases has indicated the growing interest of research communities in FDO solutions. We conclude that the FDO concept has the potential to act as the interoperable federative core of a hyperinfrastructure initiative such as the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
Experimental Calibration of the Overlap Factor for the Pulsed Atmospheric Lidar by Employing a Collocated Scheimpflug Lidar
Authors: Mei Liang , Ma Teng , Zhang Zhen , Fei Ruonan , Liu Kun , Gong Zhenfeng , Li Hui
Published: April 2020

Lidar techniques have been widely employed for atmospheric remote sensing during past decades. However, an important drawback of the traditional atmospheric pulsed lidar technique is the large blind range, typically hundreds of meters, due to incomplete overlap between the transmitter and the receiver, etc. The large blind range prevents the successful retrieval of the near-ground aerosol profile, which is of great significance for both meteorological studies and environmental monitoring. In this work, we have demonstrated a new experimental approach to calibrate the overlap factor of the Mie-scattering pulsed lidar system by employing a collocated Scheimpflug lidar (SLidar) system. A calibration method of the overlap factor has been proposed and evaluated with lidar data measured in different ranges. The overlap factor, experimentally determined by the collocated SLidar system, has also been validated through horizontal comparison measurements. It has been found out that the median overlap factor evaluated by the proposed method agreed very well with the overlap factor obtained by the linear fitting approach with the assumption of homogeneous atmospheric conditions, and the discrepancy was generally less than 10%. Meanwhile, simultaneous measurements employing the SLidar system and the pulsed lidar system have been carried out to extend the measurement range of lidar techniques by gluing the lidar curves measured by the two systems. The profile of the aerosol extinction coefficient from the near surface at around 90 m up to 28 km can be well resolved in a slant measurement geometry during nighttime. This work has demonstrated a great potential of employing the SLidar technique for the calibration of the overlap factor and the extension of the measurement range for pulsed lidar techniques.
Hypertemporal Imaging Capability of UAS Improves Photogrammetric Tree Canopy Models
Authors: Fletcher Andrew , Mather Richard
Published: April 2020

Small uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) generate imagery that can provide detailed information regarding condition and change if the products are reproducible through time. Densified point clouds form the basic information for digital surface models and orthorectified mosaics, so variable dense point reconstruction will introduce uncertainty. Eucalyptus trees typically have sparse and discontinuous canopies with pendulous leaves that present a difficult target for photogrammetry software. We examine how spectral band, season, solar azimuth, elevation, and some processing settings impact completeness and reproducibility of dense point clouds for shrub swamp and Eucalyptus forest canopy. At the study site near solar noon, selecting near infrared camera increased projected tree canopy fourfold, and dense point features more than 2 m above ground were increased sixfold compared to red spectral bands. Near infrared (NIR) imagery improved projected and total dense features two- and threefold, respectively, compared to default green band imagery. The lowest solar elevation captured (25°) consistently improved canopy feature reconstruction in all spectral bands. Although low solar elevations are typically avoided for radiometric reasons, we demonstrate that these conditions improve the detection and reconstruction of complex tree canopy features in natural Eucalyptus forests. Combining imagery sets captured at different solar elevations improved the reproducibility of dense point clouds between seasons. Total dense point cloud features reconstructed were increased by almost 10 million points (20%) when imagery used was NIR combining solar noon and low solar elevation imagery. It is possible to use agricultural multispectral camera rigs to reconstruct Eucalyptus tree canopy and shrub swamp by combining imagery and selecting appropriate spectral bands for processing.
Chipless RFID Sensors for the Internet of Things: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Mulloni Viviana , Donelli Massimo
Published: April 2020

