bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Native Whey Induces Similar Adaptation to Strength Training as Milk, despite Higher Levels of Leucine, in Elderly Individuals
Authors: Hamarsland Håvard , Johansen Mathias K. , Seeberg Fridtjof , Brochmann Marie , Garthe Ina , Benestad Haakon B. , Raastad Truls
Published: September 2019

Background: Large amounts of protein (40 g) or supplementing suboptimal servings of protein with leucine are able to overcome the anabolic resistance in elderly muscle. Our aim was to compare the effects of supplementation of native whey, high in leucine, with milk on gains in muscle mass and strength during a period of strength training, in elderly individuals. Methods: In this double-blinded, randomized, controlled study, a total of 30 healthy men and women received two daily servings of 20 g of either milk protein or native whey, during an 11-week strength training intervention. Muscle strength, lean mass, m. vastus lateralis thickness, muscle fiber area, and resting and post-exercise phosphorylation of p70S6K, 4E-BP1, and eEF-2 were assessed prior to and after the intervention period. Results: Muscle mass and strength increased, by all measures applied in both groups (p < 0.001), with no differences between groups (p > 0.25). p70S6K phosphorylation increased (~1000%, p < 0.045) 2 h after exercise in the untrained and trained state, with no differences between supplements. Total and phosphorylated mTORC-1 decreased after training. Conclusion: Supplementation with milk or native whey during an 11-week strength training period increased muscle mass and strength similarly in healthy elderly individuals.
MTA1-Dependent Anticancer Activity of Gnetin C in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kumar Avinash , Dholakia Kshiti , Sikorska Gabriela , Martinez Luis A. , Levenson Anait S.
Published: September 2019

The overexpression of metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) in prostate cancer (PCa) contributes to tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. We have reported the inhibition of MTA1 by resveratrol and its potent analog pterostilbene in vitro and in vivo. We have demonstrated that pterostilbene treatment blocks the progression of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma in mouse models by inhibiting MTA1 expression and signaling. In the current study, we investigated the MTA1 targeted anticancer effects of Gnetin C, a resveratrol dimer, in comparison with resveratrol and pterostilbene. Using DU145 and PC3M PCa cells, we found that Gnetin C downregulates MTA1 more potently than resveratrol and pterostilbene. Further, Gnetin C demonstrated significant MTA1-mediated inhibitory effect on cell viability, colony formation, and migration, while showing a more potent induction of cell death than resveratrol or pterostilbene. In addition, we identified Gnetin C-induced substantial ETS2 (erythroblastosis E26 transformation-specific 2) downregulation, which is not only MTA1-dependent, but is also independent of MTA1 as a possible mechanism for the superior anticancer efficacy of Gnetin C in PCa. Together, these findings underscore the importance of novel potent resveratrol dimer, Gnetin C, as a clinically promising agent for the future development of chemopreventive and possibly combinatorial therapeutic approaches in PCa.
P-Glycoprotein 1 Affects Chemoactivities of Resveratrol against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Aires Virginie , Colin Didier J , Doreau Agnès , Di Pietro Attilio , Heydel Jean-Marie , Artur Yves , Latruffe Norbert , Delmas Dominique
Published: September 2019

Resveratrol has been proposed to prevent tumor growth and the different steps of carcinogenesis; nevertheless, these biological effects are sometimes discordant between different cell types. Several hypotheses and works have suggested that the metabolism of resveratrol could be at the origin of a different cellular response. We show here, using colorectal tumor cell lines, that the biological effects of RSV result mainly from its carriage by carriers of the superfamily of ABC transporter, i.e., P-gP, MRP, or BCRP. Using cell lines overexpressing these different transporters, we have been able to highlight the importance of P-gP in the response of cells to RSV. These results were confirmed by invalidating the gene coding for P-gP, which restored the sensitivity of colorectal cells resistant to the polyphenol. Subsequently, the status of P-glycoprotein expression is an important element to be taken into consideration in the cytotoxic activity of resveratrol in colorectal cancer cells.
Effects of Vitamin C on Organ Function in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hill Aileen , Clasen Kai C. , Wendt Sebastian , Majoros Ádám G. , Stoppe Christian , Adhikari Neill K. J. , Heyland Daren K. , Benstoem Carina
Published: September 2019

