bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review: Robot-Assisted Treatments for Gait Rehabilitation in Stroke Patients
Authors: Park Yong-Hwa , Lee Dae-Hwan , Lee Jung-Ho
Published: April 2024

Robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) is at the cutting edge of stroke rehabilitation, offering a groundbreaking method to improve motor recovery and enhance the quality of life for stroke survivors. This review investigates the effectiveness and application of various RAGT systems, including both end-effector and exoskeleton robots, in facilitating gait enhancements. The selection process for this comprehensive analysis involved a meticulous review of the literature from databases such as PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and EMBASE, focusing on studies published between 2018 and 2023. Ultimately, 27 studies met the criteria and were included in the final analysis. The focus of these studies was on the various RAGT systems and their role in promoting gait and balance improvements. The results of these studies conclusively show that patients experience significant positive effects from RAGT, and when combined with other physiotherapy methods, the outcomes are notably superior in enhancing functional ambulation and motor skills. This review emphasizes RAGT’s capability to deliver a more customized and effective rehabilitation experience, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of each patient.
Exploring the Influence of Crime on NEET Rates: A Regional Analysis of Italy
Authors: Odoardi Iacopo , D’Ingiullo Dario , Di Nucci Ada , Quaglione Davide
Published: April 2024

The occurrence of criminal activities has the potential to hinder socioeconomic advancement, preventing individuals from investing in human capital and pursuing employment opportunities. Our investigation focuses on the hypothesis that the NEET (not in education, employment, or training) rate is related to crime levels. Through an econometric analysis based on regional data, we examine the impact of crimes against property and against persons on NEET rates within central-northern and southern Italy, while controlling for prevalent determinants of the NEET phenomenon. Our findings reveal that, compared with prevailing discouragement factors such as youth unemployment and lack of interest in tertiary education, crime exerts a more pronounced influence on elevating NEET rates. This effect is particularly evident in the relatively less developed southern regions, where violent crimes, although relatively uncommon, may disproportionately contribute to feelings of apprehension and uncertainty regarding future prospects.
Heat-Induced Cross-Tolerance to Salinity Due to Thermopriming in Tomatoes
Authors: Körner Tobias , Gierholz Ruven , Zinkernagel Jana , Röhlen-Schmittgen Simone
Published: April 2024

Global plant production is challenged by unpredictable (a)biotic stresses that occur individually, simultaneously or staggered. Due to an increasing demand for environmentally friendly plant production, new sustainable, universal, and preventive measures in crop protection are needed. We postulate thermopriming as a suitable procedure that fulfills these requirements. Therefore, we performed thermopriming as a pre-conditioning on tomato transplants in combination with two subsequent salt stress treatments to evaluate their single and combined physiological effects on leaves and fruits with regard to plant performance, fruit yield and quality. We identified a cross-tolerance to salinity that was triggered by the preceding thermopriming treatment and resulted in an accumulation of phenols and flavonols in the leaves. Plant growth and fruit yield were initially delayed after the stress treatments but recovered later. In regard to fruit quality, we found an increase in carotenoid and starch contents in fruits due to thermopriming, while sugars and titratable acidity were not affected. Our results indicate that thermopriming can mitigate the impact of subsequent and recurrent stress events on plant performance and yield under production-like conditions.
Micro/Nanorobotics in In Vitro Fertilization: A Paradigm Shift in Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Authors: Benhal Prateek
Published: April 2024

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has transformed the sector of assisted reproductive technology (ART) by presenting hope to couples facing infertility challenges. However, conventional IVF strategies include their own set of problems such as success rates, invasive procedures, and ethical issues. The integration of micro/nanorobotics into IVF provides a prospect to address these challenging issues. This article provides an outline of the use of micro/nanorobotics in IVF specializing in advancing sperm manipulation, egg retrieval, embryo culture, and capacity future improvements in this swiftly evolving discipline. The article additionally explores the challenges and obstacles associated with the integration of micro/nanorobotics into IVF, in addition to the ethical concerns and regulatory elements related to the usage of advanced technologies in ART. A comprehensive discussion of the risk and safety considerations related to using micro/nanorobotics in IVF techniques is likewise presented. Through this exploration, we delve into the core principles, benefits, challenges, and potential impact of micro/nanorobotics in revolutionizing IVF procedures and enhancing affected person outcomes.
Petrogenesis of the Early Cretaceous Tietonggou Diorite and Its Geological Implications
Authors: Ye Guo , Mao Guangzhou , Xu Qinglin , Ding Zhengjiang , Han Yanchao , Zhao Huiji , Shen Ying
Published: April 2024