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors are one of the fundamental components of the internet of things that aims at connecting every physical object to the cloud for the exchange of information. In this framework, chipless RFIDs are a breakthrough technology because they remove the cost associated with the chip, being at the same time printable, passive, low-power and suitable for harsh environments. After the important results achieved with multibit chipless tags, there is a clear motivation and interest to extend the chipless sensing functionality to physical, chemical, structural and environmental parameters. These potentialities triggered a strong interest in the scientific and industrial community towards this type of application. Temperature and humidity sensors, as well as localization, proximity, and structural health prototypes, have already been demonstrated, and many other sensing applications are foreseen soon. In this review, both the different architectural approaches available for this technology and the requirements related to the materials employed for sensing are summarized. Then, the state-of-the-art of categories of sensors and their applications are reported and discussed. Finally, an analysis of the current limitations and possible solution strategies for this technology are given, together with an overview of expected future developments.
Detection of Atrial Fibrillation Using 1D Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Hsieh Chaur-Heh , Li Yan-Shuo , Hwang Bor-Jiunn , Hsiao Ching-Hua
Published: April 2020

The automatic detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) is crucial for its association with the risk of embolic stroke. Most of the existing AF detection methods usually convert 1D time-series electrocardiogram (ECG) signal into 2D spectrogram to train a complex AF detection system, which results in heavy training computation and high implementation cost. This paper proposes an AF detection method based on an end-to-end 1D convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture to raise the detection accuracy and reduce network complexity. By investigating the impact of major components of a convolutional block on detection accuracy and using grid search to obtain optimal hyperparameters of the CNN, we develop a simple, yet effective 1D CNN. Since the dataset provided by PhysioNet Challenge 2017 contains ECG recordings with different lengths, we also propose a length normalization algorithm to generate equal-length records to meet the requirement of CNN. Experimental results and analysis indicate that our method of 1D CNN achieves an average F1 score of 78.2%, which has better detection accuracy with lower network complexity, as compared with the existing deep learning-based methods.
Vacant Parking Slot Detection in the Around View Image Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Li Wei , Cao Libo , Yan Lingbo , Li Chaohui , Feng Xiexing , Zhao Peijie
Published: April 2020

Due to the complex visual environment, such as lighting variations, shadows, and limitations of vision, the accuracy of vacant parking slot detection for the park assist system (PAS) with a standalone around view monitor (AVM) needs to be improved. To address this problem, we propose a vacant parking slot detection method based on deep learning, namely VPS-Net. VPS-Net converts the vacant parking slot detection into a two-step problem, including parking slot detection and occupancy classification. In the parking slot detection stage, we propose a parking slot detection method based on YOLOv3, which combines the classification of the parking slot with the localization of marking points so that various parking slots can be directly inferred using geometric cues. In the occupancy classification stage, we design a customized network whose size of convolution kernel and number of layers are adjusted according to the characteristics of the parking slot. Experiments show that VPS-Net can detect various vacant parking slots with a precision rate of 99.63% and a recall rate of 99.31% in the ps2.0 dataset, and has a satisfying generalizability in the PSV dataset. By introducing a multi-object detection network and a classification network, VPS-Net can detect various vacant parking slots robustly.
The Gas Fire Temperature Measurement for Detection of an Object’s Presence on Top of the Burner
Authors: Milecki Andrzej , Rybarczyk Dominik
Published: April 2020