Background: Cardiac surgery is associated with oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, which both contribute to postoperative organ dysfunction. Vitamin C is a pleiotropic, antioxidant, and potentially organ-protective micronutrient. Past clinical trials and meta-analyses have focused predominantly on occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation. Therefore, we investigated the influence of perioperative vitamin C administration on clinically relevant parameters closer related to the patient’s recovery, especially organ function, and overall outcomes after cardiac surgery. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing perioperative vitamin C administration versus placebo or standard of care in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery were identified through systematic searches in Pubmed, EMBASE, and CENTRAL on 23 November 2018. Published and unpublished data were included. Assessed outcomes include organ function after cardiac surgery, adverse events, in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit, and hospital length-of-stay. Data was pooled only when appropriate. Results: A total of 19 RCTs with 2008 patients were included in this meta-analysis. Vitamin C significantly decreased the incidence of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.008), ventilation time (p < 0.00001), ICU length-of-stay (p = 0.004), and hospital length-of-stay (p < 0.0001). However, on average, vitamin C had no significant effects on in-hospital mortality (p = 0.76), or on the incidence of stroke (p = 0.82). High statistical heterogeneity was observed in most analyses. Conclusions: Vitamin C impacts clinically and economically important outcomes, such as ICU and hospital length-of-stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and lowers the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Due to missing reports on organ dysfunction, this meta-analysis cannot answer the question, if vitamin C can improve single- or multiorgan function after cardiac surgery.
Coffee and Endothelial Function: A Coffee Paradox?
Authors: Higashi Yukihito
Published: September 2019

Coffee is a popular beverage throughout the world. Coffee contains various chemical compounds (e.g., caffeine, chlorogenic acids, hydroxyhydroquinone, kahweol, cafestol, and complex chemical mixtures). Caffeine is also the most widely consumed pharmacological substance in the world and is included in various beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks), products containing chocolate, and drugs. The effects of coffee and caffeine on cardiovascular diseases remain controversial. It is well known that there are J-curve-type or U-curve-type associations of coffee consumption with cardiovascular events including myocardial infarction and stroke. However, there is little information on the direct and indirect effects of coffee consumption on endothelial function in humans. It is likely that the coffee paradox or caffeine paradox exists the association of coffee intake with cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular outcomes, and endothelial function. This review focusses on the effects of coffee and caffeine on endothelial function from molecular mechanisms to clinical perspectives.
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Crossover Study to Assess a Unique Phytosterol Ester Formulation in Lowering LDL Cholesterol Utilizing a Novel Virtual Tracking Tool
Authors: Reaver Ashley , Hewlings Susan , Westerman Kenneth , Blander Gil , Schmeller Thorsten , Heer Marianne , Rein Dietrich
Published: September 2019

Elevated blood concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) is a primary risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle interventions including an increase in dietary phytosterols as well as medications have proven effective in lowering LDLc. The primary objective of this randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, crossover study was to determine the impact of a new phytosterol emulsion for dietary supplements (1.5 g/day phytosterol equivalents) on LDLc concentrations. Thirty-two healthy adults were randomly assigned to receive placebo or treatment followed by a washout period, followed by placebo or treatment, each phase lasting one month. Secondary endpoints related to cardiovascular health were also assessed. Study management, including screening, recruitment, monitoring, compliance, and data collection, were done remotely (a siteless clinical trial) utilizing a novel virtual tool. Phytosterol supplementation significantly lowered LDLc concentrations by 10.2% (16.17 mg/dL or 0.419 mmol/L, p = 0.008 by paired t-test, p = 0.014 by Wilcoxon signed rank testing). No secondary biomarkers were found to change significantly. Supplementation with phytosterols in a new dietary supplement formulation efficiently and safely decreases LDLc within one month in a free-living setting.
Electrochemical Characterization of Mancozeb Degradation for Wastewater Treatment Using a Sensor Based on Poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Modified with Carbon Nanotubes and Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Zamora-Sequeira Roy , Alvarado-Hidalgo Fernando , Robles-Chaves Diana , Sáenz-Arce Giovanni , Avendano-Soto Esteban , Sánchez-Kopper Andrés , Starbird-Perez Ricardo
Published: September 2019

Mancozeb is a worldwide fungicide used on a large scale in agriculture. The active component and its main metabolite, ethylene thiourea, has been related to health issues. Robust, fast, and reliable methodologies to quantify its presence in water are of great importance for environmental and health reasons. The electrochemical evaluation of mancozeb using a low-cost electrochemical electrode modified with poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene), multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and gold nanoparticles is a novel strategy to provide an in-situ response for water pollution from agriculture. Additionally, the thermal-, electrochemical-, and photo-degradation of mancozeb and the production of ethylene thiourea under controlled conditions were evaluated in this research. The mancozeb solutions were characterized by electrochemical oxidation and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and the ethylene thiourea concentration was measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry. The degradation study of mancozeb may provide routes for treatment in wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, a low-cost electrochemical electrode was fabricated to detect mancozeb in water with a robust electrochemical response in the linear range as well as a quick response at a reduced volume. Hence, our novel modified electrode provides a potential technique to be used in environmental monitoring for pesticide detection.
Simulation Study on Gas Holdup of Large and Small Bubbles in a High Pressure Gas–Liquid Bubble Column
Authors: Tao Fangfang , Ning Shanglei , Zhang Bo , Jin Haibo , He Guangxiang
Published: September 2019