The Tietonggou pluton is mainly composed of gabbroic diorite and diorite. The petrology, zircon U-Pb age, and geochemistry of the Tietonggou diorite have been studied to determine its petrogenesis and metallogenic significance. The diorite samples have 56–58 wt% SiO2 and 11–14 wt% Al2O3 and are peraluminous and sodic (Na2O/K2O = 1.29–2.07). All the samples are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs; e.g., Rb, Ba, and Sr) but depleted in heavy rare earth elements (HREEs) and high field strength elements (HFSEs; e.g., Zr, Nb, and Ta), suggesting subduction-related affinities. The rocks have narrow ranges of (206Pb/204Pb)t (18.5–19.0), (207Pb/204Pb)t (15.71–15.75), and (208Pb/204Pb)t (38.4–39.0) ratios, respectively. Zircons from the Tietonggou diorite yielded a weighted average U-Pb age of 132.86 ± 0.92 Ma (MSWD = 0.48), whilst those from the nearby Laowa diorite yielded 129.72 ± 0.61 Ma (MSWD = 1.05). This suggests that the rocks represent Early Cretaceous plutons, coeval with the peak lithospheric thinning in eastern North China Craton (NCC). The magma likely originated from partial melting of the enriched lithospheric mantle and was contaminated by ancient lower NCC crustal materials. Our study clarifies the tectonic background of the Tietonggou pluton and provides support for the study of the genesis of Fe–skarn deposits in western Shandong.
Editorial for Special Issue “Design, Modeling, Optimization and Control of Flotation Process”
Authors: Nakhaei Fardis , Hassanzadeh Ahmad , Cisternas Luis
Published: April 2024

Flotation is a significant and widely used processing technique, effectively separating valuable and gangue minerals [...]
Orthorexia Nervosa and Healthy Orthorexia in a Physically Active North American Population
Authors: Brodock Jennifer L. , Hopfer Helene , Masterson Travis D. , Hayes John E.
Published: April 2024

The Teruel Orthorexia Scale (TOS) defines two related but distinct constructs: Orthorexia Nervosa (OrNe), a pathological fixation on a healthy diet, and Healthy Orthorexia (HeOr), an interest in a healthy diet independent of psychopathology. Here, we (a) assessed both types of Orthorexia in a large North American sample using the TOS and (b) explored if engaging in regular physical activity was associated with a greater risk of Orthorexia. A cohort of physically active adults (n = 927; 41% men) completed the TOS, as well as the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA), to broadly assess aerobic physical activity level and participation in strength and/or flexibility training. As expected, scores for HeOr and OrNe differed between participants, with lower scores for Orthorexia Nervosa in our physically active non-clinical sample. Higher HeOr scores were associated with lower BMI, and this was true for both men and women. We also found that measures of Orthorexia were associated with self-reported physical activity: active adults reporting more aerobic physical activity had higher HeOr scores, with the most active men having the highest scores. Notably, adults who reported regular strength training had higher scores for both HeOr and OrNe, with men who strength trained showing higher OrNe scores than women. Here, those who participate in regular strength training are more likely to exhibit orthorexic behaviors, and this effect was more pronounced for men than women. Prior work has validated the TOS in young, primarily female samples of non-English speakers outside the United States: present data from an age-diverse, physically active, gender balanced sample support the use of TOS for measurement of Orthorexia Nervosa and Healthy Orthorexia in English speakers and suggest that more work is needed to assess potential gender differences in these constructs.
The Associations between Snack Intake and Cariogenic Oral Microorganism Colonization in Young Children of a Low Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Alkadi Ahmed , Alkhars Naemah , Manning Samantha , Xu Hongzhe , Sohn Michael , Xiao Jin , Meng Ying
Published: April 2024

Cariogenic microorganisms are crucial pathogens contributing to the development of early childhood caries. Snacks provide fermentable carbohydrates, altering oral pH levels and potentially affecting microorganism colonization. However, the relationship between snack intake and cariogenic microorganisms like Candida and Streptococcus mutans in young children is still unclear. This study aimed to assess this association in a prospective underserved birth cohort. Data from children aged 12 to 24 months, including oral microbial assays and snack intake information, were analyzed. Sweet and non-sweet indices based on the cariogenic potential of 15 snacks/drinks were created. Mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between sweet and non-sweet indices and S. mutans and Candida carriage. Random forest identified predictive factors of microorganism carriage. Higher non-sweet index scores were linked to increased S. mutans carriage in plaques (OR = 1.67, p = 0.01), potentially strengthening with age. Higher sweet index scores at 12 months were associated with increased Candida carriage, reversing at 24 months. Both indices were top predictors of S. mutans and Candida carriage. These findings underscore the associations between snack intake and cariogenic microorganism carriage and highlight the importance of dietary factors in oral health management for underserved young children with limited access to dental care and healthy foods.
Dietary Quality and Associated Factors among Women of Reproductive Age in Six Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Janmohamed Amynah , Baker Melissa M. , Doledec David , Ndiaye Fatou , Konan Ahmenan Claude Liliane , Leonce Amoakon , Kouadio Koffi Landry , Beye Maguette , Danboyi Delphine , Jumbe Theresia J. , Ndjebayi Alex , Ombati Caleb , Njenga Benjamin K. , Dissieka Romance
Published: April 2024