This article covers the topic of temperature measurement on top of a gas burner fire in order to recognize pot removal from a gas burner and subsequently, to cut off the gas supply. The possibility of applying a factory-mounted thermocouple was investigated with the assumption that its output signal could be used to detect the presence of a pot on a gas burner. However, the characteristic of such a thermocouple is not fully linear and as the research has shown that such a thermocouple would not fit enough for the assumed purpose, thus another sensor needs to be used. Therefore, in this paper, the linear thermocouple and IR diode are used. The best localizations of theses sensors were investigated in order to obtain a signal suitable for the pot presence recognition over the burner. These investigations are supported by the use of an infrared camera. In the investigations, the temperature changes also caused by casual air blast or caused by increasing and decreasing the valve opening are recorded and analyzed. Finally, the changes of the thermocouple’s signals are used as an input signal to propose an algorithm for pot absence recognition over the burner. The microprocessor-based circuit with a control unit for detection of the pot absence is designed, built and investigated.
A Method for Human Facial Image Annotation on Low Power Consumption Autonomous Devices
Authors: Hachaj Tomasz
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a classifier designed for human facial feature annotation, which is capable of running on relatively cheap, low power consumption autonomous microcomputer systems. An autonomous system is one that depends only on locally available hardware and software—for example, it does not use remote services available through the Internet. The proposed solution, which consists of a Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) face detector and a set of neural networks, has comparable average accuracy and average true positive and true negative ratio to state-of-the-art deep neural network (DNN) architectures. However, contrary to DNNs, it is possible to easily implement the proposed method in a microcomputer with very limited RAM memory and without the use of additional coprocessors. The proposed method was trained and evaluated on a large 200,000 image face data set and compared with results obtained by other researchers. Further evaluation proves that it is possible to perform facial image attribute classification using the proposed algorithm on incoming video data captured by an RGB camera sensor of the microcomputer. The obtained results can be easily reproduced, as both the data set and source code can be downloaded. Developing and evaluating the proposed facial image annotation algorithm and its implementation, which is easily portable between various hardware and operating systems (virtually the same code works both on high-end PCs and microcomputers using the Windows and Linux platforms) and which is dedicated for low power consumption devices without coprocessors, is the main and novel contribution of this research.
Wi-Fi CSI-Based Outdoor Human Flow Prediction Using a Support Vector Machine
Authors: Ogawa Masakatsu , Munetomo Hirofumi
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a channel state information (CSI)-based prediction method of a human flow that includes activity. The objective of the paper is to predict a human flow in an outdoor road. This human flow prediction is useful for the prediction of the number of passing people and their activity without privacy issues as a result of the absence of any camera systems. In this paper, we assume seven types of activities: one, two, and three people walking; one, two, and three people running; and one person cycling. Since the CSI can effectively express the effect of multipath fading in wireless signals, we expected the CSI to predict the various activities. In our proposed method, the amplitude and phase components are extracted from the measured CSI. The feature values for machine learning are the mean and variance of the maximum eigenvalue derived from the auto-correlation matrix and variance–covariance matrix composed of the amplitude or phase components and the passing time of flow. Using these feature values, we evaluated the prediction accuracy by leave-one-out cross-validation with a linear support vector machine (SVM). As a result, the proposed method achieved the maximum prediction accuracy of 100% for each direction and 99.5% for two directions.
Parametric Acoustic Array and Its Application in Underwater Acoustic Engineering
Authors: Zhou Hanyun , Huang S.H. , Li Wei
Published: April 2020

As a sound transmitting device based on the nonlinear acoustic theory, parametric acoustic array (PAA) is able to generate high directivity and low frequency broadband signals with a small aperture transducer. Due to its predominant technical advantages, PAA has been widely used in a variety of application scenarios of underwater acoustic engineering, such as sub-bottom profile measurement, underwater acoustic communication, and detection of buried targets. In this review paper, we examine some of the important advances in the PAA since it was first proposed by Westervelt in 1963. These advances include theoretical modelling for the PAA, signal processing methods, design considerations and implementation issues, and applications of the PAA in underwater acoustic engineering. Moreover, we highlight some technical challenges which impede further development of the PAA, and correspondingly give a glimpse on its possible extension in the future. This article provides a comprehensive overview of some important works of the PAA and serves as a quick tutorial reference to readers who are interested to further explore and extend this technology, and bring this technology to other application areas.
Biosensors Platform Based on Chitosan/AuNPs/Phthalocyanine Composite Films for the Electrochemical Detection of Catechol. The Role of the Surface Structure
Authors: Salvo-Comino Coral , González-Gil Alfonso , Rodriguez-Valentin Javier , Garcia-Hernandez Celia , Martin-Pedrosa Fernando , Garcia-Cabezon Cristina , Rodriguez-Mendez Maria Luz
Published: April 2020