The computational fluid dynamics-population balance model (CFD-PBM) has been presented and used to evaluate the bubble behavior in a large-scale high pressure bubble column with an inner diameter of 300 mm and a height of 6600 mm. In the heterogeneous flow regime, bubbles can be divided into “large bubbles” and “small bubbles” by a critical bubble diameter dc. In this study, large and small bubbles were classified according to different slopes in the experiment only by the method of dynamic gas disengagement, the critical bubble diameter was determined to be 7 mm by the experimental results and the simulation values. In addition, the effects of superficial gas velocity, operating pressure, surface tension and viscosity on gas holdup of large and small bubbles in gas–liquid two-phase flow were investigated using a CFD-PBM coupling model. The results show that the gas holdup of small and large bubbles increases rapidly with the increase of superficial gas velocity. With the increase of pressure, the gas holdup of small bubbles increases significantly, and the gas holdup of large bubbles increase slightly. Under the same superficial gas velocity, the gas holdup of large bubbles increases with the decrease of viscosity and the decrease of surface tension, but the gas holdup of small bubbles increases significantly. The simulated values of the coupled model have a good agreement with the experimental values, which can be applied to the parameter estimation of the high pressure bubble column system.
Future of Catholic Monasteries on New Monastic Continents: The Case of Africa
Authors: Jonveaux Isabelle
Published: September 2019

Catholic monasticism in Europe is often associated with a crisis of vocations, of credibility and sometimes the question of closing down. Looking at monasteries outside Europe, especially in Asia and Africa, we observe a dynamic of new foundations and young entrants into the communities. What are the challenges for monasteries in Africa in future decades? To what extent does monasticism experience a gravitational shift from Europe to other continents in the next thirty years? This article seeks to explore the challenges of African monastic communities now and in the future. The first part gives some demographic data which shows the dynamism of African monastic communities. The second part deals with the adaption of monastic life in the local environment; for instance, concerning the liturgy but also the role of the development of monastic communities. In the last part, I discuss the challenges of African monasticism, which is becoming autonomous from its European founders and developing more and more indigenous foundations. This article is based on field inquiries conducted in monastic communities in five countries in Africa between 2013 and 2019.
Estimation of the Maturity Date of Soybean Breeding Lines Using UAV-Based Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Zhou Jing , Yungbluth Dennis , Vong Chin Nee , Scaboo Andrew , Zhou Jianfeng
Published: September 2019

Physiological maturity date is a critical parameter for the selection of breeding lines in soybean breeding programs. The conventional method to estimate the maturity dates of breeding lines uses visual ratings based on pod senescence by experts, which is subjective by human estimation, labor-intensive and time-consuming. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based phenotyping systems provide a high-throughput and powerful tool of capturing crop traits using remote sensing, image processing and machine learning technologies. The goal of this study was to investigate the potential of predicting maturity dates of soybean breeding lines using UAV-based multispectral imagery. Maturity dates of 326 soybean breeding lines were taken using visual ratings from the beginning maturity stage (R7) to full maturity stage (R8), and the aerial multispectral images were taken during this period on 27 August, 14 September and 27 September, 2018. One hundred and thirty features were extracted from the five-band multispectral images. The maturity dates of the soybean lines were predicted and evaluated using partial least square regression (PLSR) models with 10-fold cross-validation. Twenty image features with importance to the estimation were selected and their changing rates between each two of the data collection days were calculated. The best prediction (R2 = 0.81, RMSE = 1.4 days) was made by the PLSR model using image features taken on 14 September and their changing rates between 14 September and 27 September with five components, leading to the conclusion that the UAV-based multispectral imagery is promising and practical in estimating maturity dates of soybean breeding lines.
Ultra-Sensitive Fiber Refractive Index Sensor with Intensity Modulation and Self-Temperature Compensation
Authors: Li Zhaojun , Hou Liangtao , Ran Lingling , Kang Jing , Yang Jiuru
Published: September 2019

In this paper, a novel in-line modal interferometer for refractive index (RI) sensing is proposed and experimentally fabricated by cascading single-taper and multimode-double- cladding-multimode (MDM) fiber structure. Owing to evanescent field in taper area, the ultra-sensitive and linear intensity-responses to the varied surrounding RI are gained in both single- and double-pass structures. Moreover, the crosstalk from temperature can be effectively discriminated and compensated by means of the RI-free nature of MDM. The experimental results show that the RI sensitivities in single- and double-pass structures, respectively, reach 516.02 and 965.46 dB/RIU (RIU: refractive index unit), both with the slight wavelength shift (~0.2 nm). The temperature responses with respect to wavelength and intensity are 68.9 pm°C−1/0.103 dB°C−1 (single-pass structure) and 103 pm°C−1/0.082 dB·°C−1 (double-pass structure). So the calculated cross-sensitivity of intensity is constrained within 8.49 × 10−5 RIU/°C. In addition, our sensor presents high measurement-stability (~0.99) and low repeatability error (<4.8‰). On account of the ~620 μm size of taper, this compact sensor is cost-efficient, easy to fabricate, and very promising for the applications of biochemistry and biomedicine.
A Hash-Based RFID Authentication Mechanism for Context-Aware Management in IoT-Based Multimedia Systems
Authors: B D Deebak , Al-Turjman Fadi , Mostarda Leonardo
Published: September 2019