The burden of micronutrient malnutrition is high among women of reproductive age (WRA) in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the dietary quality and associated factors for WRA in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania. Data were collected from women aged 15–49 years using representative Diet Quality Questionnaire surveys. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W), All-5 (key food group) consumption, noncommunicable disease risk (NCD-Risk), and Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) indicators were assessed. Participants included N = 16,584 women [Cameroon: N = 2073; Côte d’Ivoire: N = 242; Kenya: N = 864; Adamawa State (Nigeria): N = 1283; Benue State (Nigeria): N = 1047; Nasarawa State (Nigeria): N = 1151; Senegal: N = 7232; Tanzania: N = 2692]. The MDD-W ranged from 43.0% in Tanzania to 81.4% in Côte d’Ivoire and was higher in urban, compared to rural, areas in Cameroon, Kenya, Nasarawa, Senegal, and Tanzania (p < 0.001). Increased education and wealth were positively associated with MDD-W in Kenya, Benue, Senegal, and Tanzania. Fewer than half of all women attained All-5 consumption. NCD-Risk scores ranged from 1.13 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.17) in Tanzania to 2.28 (95% CI: 2.16, 2.40) in Nasarawa, and women’s GDR scores ranged from 10.47 (95% CI: 10.40, 10.54) in Cameroon to 11.45 (95% CI: 11.25, 11.64) in Côte d’Ivoire. Our findings highlight key aspects of women’s diets in sub-Saharan African settings to enable greater awareness and more targeted responses to the specific areas needing the most improvement.
Co-Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato and Babesia spp. DNA in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Vegetation and Pets in the City of Poznań, Poland
Authors: Liberska Justyna , Michalik Jerzy Franciszek , Olechnowicz Julia , Dabert Miroslawa
Published: April 2024

Here, we described the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia species found in mono- and double infections among Ixodes ricinus ticks occurring in urban areas of the city of Poznań, Poland. We tested 1029 host-seeking ticks and 1268 engorged ticks removed from pet animals. Borrelia afzelii and B. garinii prevailed both in ticks from vegetation (3.7% and 3.7%, respectively) and from pets (3.7% and 0.6%, respectively). Babesia canis and Ba. microti were the most prevalent in host-seeking (2.6% and 1.4%, respectively) and feeding ticks (2.8% and 2.2%, respectively). Babesia microti sequences proved to be identical to the human pathogenic Ba. microti genotype “Jena/Germany”. Sequences of the rarest piroplasm Ba. venatorum (0.7%) were identical with those isolated from European patients. About 1.0% of tested ticks yielded dual infections; in host-seeking ticks, Ba. canis prevailed in co-infections with B. afzelii and B. garinii, whereas Ba. microti and B. afzelii dominated in double-infected feeding ticks. Dual infections, even with a low prevalence, pose a challenge for differential diagnosis in patients with acute febrile disease after a tick bite. The finding of Ba. canis in both tick groups suggests that I. ricinus could be involved in the circulation of this piroplasm.
Effect of Aging on Tensile and Chemical Properties of Polylactic Acid and Polylactic Acid-Like Polymer Materials for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Golubović Zorana , Bojović Božica , Kirin Snežana , Milovanović Aleksa , Petrov Ljubiša , Anđelković Boban , Sofrenić Ivana
Published: April 2024

Additive manufacturing, with its fast development and application of polymeric materials, led to the wide utilization of polylactic acid (PLA) materials. As a biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyester, produced from renewable sources, PLA is widely used in different sectors, from industry to medicine and science. The aim of this research is to determine the differences between two forms of the PLA material, i.e., fused deposition modeling (FDM) printed filament and digital light processing (DLP) printed resin, followed by aging due to environmental and hygiene maintenance conditions for a period of two months. Specimens underwent 3D scanning, tensile testing, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry to obtain insights into the material changes that occurred. Two-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis was subsequently carried out to determine the statistical significance of the determined changes. Significant impairment can be observed in the dimensional accuracies between both materials, whether they are non-aged or aged. The mechanical properties fluctuated for aged FDM specimens: 15% for ultimate tensile stress, 15% for elongation at yield, and 12% for elastic modulus. Regarding the DLP aged specimens, the UTS decreased by 61%, elongation at yield by around 61%, and elastic modulus by 62%. According to the FTIR spectral analysis, the PLA materials degraded, especially in the case of resin specimens. Aging also showed a significant influence on the elastic modulus, ultimate tensile stress, elongation at yield, elongation at break, and toughness of both materials, which was statistically shown by means of a two-way ANOVA test. The data collected in this research give a better understanding of the underlying aging mechanism of PLA materials.
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Silicon Nitride as a Reinforcement Agent for Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol in Material Extrusion 3D Printing
Authors: Michailidis Nikolaos , Petousis Markos , Saltas Vassilis , Papadakis Vassilis , Spiridaki Mariza , Mountakis Nikolaos , Argyros Apostolos , Valsamos John , Nasikas Nektarios K. , Vidakis Nectarios
Published: April 2024