Biosensor platforms consisting of layer by layer films combining materials with different functionalities have been developed and used to obtain improved catechol biosensors. Tyrosinase (Tyr) or laccase (Lac) were deposited onto LbL films formed by layers of a cationic linker (chitosan, CHI) alternating with layers of anionic electrocatalytic materials (sulfonated copper phthalocyanine, CuPcS or gold nanoparticles, AuNP). Films with different layer structures were successfully formed. Characterization of surface roughness and porosity was carried out using AFM. Electrochemical responses towards catechol showed that the LbL composites efficiently improved the electron transfer path between Tyr or Lac and the electrode surface, producing an increase in the intensity over the response in the absence of the LbL platform. LbL structures with higher roughness and pore size facilitated the diffusion of catechol, resulting in lower LODs. The [(CHI)-(AuNP)-(CHI)-(CuPcS)]2-Tyr showed an LOD of 8.55∙10−4 μM, which was one order of magnitude lower than the 9.55·10−3 µM obtained with [(CHI)-(CuPcS)-(CHI)-(AuNP)]2-Tyr, and two orders of magnitude lower than the obtained with other nanostructured platforms. It can be concluded that the combination of adequate materials with complementary activity and the control of the structure of the platform is an excellent strategy to obtain biosensors with improved performances.
Design, Implementation, and Validation of a Piezoelectric Device to Study the Effects of Dynamic Mechanical Stimulation on Cell Proliferation, Migration and Morphology
Authors: Mojena-Medina Dahiana , Martínez-Hernández Marina , de la Fuente Miguel , García-Isla Guadalupe , Posada Julio , Jorcano José Luis , Acedo Pablo
Published: April 2020

Cell functions and behavior are regulated not only by soluble (biochemical) signals but also by biophysical and mechanical cues within the cells’ microenvironment. Thanks to the dynamical and complex cell machinery, cells are genuine and effective mechanotransducers translating mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals, which eventually alter multiple aspects of their own homeostasis. Given the dominant and classic biochemical-based views to explain biological processes, it could be challenging to elucidate the key role that mechanical parameters such as vibration, frequency, and force play in biology. Gaining a better understanding of how mechanical stimuli (and their mechanical parameters associated) affect biological outcomes relies partially on the availability of experimental tools that may allow researchers to alter mechanically the cell’s microenvironment and observe cell responses. Here, we introduce a new device to study in vitro responses of cells to dynamic mechanical stimulation using a piezoelectric membrane. Using this device, we can flexibly change the parameters of the dynamic mechanical stimulation (frequency, amplitude, and duration of the stimuli), which increases the possibility to study the cell behavior under different mechanical excitations. We report on the design and implementation of such device and the characterization of its dynamic mechanical properties. By using this device, we have performed a preliminary study on the effect of dynamic mechanical stimulation in a cell monolayer of an epidermal cell line (HaCaT) studying the effects of 1 Hz and 80 Hz excitation frequencies (in the dynamic stimuli) on HaCaT cell migration, proliferation, and morphology. Our preliminary results indicate that the response of HaCaT is dependent on the frequency of stimulation. The device is economic, easily replicated in other laboratories and can support research for a better understanding of mechanisms mediating cellular mechanotransduction.
Energy Management of Smart Home with Home Appliances, Energy Storage System and Electric Vehicle: A Hierarchical Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach
Authors: Lee Sangyoon , Choi Dae-Hyun
Published: April 2020