With the technological advances in the areas of Machine-To-Machine (M2M) and Device-To-Device (D2D) communication, various smart computing devices now integrate a set of multimedia sensors such as accelerometers, barometers, cameras, fingerprint sensors, gestures, iris scanners, etc., to infer the environmental status. These devices are generally identified using radio-frequency identification (RFID) to transfer the collected data to other local or remote objects over a geographical location. To enable automatic data collection and transition, a valid RFID embedded object is highly recommended. It is used to authorize the devices at various communication phases. In smart application devices, RFID-based authentication is enabled to provide short-range operation. On the other hand, it does not require the communication device to be in line-of-sight to gain server access like bar-code systems. However, in existing authentication schemes, an adversary may capture private user data to create a forgery problem. Also, another issue is the high computation cost. Thus, several studies have addressed the usage of context-aware authentication schemes for multimedia device management systems. The security objective is to determine the user authenticity in order to withhold the eavesdropping and tracing. Lately, RFID has played a significant for the context-aware sensor management systems (CASMS) as it can reduce the complexity of the sensor systems, it can be available in access control, sensor monitoring, real time inventory and security-aware management systems. Lately, this technology has opened up its wings for CASMS, where the challenging issues are tag-anonymity, mutual authentication and untraceability. Thus, this paper proposes a secure hash-based RFID mechanism for CASMS. This proposed protocol is based on the hash operation with the synchronized secret session-key to withstand any attacks, such as desynchronization, replay and man-in-the-middle. Importantly, the security and performance analysis proves that the proposed hash-based protocol achieves better security and performance efficiencies than other related schemes. From the simulation results, it is observed that the proposed scheme is secure, robust and less expensive while achieving better communication metrics such as packet delivery ratio, end-to-end delay and throughput rate.
A New Switched State Jump Observer for Traffic Density Estimation in Expressways Based on Hybrid-Dynamic-Traffic-Network-Model
Authors: Zha Wenbin , Guo Yuqi , Wu Huawei , Sotelo Miguel Angel , Ma Yulin , Yi Qian , Li Zhixiong , Sun Xin
Published: September 2019

When faced with problems such as traffic state estimation, state prediction, and congestion identification for the expressway network, a novel switched observer design strategy with jump states is required to reconstruct the traffic scene more realistically. In this study, the expressway network is firstly modeled as the special discrete switched system, which is called the piecewise affine system model, a partition of state subspace is introduced, and the convex polytopes are utilized to describe the combination modes of cells. Secondly, based on the hybrid dynamic traffic network model, the corresponding switched observer (including state jumps) is designed. Furthermore, by applying multiple Lyapunov functions and S-procedure theory, the observer design problem can be converted into the existence issue of the solutions to the linear matrix inequality. As a result, a set of gain matrices can be obtained. The estimated states start to jump when the mode changes occur, and the updated value of the estimated state mainly depends on the estimated and the measured values at the previous time. Lastly, the designed state jump observer is applied to the Beijing Jingkai expressway, and the superiority and the feasibility are demonstrated in the application results.
A Novel Helmet Fitness Evaluation Device Based on the Flexible Pressure Sensor Matrix
Authors: Niu Jianwei , Zhang Cong , Chen Xiao , Ma Chuang , Chen Liyang , Tong Chao
Published: September 2019

Helmet comfort has always been important for the evaluation of infantry equipment accessories and has for decades not been well addressed. To evaluate the stability and comfort of the helmet, this paper proposes a novel type of helmet comfort measuring device. Conventional pressure measuring devices can measure the pressure of flat surfaces well, but they cannot accurately measure the pressure of curved structures with large curvatures. In this paper, a strain-resistive flexible sensor with a slice structure was used to form a matrix network containing more than a 100 sensors that fit the curved surface of the head well. Raw data were collected by the lower computer, and the original resistance value of the pressure was converted from analog to digital by the A/D conversion circuit that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. Then, the data were output to the data analysis and image display module of the upper computer. The complex curved surface of the head poses a challenge for the appropriate layout design of a head pressure measuring device. This study is expected to allow this intuitive and efficient technology to fit other wearable products, such as goggles, glasses, earphones and neck braces.
ThermalWrist: Smartphone Thermal Camera Correction Using a Wristband Sensor †
Authors: Yoshikawa Hiroki , Uchiyama Akira , Higashino Teruo
Published: September 2019