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) were combined to create five composite materials with Si3N4 loadings ranging from 2.0 wt.% to 10.0 wt.%. The goal was to improve the mechanical properties of PETG in material extrusion (MEX) additive manufacturing (AM) and assess the effectiveness of Si3N4 as a reinforcing agent for this particular polymer. The process began with the production of filaments, which were subsequently fed into a 3D printer to create various specimens. The specimens were manufactured according to international standards to ensure their suitability for various tests. The thermal, rheological, mechanical, electrical, and morphological properties of the prepared samples were evaluated. The mechanical performance investigations performed included tensile, flexural, Charpy impact, and microhardness tests. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping were performed to investigate the structures and morphologies of the samples, respectively. Among all the composites tested, the PETG/6.0 wt.% Si3N4 showed the greatest improvement in mechanical properties (with a 24.5% increase in tensile strength compared to unfilled PETG polymer), indicating its potential for use in MEX 3D printing when enhanced mechanical performance is required from the PETG polymer.
Three-Dimensional Cross-Linking Network Coating for the Flame Retardant of Bio-Based Polyamide 56 Fabric by Weak Bonds
Authors: Cui Yunlong , Liu Yu , Gu Dongxu , Zhu Hongyu , Wang Meihui , Dong Mengjie , Guo Yafei , Sun Hongyu , Hao Jianyuan , Hao Xinmin
Published: April 2024

Weak bonds usually make macromolecules stronger; therefore, they are often used to enhance the mechanical strength of polymers. Not enough studies have been reported on the use of weak bonds in flame retardants. A water-soluble polyelectrolyte complex composed of polyethyleneimine (PEI), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and melamine (MEL) was designed and utilized to treat bio-based polyamide 56 (PA56) by a simple three-step process. It was found that weak bonds cross-linked the three compounds to a 3D network structure with MEL on the surface of the coating under mild conditions. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of PA56 fabrics were improved by the controlled coating without losing their mechanical properties. After washing 50 times, PA56 still kept good flame retardancy. The cross-linking network structure of the flame retardant enhanced both the thermal stability and durability of the fabric. STPP acted as a catalyst for the breakage of the PA56 molecular chain, PEI facilitated the char formation and MEL released non-combustible gases. The synergistic effect of all compounds was exploited by using weak bonds. This simple method of developing structures with 3D cross-linking using weak bonds provides a new strategy for the preparation of low-cost and environmentally friendly flame retardants.
Modification of Cu Oxide and Cu Nitride Films by Energetic Ion Impact
Authors: Matsunami Noriaki , Sataka Masao , Okayasu Satoru , Tsuchiya Bun
Published: April 2024

We have investigated lattice disordering of cupper oxide (Cu2O) and copper nitride (Cu3N) films induced by high- and low-energy ion impact, knowing that the effects of electronic excitation and elastic collision play roles by these ions, respectively. For high-energy ion impact, degradation of X-ray diffraction (XRD) intensity per ion fluence or lattice disordering cross-section (YXD) fits to the power-law: YXD = (BXDSe)NXD, with Se and BXD being the electronic stopping power and a constant. For Cu2O and Cu3N, NXD is obtained to be 2.42 and 1.75, and BXD is 0.223 and 0.54 (kev/nm)−1. It appears that for low-energy ion impact, YXD is nearly proportional to the nuclear stopping power (Sn). The efficiency of energy deposition, YXD/Se, as well as Ysp/Se, is compared with YXD/Sn, as well as Ysp/Sn. The efficiency ratio RXD = (YXD/Se)/(YXD/Sn) is evaluated to be ~0.1 and ~0.2 at Se = 15 keV/nm for Cu2O and Cu3N, meaning that the efficiency of electronic energy deposition is smaller than that of nuclear energy deposition. Rsp = (Ysp/Se)/(Ysp/Sn) is evaluated to be 0.46 for Cu2O and 0.7 for Cu3N at Se = 15 keV/nm.
The Significance and Musical Features of Modern Korean Buddhist Hymns through Baek Yong-sung’s Buddhist Hymns
Authors: Ahn Seungchul , Moon Hyungong
Published: April 2024

Chan-bul-ga (찬불가, 讚佛歌), which in English means ‘songs in praise of the Buddha’, refers to a style of Korean Buddhist hymn that emerged during the modernization of Korean Buddhism. Buddhist hymns—which can be considered to be based on Christian hymns—are characterized by the fact that they can be easily learned by the general public so that they can easily participate in Buddhist rituals together, unlike the existing Korean Buddhist musical styles of ‘Beom-pae (범패, 梵唄)’ and ‘Hwa-cheong (화청, 和請)’. The monk Baek Yong-sung (1864–1940), who embraced the function and effectiveness of these new religious music styles as one of his methods of propagation, participated in the independence movement after the 1910 Korea–Japan Annexation Treaty, and he led both the public enlightenment movement and the spread of Buddhism by creating Buddhist hymns. The present study seeks to examine Baek Yong-sung’s social activities and the context in which modern Buddhist hymns emerged. This study also explores the religious, social, and musical meanings of Buddhist hymns while focusing on his works ‘Wang-seng-ga (왕생가)’ and ‘Se-gye-gi-si-ga (세계기시가)’.
Advancements in Remote Sensing Imagery Applications for Precision Management in Olive Growing: A Systematic Review
Authors: Marques Pedro , Pádua Luís , Sousa Joaquim J. , Fernandes-Silva Anabela
Published: April 2024