This paper presents a hierarchical deep reinforcement learning (DRL) method for the scheduling of energy consumptions of smart home appliances and distributed energy resources (DERs) including an energy storage system (ESS) and an electric vehicle (EV). Compared to Q-learning algorithms based on a discrete action space, the novelty of the proposed approach is that the energy consumptions of home appliances and DERs are scheduled in a continuous action space using an actor–critic-based DRL method. To this end, a two-level DRL framework is proposed where home appliances are scheduled at the first level according to the consumer’s preferred appliance scheduling and comfort level, while the charging and discharging schedules of ESS and EV are calculated at the second level using the optimal solution from the first level along with the consumer environmental characteristics. A simulation study is performed in a single home with an air conditioner, a washing machine, a rooftop solar photovoltaic system, an ESS, and an EV under a time-of-use pricing. Numerical examples under different weather conditions, weekday/weekend, and driving patterns of the EV confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach in terms of total cost of electricity, state of energy of the ESS and EV, and consumer preference.
Muscle Activity Detectors—Surface Electromyography in the Evaluation of Abductor Hallucis Muscle
Authors: Mortka Kamila , Wiertel-Krawczuk Agnieszka , Lisiński Przemysław
Published: April 2020

Despite the high availability of surface electromyography (sEMG), it is not widely used for testing the effectiveness of exercises that activate intrinsic muscles of foot in people with hallux valgus. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the toe-spread-out (TSO) exercise on the outcomes of sEMG recorded from the abductor hallucis muscle (AbdH). An additional objective was the assessment of nerve conduction in electroneurography. The study involved 21 patients with a diagnosed hallux valgus (research group A) and 20 people without the deformation (research group B) who performed a TSO exercise and were examined twice: before and after therapy. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in the third, most important phase of TSO. After the exercises, the frequency of motor units recruitment increased in both groups. There were no significant differences in electroneurography outcomes between the two examinations in both research groups. The TSO exercise helps in the better activation of the AbdH muscle and contributes to the recruitment of a larger number of motor units of this muscle. The TSO exercises did not cause changes in nerve conduction. The sEMG and ENG are good methods for assessing this exercise but a comprehensive assessment should include other tests as well.
Development of a Novel Multi-Channel Thermocouple Array Sensor for In-Situ Monitoring of Ice Accretion
Authors: Rieman Luke , Guk Erdogan , Kim Taeseong , Son Chankyu , Kim Jung-Sik
Published: April 2020

A test was performed to determine the efficacy of a novel multi-channel thermocouple temperature sensor employing “N+1” array architecture for the in-situ detection of icing in cold climates. T-type thermoelements were used to fabricate a sensor with six independent temperature sensing points, capable of two-dimensional temperature mapping. The sensor was intended to detect the high latent heat of fusion of water (334 J/g) which is released to the environment during ice formation. The sensor was embedded on a plywood board and an aluminium plate, respectively by an epoxy resin. Three different ice accretion cases were considered. Ice accretion for all cases was achieved on the surface of the resin layer. In order to analyse the temperature variation for all three cases, the first 20 s response for each case was averaged between three cases. A temperature increase of (1.0 ± 0.1) °C and (0.9 ± 0.1) °C was detected by the sensors 20 s after the onset of icing, attributed to the latent heat of fusion of water. The results indicate that the sensor design is well-suited to cold temperature applications and that detection of the latent heat of fusion could provide a rapid and robust means of icing detection.
Wideband Self-Calibration Method of Inductive CTs and Verification of Determined Values of Current and Phase Errors at Harmonics for Transformation of Distorted Current
Authors: Stano Ernest , Kaczmarek Michal
Published: April 2020

Self-calibration of a designed wideband inductive current transformer (CT) was carried out in the ampere-turns condition. This method does not require a reference transducer. The values of current and phase errors at the harmonics of frequencies from 100 Hz to 5 kHz were determined for the distorted primary current of the rated main frequency equal to 50 Hz. These results were verified based on the comparison of values measured between two CTs and calculated as the difference between values obtained from their calibration. Moreover, from vectorial diagrams drawn for transformation of the higher harmonics, the source of the change in the values of current and phase errors with frequency is explained. Furthermore, the method for calculation of the values of the corresponding harmonics of the current associated with the active power losses in the core and the magnetization current is presented.