Thermal images are widely used for various healthcare applications and advanced research. However, thermal images captured by smartphone thermal cameras are not accurate for monitoring human body temperature due to the small body that is vulnerable to temperature change. In this paper, we propose ThermalWrist, a dynamic offset correction method for thermal images captured by smartphone thermal cameras. We fully utilize the characteristic that is specific to thermal cameras: the relative temperatures in a single thermal image are highly reliable, although the absolute temperatures fluctuate frequently. To correct the offset error, ThermalWrist combines thermal images with a reliable absolute temperature obtained by a wristband sensor based on the above characteristic. The evaluation results in an indoor air-conditioned environment shows that the mean absolute error and the standard deviation of face temperature measurement error decrease by 49.4% and 64.9%, respectively. In addition, Pearson’s correlation coefficient increases by 112%, highlighting the effectiveness of ThermalWrist. We also investigate the limitation with respect to the ambient temperature where ThermalWrist works effectively. The result shows ThermalWrist works well in the normal office environment, which is 22.91 °C and above.
IMU Sensor-Based Hand Gesture Recognition for Human-Machine Interfaces
Authors: Kim Minwoo , Cho Jaechan , Lee Seongjoo , Jung Yunho
Published: September 2019

We propose an efficient hand gesture recognition (HGR) algorithm, which can cope with time-dependent data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor and support real-time learning for various human-machine interface (HMI) applications. Although the data extracted from IMU sensors are time-dependent, most existing HGR algorithms do not consider this characteristic, which results in the degradation of recognition performance. Because the dynamic time warping (DTW) technique considers the time-dependent characteristic of IMU sensor data, the recognition performance of DTW-based algorithms is better than that of others. However, the DTW technique requires a very complex learning algorithm, which makes it difficult to support real-time learning. To solve this issue, the proposed HGR algorithm is based on a restricted column energy (RCE) neural network, which has a very simple learning scheme in which neurons are activated when necessary. By replacing the metric calculation of the RCE neural network with DTW distance, the proposed algorithm exhibits superior recognition performance for time-dependent sensor data while supporting real-time learning. Our verification results on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based test platform show that the proposed HGR algorithm can achieve a recognition accuracy of 98.6% and supports real-time learning and recognition at an operating frequency of 150 MHz.
Evaluation of Scintillator Detection Materials for Application within Airborne Environmental Radiation Monitoring
Authors: Lowdon Matthew , Martin Peter G. , Hubbard M.W.J. , Taggart M.P. , Connor Dean T. , Verbelen Yannick , Sellin P.J. , Scott Thomas B.
Published: September 2019

In response to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, there has occurred the unabated growth in the number of airborne platforms developed to perform radiation mapping—each utilising various designs of a low-altitude uncrewed aerial vehicle. Alongside the associated advancements in the airborne system transporting the radiation detection payload, from the earliest radiological analyses performed using gas-filled Geiger-Muller tube detectors, modern radiation detection and mapping platforms are now based near-exclusively on solid-state scintillator detectors. With numerous varieties of such light-emitting crystalline materials now in existence, this combined desk and computational modelling study sought to evaluate the best-available detector material compatible with the requirements for low-altitude autonomous radiation detection, localisation and subsequent high spatial-resolution mapping of both naturally occurring and anthropogenically-derived radionuclides. The ideal geometry of such detector materials is also evaluated. While NaI and CsI (both elementally doped) are (and will likely remain) the mainstays of radiation detection, LaBr3 scintillation detectors were determined to possess not only a greater sensitivity to incident gamma-ray radiation, but also a far superior spectral (energy) resolution over existing and other potentially deployable detector materials. Combined with their current competitive cost, an array of three such composition cylindrical detectors were determined to provide the best means of detecting and discriminating the various incident gamma-rays.
Multi-Mission Earth Observation Data Processing System
Authors: Mhangara Paidamwoyo , Mapurisa Willard
Published: September 2019