This systematic review explores the role of remote sensing technology in addressing the requirements of sustainable olive growing, set against the backdrop of growing global food demands and contemporary environmental constraints in agriculture. The critical analysis presented in this document assesses different remote sensing platforms (satellites, manned aircraft vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and terrestrial equipment) and sensors (RGB, multispectral, thermal, hyperspectral and LiDAR), emphasizing their strategic selection based on specific study aims and geographical scales. Focusing on olive growing, particularly prominent in the Mediterranean region, this article analyzes the diverse applications of remote sensing, including the management of inventory and irrigation; detection/monitoring of diseases and phenology; and estimation of crucial parameters regarding biophysical parameters, water stress indicators, crop evapotranspiration and yield. Through a global perspective and insights from studies conducted in diverse olive-growing regions, this review underscores the potential benefits of remote sensing in shaping and improving sustainable agricultural practices, mitigating environmental impacts and ensuring the economic viability of olive trees.
VLF Signal Noise Reduction during Intense Seismic Activity: First Study of Wave Excitations and Attenuations in the VLF Signal Amplitude
Authors: Nina Aleksandra
Published: April 2024

This study is a continuation of pilot research on the relationships between seismic activity and changes in very low frequency (VLF) signals starting a few minutes or a few dozen minutes before an earthquake. These changes are recorded in the time and frequency domains and their duration can be influenced not only by the strongest earthquake but also by others that occur in a short time interval. This suggests that there are differences in these changes in cases of individual earthquakes and during the period of intense seismic activity (PISA). In a recent study, they were validated in the time domain by comparing the amplitude noise reductions during the PISA and before earthquakes that occurred in the analysed periods without intense seismic activity (PWISA). Here, we analyse the changes in the VLF signal amplitude in the frequency domain during the PISA and their differences are compared to the previously investigated relevant changes during PWISA. We observe the signal emitted by the ICV transmitter in Italy and received in Serbia from 26 October to 2 November 2016 when 907 earthquakes occurred in Central Italy. The study is based on analyses of the Fourier amplitude AF obtained by applying the fast Fourier transform (FFT) to the values of the ICV signal amplitude sampled at 0.1 s. The obtained results confirm the existence of one of the potential earthquake precursors observed during PWISA: significantly smaller values of AF for small wave periods (they can be smaller than 10−3 dB) than under quiet conditions (the expected values are larger than 10−2 dB). Exceptions were the values of AF for wave periods between 1.4 s and 2 s from a few days before the observed PISA to almost the end of that period. They were similar or higher than the values expected under quiet conditions. The mentioned decrease lasted throughout the observed longer period from 10 October to 10 November, with occasional normalisation. It was many times longer than the decreases in AF around the considered earthquakes during PWISA, which lasted up to several hours. In addition, no significant wave excitations were recorded at discrete small values of the wave periods during the PISA, as was the case for earthquakes during PWISA. These differences indicate the potential possibility of predicting the PISA if the corresponding earthquake precursors are recorded. Due to their importance for potential warning systems, they should be analysed in more detail in future statistical studies.
Remote Sensing Images Secure Distribution Scheme Based on Deep Information Hiding
Authors: Luo Peng , Liu Jia , Xu Jingting , Dang Qian , Mu Dejun
Published: April 2024

To ensure the security of highly sensitive remote sensing images (RSIs) during their distribution, it is essential to implement effective content security protection methods. Generally, secure distribution schemes for remote sensing images often employ cryptographic techniques. However, sending encrypted data exposes communication behavior, which poses significant security risks to the distribution of remote sensing images. Therefore, this paper introduces deep information hiding to achieve the secure distribution of remote sensing images, which can serve as an effective alternative in certain specific scenarios. Specifically, the Deep Information Hiding for RSI Distribution (hereinafter referred to as DIH4RSID) based on an encoder–decoder network architecture with Parallel Attention Mechanism (PAM) by adversarial training is proposed. Our model is constructed with four main components: a preprocessing network (PN), an embedding network (EN), a revealing network (RN), and a discriminating network (DN). The PN module is primarily based on Inception to capture more details of RSIs and targets of different scales. The PAM module obtains features in two spatial directions to realize feature enhancement and context information integration. The experimental results indicate that our proposed algorithm achieves relatively higher visual quality and secure level compared to related methods. Additionally, after extracting the concealed content from hidden images, the average classification accuracy is unaffected.
SensAA—Design and Verification of a Cloud-Based Wearable Biomechanical Data Acquisition System
Authors: David Jonas Paul , Schick David , Rapp Lorenz , Schick Johannes , Glaser Markus
Published: April 2024

Exoskeletons designed to assist patients with activities of daily living are becoming increasingly popular, but still are subject to research. In order to gather requirements for the design of such systems, long-term gait observation of the patients over the course of multiple days in an environment of daily living are required. In this paper a wearable all-in-one data acquisition system for collecting and storing biomechanical data in everyday life is proposed. The system is designed to be cost efficient and easy to use, using off-the-shelf components and a cloud server system for centralized data storage. The measurement accuracy of the system was verified, by measuring the angle of the human knee joint at walking speeds between 3 and 12 km/h in reference to an optical motion analysis system. The acquired data were uploaded to a cloud database via a smartphone application. Verification results showed that the proposed toolchain works as desired. The system reached an RMSE from 2.9° to 8°, which is below that of most comparable systems. The system provides a powerful, scalable platform for collecting and processing biomechanical data, which can help to automize the generation of an extensive database for human kinematics.
A Distortion Correction Method Based on Actual Camera Imaging Principles
Authors: Yin Wenxin , Zang Xizhe , Wu Lei , Zhang Xuehe , Zhao Jie
Published: April 2024