The surge in the number of earth observation satellites being launched worldwide is placing significant pressure on the satellite-direct ground receiving stations that are responsible for systematic data acquisition, processing, archiving, and dissemination of earth observation data. Growth in the number of satellite sensors has a bearing on the ground segment payload data processing systems due to the complexity, volume, and variety of the data emanating from the different sensors. In this paper, we have aimed to present a generic, multi-mission, modularized payload data processing system that we are implementing to optimize satellite data processing from historical and current sensors, directly received at the South African National Space Agency’s (SANSA) ground receiving station. We have presented the architectural framework for the multi-mission processing system, which is comprised of five processing modules, i.e., the data ingestion module, a radiometric and geometric processing module, atmospheric correction and Analysis Ready Data (ARD) module, Value Added Products (VAPS) module, and lastly, a packaging and delivery module. Our results indicate that the open architecture, multi-mission processing system, when implemented, eliminated the bottlenecks linked with proprietary mono-mission systems. The customizable architecture enabled us to optimize our processing in line with our hardware capacities, and that resulted in significant gains in large-scale image processing efficiencies. The modularized, multi-mission data processing enabled seamless end-to-end image processing, as demonstrated by the capability of the multi-mission system to execute geometric and radiometric corrections to the extent of making it analysis-ready. The processing workflows were highly scalable and enabled us to generate higher-level thematic information products from the ingestion of raw data.
py2DIC: A New Free and Open Source Software for Displacement and Strain Measurements in the Field of Experimental Mechanics
Authors: Belloni Valeria , Ravanelli Roberta , Nascetti Andrea , Di Rita Martina , Mattei Domitilla , Crespi Mattia
Published: September 2019

Thanks to the advances in computer power, memory storage and the availability of low-cost and high resolution digital cameras, Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is currently one of the most used optical and non-contact techniques for measuring material deformations. A free and open source 2D DIC software, named py2DIC, was developed at the Geodesy and Geomatics Division of the Sapienza University of Rome. Implemented in Python, the software is based on the template matching method and computes the 2D displacements and strains of samples subjected to mechanical loading. In this work, the potentialities of py2DIC were evaluated by processing two different sets of experimental data and comparing the results with other three well known DIC software packages Ncorr, Vic-2D and DICe. Moreover, an accuracy assessment was performed comparing the results with the values independently measured by a strain gauge fixed on one of the samples. The results demonstrate the possibility of successfully characterizing the deformation mechanism of the investigated materials, highlighting the pros and cons of each software package.
The Effects of Varying Glenohumeral Joint Angle on Acute Volume Load, Muscle Activation, Swelling, and Echo-Intensity on the Biceps Brachii in Resistance-Trained Individuals
Authors: Barakat Christopher , Barroso Renato , Alvarez Michael , Rauch Jacob , Miller Nicholas , Bou-Sliman Anton , De Souza Eduardo O.
Published: September 2019

There is a paucity of data on how manipulating joint angles during isolation exercises may impact overall session muscle activation and volume load in resistance-trained individuals. We investigated the acute effects of varying glenohumeral joint angle on the biceps brachii with a crossover repeated measure design with three different biceps curls. One session served as the positive control (CON), which subjects performed 9 sets of bicep curls with their shoulder in a neutral position. The experimental condition (VAR), varied the glenohumeral joint angle by performing 3 sets in shoulder extension (30°), 3 sets neutral (0°), and 3 sets in flexion (90°). Volume load and muscle activation (EMG) were recorded during the training sessions. Muscle swelling and strain were assessed via muscle thickness and echo-intensity responses at pre, post, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. There were no significant differences between conditions for most dependent variables. However, the overall session EMG amplitude was significantly higher (p = 0.0001) in VAR compared to CON condition (95%-CI: 8.4% to 23.3%). Our findings suggest that varying joint angles during resistance training (RT) may enhance total muscle activation without negatively affecting volume load within a training session in resistance-trained individuals.
An Urban System Optimization Model Based on CO2 Sequestration Index: A Big Data Analytics Approach
Authors: Dogaru Vasile , Brandas Claudiu , Cristescu Marian
Published: September 2019

Urban development in recent decades has had a significant impact on climate change. Cities have implemented traffic monitoring systems to sustain the new building code in meeting the target for environmental indicators. Timisoara is the second city in Romania and manages over 60% of the development and pollution of Timis County. The analysis of large volumes of data provided by local sensors and databases requires big data analytics. In this research, for the first time, we simultaneously developed two parallel scenario-based decision-making support models to assess a CO2 sequestration index. The model is based on a tree inventory for traffic area and car flow using Roegenian processes with borders. The first scenario (dt1) analyzes the real O2-pollution car flows for process streets as receivers of pollution. The second scenario (dt2) analyzes O2-pollution flows for the same streets from the perspective of streets that garage the cars. We modeled the parallel integration of actual O2 production and pollution flows for 160 main streets that account for over 50% of the urban mileage of Timisoara city. The carbon sequestration indexes of the streets are in the range of 0.0000043–0.437 (dt1) and 0.0000092–11.78 (dt2). The results can be used to support local decision making regarding the environment CO2-O2 balances by optimizing the local fiscal policies. The research could be extended to secondary streets and separately for the pollution of heating-cooling devices for residential building areas.
Are Well Owners Unique Environmentalists? An Exploration of Rural Water Supply Infrastructure, Conservation Routines, and Moderation
Authors: Ternes Brock
Published: September 2019

Enormous demands for irrigation water have depleted groundwater reserves in Kansas, where portions of the High Plains aquifer are in jeopardy. This study examines how private water wells influence conservation routines by comparing the watering practices of well owners to those of non-well owners across the state. My guiding research question is: Does water supply infrastructure moderate the relationship between demographic predictors and pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs)? To answer this, I surveyed well owners and non-well owners throughout Kansas (n = 864). The results indicate that controlling for water supplies uncovers differences across many associations between water conservation efforts and other PEBs with commonly studied demographics (sex, income, political affiliation, education, age, and geography). Researching well owners’ acts of environmental stewardship will be key to aquifer preservation.
Knowledge-Intensive Entrepreneurship and S3: Conceptualizing Strategies for Sustainability
Authors: Gifford Ethan , McKelvey Maureen
Published: September 2019

Smart specialization strategies represent public policy initiatives to develop regions based on new combinations of knowledge and industries. The aim of this article is to enrich the theory and practice of smart specialization strategies (S3) by integrating the conceptualization of knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship (KIE). We propose that knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship is necessary in order to specify how public and private support of KIE firms can be beneficial to develop new knowledge relevant to the fulfillment of specific sustainable development goals. We did so by further developing a conceptual model of innovation governance routines by integrating sustainability goals. We also illustrated our conceptual model through two case studies from the Swedish maritime cluster. By extrapolating from the combination of the conceptual model and two case studies, we make three propositions about the different strategic roles that KIE firms can play within a broader S3 policy setting, and in such a way as to promote sustainability-related outcomes.
Research on Economic Operation Strategy of CHP Microgrid Considering Renewable Energy Sources and Integrated Energy Demand Response
Authors: Dong Jun , Nie Shilin , Huang Hui , Yang Peiwen , Fu Anyuan , Lin Jin
Published: September 2019

Renewable energy resources (RESs) play an important role in the upgrading and transformation of the global energy structure. However, the question of how to improve the utilization efficiency of RESs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is still a challenge. Combined heating and power (CHP) is one effective solution and has experienced rapid development. Nevertheless, with the large scale of RESs penetrating into the power system, CHP microgrid economic operation faces great challenges. This paper proposes a CHP microgrid system that contains renewable energy with considering economy, the environment, and system flexibility, and the ultimate goal is to minimize system operation cost and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) cost. Due to the volatility of renewable energy output, the fuzzy C-means (FCM) and clustering comprehensive quality (CCQ) models were first introduced to generate clustering scenarios of the renewable energy output and evaluate the clustering results. In addition, for the sake of improving the flexibility and reliability of the CHP microgrid, this paper considers the battery and integrated energy demand response (IEDR). Moreover, the strategy choices of microgrid operators under the condition of grid-connected and islanded based on environment and interest aspects are also developed, which have rarely been involved in previous studies. Finally, this stochastic optimization problem is transformed into a mixed integer linear programming (MILP), which simplifies the calculation process, and the results show that the operation mode under different conditions will have a great impact on microgrid economic and environmental benefits.
Potential Ecological Risk and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Metalloid in Soil around Xunyang Mining Areas
Authors: Wang Na , Han Jichang , Wei Yang , Li Gang , Sun Yingying
Published: September 2019

Xunyang is rich in various metal minerals and is one of the four major metal mining areas in Shaanxi province, China. To explore the effects of soil heavy metals and metalloid pollution on the environment and human health around the mining areas, four places—Donghecun (D), Gongguan (G), Qingtonggou (Q) and Nanshagou (N)—were selected as the sampling sites. Potential ecological risk (PER) and health risk assessment (HRA) models were used to analyze the environmental and health risks around the mining areas. The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Hg) and metalloid (As) in cultivated land in the vicinity of Xunyang mining areas indicated that, except for Cu, the remaining elements detected exceeded the threshold values at some sites. The geo-accumulation index (IGeo) revealed that soils in G and Q could be identified as being extremely contaminated. PER indicated that there was significantly high risk at G and Q for Hg. In N, Pb recorded the highest E r i , which also demonstrates a considerable pre-existing risk. HRA indicated that the hazard index (HI) for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks was much higher among children than among adults, and the ingestion pathway contributed the greatest risk to human health, followed by the dermal pathway and inhalation. Because the HI values of the metals and metalloid in the study areas were all lower than 1, there was no significant non-carcinogenic risk. However, the carcinogenic risk for Cr is relatively higher, surpassing the tolerable values in G, Q, and N. This study analyzed the ecological risks and human health risks of heavy metals and metalloid in farmland soils near the sampling mining areas, and demonstrated the importance of environmental changes caused by land development in the mining industry.
Experts’ Perceptions on the Particulate Matter Reduction Effects of Green Open Space
Authors: Kim Suyeon , Han Seokjun , Lee Sang-Woo , An Kyungjin
Published: September 2019