In the human–robot collaboration system, the high-precision distortion correction of the camera as an important sensor is a crucial prerequisite for accomplishing the task. The traditional correction process is to calculate the lens distortion with the camera model parameters or separately from the camera model. However, in the optimization process calculate with the camera model parameters, the mutual compensation between the parameters may lead to numerical instability, and the existing distortion correction methods separated from the camera model are difficult to ensure the accuracy of the correction. To address this problem, this study proposes a model-independent lens distortion correction method based on the image center area from the perspective of the actual camera lens distortion principle. The proposed method is based on the idea that the structured image preserves its ratios through perspective transformation, and uses the local image information in the central area of the image to correct the overall image. The experiments are verified from two cases of low distortion and high distortion under simulation and actual experiments. The experimental results show that the accuracy and stability of this method are better than other methods in training and testing results.
Concept and Design of a Multi-Polarization Reconfigurable Microstrip Antenna with Symmetrical Biasing Control
Authors: Antunes Filipa , Ramos Amélia , Varum Tiago , Matos João N.
Published: April 2024

Wireless communication systems have grown rapidly, moving towards being highly compact, intelligent, and flexible to adapt to changing operating requirements. Multifunctional and highly versatile antennas are key in this development to ensure system quality. Reconfigurable antennas, particularly regarding polarization, allow frequency reuse and enable the mitigation of fading effects. This work presents a square microstrip patch antenna operating in the ISM 5.8 GHz band with reconfigurable polarization by controlling its feeding. This antenna has four different states through the application of a symmetrical DC voltage that controls an RF circuit with PIN diodes. As a result, the microstrip patch can operate with three different polarizations: linear polarization and both circular polarizations (right-handed and left-handed). The antenna was fabricated to validate the proposed concept. The good agreement between the measurement and the simulation results was possible to observe regarding its polarization behaviour, impedance adaptation and radiation pattern.
The Stress of Measuring Plantar Tissue Stress in People with Diabetes-Related Foot Ulcers: Biomechanical and Feasibility Findings from Two Prospective Cohort Studies
Authors: Hulshof Chantal M. , Page Madelyn , van Baal Sjef G. , Bus Sicco A. , Fernando Malindu E. , van Gemert-Pijnen Lisette , Kappert Kilian D. R. , Lucadou-Wells Scott , Najafi Bijan , van Netten Jaap J. , Lazzarini Peter A.
Published: April 2024

Reducing high mechanical stress is imperative to heal diabetes-related foot ulcers. We explored the association of cumulative plantar tissue stress (CPTS) and plantar foot ulcer healing, and the feasibility of measuring CPTS, in two prospective cohort studies (Australia (AU) and The Netherlands (NL)). Both studies used multiple sensors to measure factors to determine CPTS: plantar pressures, weight-bearing activities, and adherence to offloading treatments, with thermal stress response also measured to estimate shear stress in the AU-study. The primary outcome was ulcer healing at 12 weeks. Twenty-five participants were recruited: 13 in the AU-study and 12 in the NL-study. CPTS data were complete for five participants (38%) at baseline and one (8%) during follow-up in the AU-study, and one (8%) at baseline and zero (0%) during follow-up in the NL-study. Reasons for low completion at baseline were technical issues (AU-study: 31%, NL-study: 50%), non-adherent participants (15% and 8%) or combinations (15% and 33%); and at follow-up refusal of participants (62% and 25%). These underpowered findings showed that CPTS was non-significantly lower in people who healed compared with non-healed people (457 [117; 727], 679 [312; 1327] MPa·s/day). Current feasibility of CPTS seems low, given technical challenges and non-adherence, which may reflect the burden of treating diabetes-related foot ulcers.
Layout of Detection Array Based on Multi-Strategy Fusion Improved Adaptive Mayfly Algorithm in Bearing-Only Sensor Network
Authors: Chen Zhan , Fang Yangwang , Zhang Ruitao , Fu Wenxing
Published: April 2024

The various applications of bearing-only sensor networks for detection and localization are becoming increasingly widespread and important. The array layout of the bearing-only sensor network seriously impacts the detection performance. This paper proposes a multi-strategy fusion improved adaptive mayfly algorithm (MIAMA) in a bearing-only sensor network to perform layout planning on the geometric configuration of the optimal detection. Firstly, the system model of a bearing-only sensor network was constructed, and the observability of the system was analyzed based on the Cramer–Rao Lower Bound and Fisher Information Matrix. Then, in view of the limitations of the traditional mayfly algorithm, which has a single initial population and no adaptability and poor global search capabilities, multi-strategy fusion improvements were carried out by introducing Tent chaos mapping, the adaptive inertia weight factor, and Random Opposition-based Learning. Finally, three simulation experiments were conducted. Through comparison with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, Mayfly Algorithm (MA), and Genetic Algorithm (GA), the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed MIAMA were validated.
Missing Value Imputation of Wireless Sensor Data for Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Decorte Thomas , Mortier Steven , Lembrechts Jonas J. , Meysman Filip J. R. , Latré Steven , Mannens Erik , Verdonck Tim
Published: April 2024