With recent declines in air quality, the significance of urban green spaces and their ecological functions have rapidly increased, especially with regard to the reduction of particulate matter. Various investigations regarding particle reduction in urban green spaces have been conducted; however, specific guidelines to establish empirical data for green spaces and to inform related policies are still lacking. Thus, this study aims to categorize experts’ perceptions of green spaces through Q-methodology and to identify ways to form a consensus, establish policies in the design and construction process, ultimately aiming to enhance particle reduction effects in urban green spaces. As a result, experts’ perceptions were classified into three categories: ‘active support,’ ‘skeptical,’ and ‘passive support’ groups. Experts’ opinions on the particle reduction effects of urban green areas are overarchingly agreed upon; however, the priorities involved and methods used in augmenting green space integration require further analysis and mediation. Additionally, further empirical evidence should be accumulated on the particulate matter reduction effects of urban green areas, including the quantification of particle concentration reduction in urban green spaces and considerations for policy establishment in design and construction.
A Hierarchical SVM Based Behavior Inference of Human Operators Using a Hybrid Sequence Kernel
Authors: Huh Jaeseok , Park Jonghun , Shin Dongmin , Choi Yerim
Published: September 2019

To train skilled unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) operators, it is important to establish a real-time training environment where an enemy appropriately responds to the action performed by a trainee. This can be addressed by constructing the inference method for the behavior of a UCAV operator from given simulation log data. Through this method, the virtual enemy is capable of performing actions that are highly likely to be made by an actual operator. To achieve this, we propose a hybrid sequence (HS) kernel-based hierarchical support vector machine (HSVM) for the behavior inference of a UCAV operator. Specifically, the HS kernel is designed to resolve the heterogeneity in simulation log data, and HSVM performs the behavior inference in a sequential manner considering the hierarchical structure of the behaviors of a UCAV operator. The effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated with the log data collected from the air-to-air combat simulator.
R & D Intensity and Dividend Policy: Evidence from South Korea’s Biotech Firms
Authors: Lee Namryoung , Lee Jaehong
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we examine the relation between a firm’s research and development (R & D) intensity and dividend payout policy with a focus on biotech firms in a sample of 18,253 firm-year observations in South Korea. We find that biotech firms’ R & D intensity is negatively related to dividend payout. Furthermore, for biotech firms, increased internal cash holding accomplished via a lower dividend policy is positively associated with long-term corporate value. In particular, this study reports that the relation between biotech firms’ cash holding and corporate firm value is significantly positive in firms with high stock dividends. Moreover, it shows that non-biotech firms in the maturity stage of the corporate lifecycle tend to distribute cash dividends, a practice that is relatively uncommon among biotech firms in an R & D steady state.
Geographical Concentration of Knowledge- and Technology-Intensive Industries and City Innovation in China
Authors: Qi Honggang , Liu Shenghe , Qi Wei , Liu Zhen
Published: September 2019

Economic transformation and re-industrialization constantly change the geographical landscape of knowledge- and technology-intensive industries (KTI) globally, and the role of KTI agglomeration in city innovation is becoming increasingly decisive. Based on the employment data with a two-digit code in China’s 2010 Population Census, this paper compares the spatial difference between absolute and relative concentration of knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) and technology-intensive manufacturing (TIM) in prefecture-level units, and interprets the diverse impact of KIBS and TIM specialisation on innovation in 286 prefecture-level cities. Results indicate that KIBS is concentrated mainly in the provincial capital cities, while the level of KIBS specialisation exceeds the national average in some border cities of the northwestern region and resource-based cities of the northeastern region. Unlike KIBS, TIM is highly concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin and Shandong Peninsula urban agglomerations. KIBS specialisation matters more in boosting city innovation than does TIM specialisation, and TIM specialization exerts a significant positive spatial spillover effect on city innovation. Our empirical results could be considered by policy-makers for the development of KTI and the promotion of city innovation.
Communication Barrier, Spillover Effect and Industrial-Technological Innovation
Authors: Guo Jin , Gu Bingmei , Sun Xialing , Xue Jinli , Yuan Baiyun
Published: September 2019

Industrial-technological innovation (ITI) has far-reaching significance for China’s sustainable development. In this study, we construct an ITI model to analyze the impact of communication barrier and spillover effects in ITI system from the perspective of system by means of system dynamics. Statistical data of smartphone industry were collected to verify the authenticity of the model, which show that the model has higher goodness of fit with the real-world. Simulation experiments were carried out and the results showed that: (1) Spillover effects have obvious effects on ITI in both positive and negative radiation directions, and deeper exchanges and cooperation should be encouraged to carry out among firm. (2) Communication barrier play an important role in regulating ITI. Under the condition of non-barrier and complete-barrier, the completion time of the whole process has increased by 76.5%, it is urgent to reduce communication carrier. The research puts forward suggestions to help improve ITI from institutional, market, and government.