Over the past few years, the scale of sensor networks has greatly expanded. This generates extended spatiotemporal datasets, which form a crucial information resource in numerous fields, ranging from sports and healthcare to environmental science and surveillance. Unfortunately, these datasets often contain missing values due to systematic or inadvertent sensor misoperation. This incompleteness hampers the subsequent data analysis, yet addressing these missing observations forms a challenging problem. This is especially the case when both the temporal correlation of timestamps within a single sensor and the spatial correlation between sensors are important. Here, we apply and evaluate 12 imputation methods to complete the missing values in a dataset originating from large-scale environmental monitoring. As part of a large citizen science project, IoT-based microclimate sensors were deployed for six months in 4400 gardens across the region of Flanders, generating 15-min recordings of temperature and soil moisture. Methods based on spatial recovery as well as time-based imputation were evaluated, including Spline Interpolation, MissForest, MICE, MCMC, M-RNN, BRITS, and others. The performance of these imputation methods was evaluated for different proportions of missing data (ranging from 10% to 50%), as well as a realistic missing value scenario. Techniques leveraging the spatial features of the data tend to outperform the time-based methods, with matrix completion techniques providing the best performance. Our results therefore provide a tool to maximize the benefit from costly, large-scale environmental monitoring efforts.
Testing and Analysis of Selected Navigation Parameters of the GNSS/INS System for USV Path Localization during Inland Hydrographic Surveys
Authors: Specht Mariusz
Published: April 2024

One of the main methods of the path localization of moving objects is positioning using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) in cooperation with Inertial Navigation Systems (INSs). Its basic task is to provide high availability, in particular in areas with limited access to satellite signals such as forests, tunnels or urban areas. The aim of the article is to carry out the testing and analysis of selected navigation parameters (3D position coordinates (Northing, Easting, and height) and Euler angles (pitch and roll)) of the GNSS/INS system for Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) path localization during inland hydrographic surveys. The research used the Ellipse-D GNSS/INS system working in the Real Time Kinematic (RTK) mode in order to determine the position of the “HydroDron” Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV). Measurements were conducted on four representative routes with a parallel and spiral arrangement of sounding profiles on Lake Kłodno (Poland). Based on the obtained research results, position accuracy measures of the “HydroDron” USV were determined using the Ellipse-D GNSS/INS system. Additionally, it was determined whether USV path localization using a GNSS/INS system working in the RTK mode meets the positioning requirements for inland hydrographic surveys. Research has shown that the Ellipse-D system operating in the RTK mode can be successfully used to position vessels when carrying out inland hydrographic surveys in all International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) Orders (Exclusive, Special, 1a/1b and 2) even when it does not work 100% correctly, e.g., loss of RTK corrections for an extended period of time. In an area with limited coverage of the mobile network operator (30–40% of the time the receiver operated in the differential mode), the positioning accuracy of the “HydroDron” USV using the Ellipse-D GNSS/INS system working in the RTK mode was from 0.877 m to 0.941 m for the R95(2D) measure, depending on the route travelled. Moreover, research has shown that if the Ellipse-D system performed GNSS/INS measurements using the RTK method, the pitch and roll error values amounted to approx. 0.06°, which is almost identical to that recommended by the device manufacturer. However, when working in the differential mode, the pitch and roll error values increased from 0.06° to just over 0.2°.
Point Sensor Networks Struggle to Detect and Quantify Short Controlled Releases at Oil and Gas Sites
Authors: Day Rachel Elizabeth , Emerson Ethan , Bell Clay , Zimmerle Daniel
Published: April 2024

This study evaluated multiple commercially available continuous monitoring (CM) point sensor network (PSN) solutions under single-blind controlled release testing conducted at operational upstream and midstream oil and natural gas (O&G) sites. During releases, PSNs reported site-level emission rate estimates of 0 kg/h between 38 and 86% of the time. When non-zero site-level emission rate estimates were provided, no linear correlation between the release rate and the reported emission rate estimate was observed. The average, aggregated across all PSN solutions during releases, shows 5% of the mixing ratio readings at downwind sensors were greater than the site’s baseline plus two standard deviations. Four of seven total PSN solutions tested during this field campaign provided site-level emission rate estimates with the site average relative error ranging from −100% to 24% for solution D, −100% to −43% for solution E, −25% for solution F (solution F was only at one site), and −99% to 430% for solution G, with an overall average of −29% across all sites and solutions. Of all the individual site-level emission rate estimates, only 11% were within ±2.5 kg/h of the study team’s best estimate of site-level emissions at the time of the releases.
Detection of Biomolecules Using Solid-State Nanopores Fabricated by Controlled Dielectric Breakdown
Authors: Cheng Peng , Zhao Candong , Pan Qinjie , Xiong Zijian , Chen Qi , Miao Xiangshui , He Yuhui
Published: April 2024

Nanopore sensor technology is widely used in biomolecular detection due to its advantages of low cost and easy operation. In a variety of nanopore manufacturing methods, controlled dielectric breakdown has the advantages of a simple manufacturing process and low cost under the premise of ensuring detection performance. In this paper, we have made enhancements to the applied pulses in controlled dielectric breakdown and utilized the improved dielectric breakdown technique to fabricate silicon nitride nanopores with diameters of 5 to 15 nm. Our improved fabrication method offers the advantage of precise control over the nanopore diameter (±0.4 nm) and enhances the symmetry of the nanopore. After fabrication, we performed electrical characterization on the nanopores, and the IV characteristics exhibited high linearity. Subsequently, we conducted detection experiments for DNA and protein using the prepared nanopores to assess the detection performance of the nanopores fabricated using our method. In addition, we also give a physical model of molecule translocation through the nanopores to give a reasonable explanation of the data processing results.
Dilated Heterogeneous Convolution for Cell Detection and Segmentation Based on Mask R-CNN
Authors: Hu Fengdan , Hu Haigen , Xu Hui , Xu Jinshan , Chen Qi
Published: April 2024

Owing to the variable shapes, large size difference, uneven grayscale, and dense distribution among biological cells in an image, it is very difficult to accurately detect and segment cells. Especially, it is a serious challenge for some microscope imaging devices with limited resources owing to a large number of learning parameters and computational burden when using the standard Mask R-CNN. In this work, we propose a mask R-DHCNN for cell detection and segmentation. More specifically, Dilation Heterogeneous Convolution (DHConv) is proposed by designing a novel convolutional kernel structure (i.e., DHConv), which integrates the strengths of the heterogeneous kernel structure and dilated convolution. Then, the traditional homogeneous convolution structure of the standard Mask R-CNN is replaced with the proposed DHConv module to it adapt to shape and size differences encountered in cell detection and segmentation tasks. Finally, a series of comparison and ablation experiments are conducted on various biological cell datasets (such as U373, GoTW1, SIM+, and T24) to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can obtain better performance than some state-of-the-art methods in multiple metrics (including AP, Precision, Recall, Dice, and PQ) while maintaining competitive FLOPs and FPS.
Evaluation of Color and Pigment Changes in Tomato after 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) Treatment
Authors: Horváth-Mezőfi Zsuzsanna , Baranyai László , Nguyen Lien Le Phuong , Dam Mai Sao , Ha Nga Thi Thanh , Göb Mónika , Sasvár Zoltán , Csurka Tamás , Zsom Tamás , Hitka Géza
Published: April 2024

The Polar Qualification System (PQS) was applied on hue spectra fingerprinting to describe color changes in tomato during storage. The cultivar ‘Pitenza’ was harvested at six different maturity stages, and half of the samples were subjected to gaseous 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment. Reference color parameters were recorded with a vision system colorimeter instrument, and the fruit pigment concentration was assessed with the DA-index®. Additionally, acoustic firmness (Stiffness) was measured. All acquired reference parameters were used to grade fruit in the supply chain. The applied 1-MCP treatments were used to control the ripening of climacteric horticultural produce. Both the DA-index® and stiffness values, presented as chlorophyll concentration and acoustic firmness, showed significant differences among maturity stages and treated and control samples and in their kinetics during storage. The machine vision parameter PQS-X was significantly affected by 1-MCP treatment (F = 10.18, p < 0.01), while PQS-Y was primarily affected by storage time (F = 18.18, p < 0.01) and maturity stage (F = 11.15, p < 0.01). A significant correlation was achieved for acoustic firmness with normalized color (r > 0.78) and PQS-Y (r > 0.80), as well as for the DA-index® (r > 0.9). The observed color changes agreed with the reference measurements. The significant statistical effect on the PQS coordinates suggests that hue spectra fingerprinting with this data compression technique is suitable for quality assessment based on color.
OPTORER: A Dynamic Routing and Touring Service for Indoors and Outdoor Tours
Authors: Vassilakis Constantinos , Polychronaki Maria , Margaritis Dimosthenis , Kogias Dimitrios G. , Leligou Helen C.
Published: April 2024

This paper introduces a new routing and touring service both for outdoor and indoor places of touristic and cultural interest designed to be used in the wider area of Attica, Greece. This service is the result of the work performed in OPTORER (OPTORER: OPtimal rouTing and explOration of touRistic and cultural arEas of interest within Attica given personalized adaptive preferences, promoted underlying purpose, and interactive experience), project, and it aspires to offer a range of innovative and thematic routes to several specified points of interest in the selected area of Attica, encouraging the combination of indoor and outdoor routes in a single tour. The aim is to optimize the user experience while promoting specific, user-centric features, with safety and social welfare being a priority for every designed tour, resulting in enhancing the touristic experience in the area. Using a common smartphone device, as well as common wearable devices (i.e., smartwatches), the OPTORER service will provide an end-to-end solution by developing the algorithms and end-user applications, together with an orchestration platform responsible for managing, operating, and executing the service that produces and presents to the end user results derived from solving dynamically complex optimization problems.