bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploiting system fluctuations. Differential training in physical prevention and rehabilitation programs for health and exercise
Authors: Schöllhorn Wolfgang , Beckmann Hendrik , Davids Keith
Published: June 2018

Background. Traditional causal modeling of health interventions tends to be linear in nature and lacks multidisciplinarity. Consequently, strategies for exercise prescription in health maintenance are typically group based and focused on the role of a common optimal health status template toward which all individuals should aspire. Materials and methods. In this paper, we discuss inherent weaknesses of traditional methods and introduce an approach exercise training based on neurobiological system variability. The significance of neurobiological system variability in differential learning and training was highlighted. Results. Our theoretical analysis revealed differential training as a method by which neurobiological system variability could be harnessed to facilitate health benefi ts of exercise training. It was observed that this approach emphasizes the importance of using individualized programs in rehabilitation and exercise, rather than group-based strategies to exercise prescription. Conclusion. Research is needed on potential benefits of differential training as an approach to physical rehabilitation and exercise prescription that could counteract psychological and physical effects of disease and illness in subelite populations. For example, enhancing the complexity and variability of movement patterns in exercise prescription programs might alleviate effects of depression in nonathletic populations and physical effects of repetitive strain injuries experienced by athletes in elite and developing sport programs.
Capturing complex human behaviors in representative sports contexts with a single camera
Authors: Duarte Ricardo , Araújo Duarte , Fernandes Orlando , Fonseca Cristina , Correia Vanda , Gazimba Vítor , Travassos Bruno , Esteves Pedro , Vilar Luís , Lopes José
Published: June 2018

Background and objective. In the last years, several motion analysis methods have been developed without considering representative contexts for sports performance. The purpose of this paper was to explain and underscore a straightforward method to measure human behavior in these contexts. Material and methods. Procedures combining manual video tracking (with TACTO device) and bidimensional reconstruction (through direct linear transformation) using a single camera were used in order to capture kinematic data required to compute collective variable(s) and control parameter(s). These procedures were applied to a 1vs1 association football task as an illustrative subphase of team sports and will be presented in a tutorial fashion. Results. Preliminary analysis of distance and velocity data identified a collective variable (difference between the distance of the attacker and the defender to a target defensive area) and two nested control parameters (interpersonal distance and relative velocity). Conclusions. Findings demonstrated that the complementary use of TACTO software and direct linear transformation permit to capture and reconstruct complex human actions in their context in a low dimensional space (information reduction).
Membrane Distillation Trial on Textile Wastewater Containing Surfactants Using Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic-Coated Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Membranes
Authors: Villalobos García Jesús , Dow Noel , Milne Nicholas , Zhang Jianhua , Naidoo Leslie , Gray Stephen , Duke Mikel
Published: June 2018

Treating wastewater from textile plants using membrane distillation (MD) has great potential due to the high-salinity wastes and availability of waste heat. However, textile wastewaters also contain surfactants, which compromise the essential hydrophobic feature of the membrane, causing membrane wetting. To address this wetting issue, a custom-made membrane consisting of a hydrophilic layer coated on hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was tested on textile wastewater in a pilot MD setup, and compared with a conventional hydrophobic PTFE membrane. The test was carried out with a feed temperature of 60 °C, and a permeate temperature of 45 °C. The overall salt rejection of both membranes was very high, at 99%. However, the hydrophobic membrane showed rising permeate electrical conductivity, which was attributed to wetting of the membrane. Meanwhile, the hydrophilic-coated membrane showed continually declining electrical conductivity demonstrating an intact membrane that resisted wetting from the surfactants. Despite this positive result, the coated membrane did not survive a simple sodium hydroxide clean, which would be typically applied to a membrane process. This brief study showed the viability of membrane distillation membranes on real textile wastewaters containing surfactants using hydrophilic-coated hydrophobic PTFE, but the cleaning process required for membranes needs optimization.
Structural Controls on Copper Mineralization in the Tongling Ore District, Eastern China: Evidence from Spatial Analysis
Authors: Sun Tao , Xu Ying , Yu Xuhui , Liu Weiming , Li Ruixue , Hu Zijuan , Wang Yun
Published: June 2018

Structures exert significant controls on hydrothermal mineralization, although such controls commonly have cryptic expression in geological datasets dominated by 2D maps. Analysis of spatial patterns of mineral deposits and quantification of their correlation with detailed structural features are beneficial to understand the plausible structural controls on mineralization. In this paper, a series of GIS-based spatial methods, including fractal, Fry, distance distribution and weights-of-evidence analyses, were employed to reveal structural controls on copper mineralization in the Tongling ore district, eastern China. The results indicate that Yanshanian intrusions exert the most significant control on copper mineralization, followed by EW-trending faults, intersections of basement faults and folds. The scale-variable distribution patterns of copper occurrences are attributed to the different structural controls operating in the basement and sedimentary cover. In the basement, EW-trending faults serve as pathways for channeling Yanshanian magma from a deep magma chamber to structurally controlled trap zones in the caprocks, imposing an important regional control on the spatial distribution of Cretaceous magmatic-hydrothermal system genetically related to copper mineralization. In the sedimentary cover, bedding-parallel shear zones, formed during the progressive folding and shearing in Indosinian and overprinted by tensional deformation in Yanshanian, act as favorable sites for hosting, focusing and depositing the ore-bearing fluids, playing a vital role in the localization of stratabound deposits at fine scale.
Copper Nanoparticle and Nitrogen Doped Graphite Oxide Based Biosensor for the Sensitive Determination of Glucose
Authors: Sivasankar Kulandaivel , Rani Karuppasamy Kohila , Wang Sea-Fue , Devasenathipathy Rajkumar , Lin Chia-Her
Published: June 2018

Copper nanoparticles with the diameter of 50 ± 20 nm decorated nitrogen doped graphite oxide (NGO) have been prepared through a simple single step carbonization method using copper metal-organic framework (MOF), [Cu2(BDC)2(DABCO)] (where BDC is 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, and DABCO is 1,4-Diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) as precursor. The surface morphology, porosity, surface area and elemental composition of CuNPs/NGO were characterized by various techniques. The as-synthesized CuNPs/NGO nanomaterials were coated on commercially available disposable screen-printed carbon electrode for the sensitive determination of glucose. We find that the modified electrode can detect glucose between 1 μM and 1803 μM (linear range) with good sensitivity (2500 μA mM−1 cm−2). Our glucose sensor also possesses low limits of detection (0.44 μM) towards glucose determination. The highly selective nature of the fabricated electrode was clearly visible from the selectivity studies. The practicability of CuNPs/NGO modified electrode has been validated in the human serum samples. The storage stability along with better repeatability and reproducibility results additionally substantiate the superior electrocatalytic activity of our constructed sensor towards glucose.
Easy Synthesis and Characterization of Holmium-Doped SPIONs
Authors: Osial Magdalena , Rybicka Paulina , Pękała Marek , Cichowicz Grzegorz , Cyrański Michał K. , Krysiński Paweł
Published: June 2018

The exceptional magnetic properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) make them promising materials for biomedical applications like hyperthermia, drug targeting and imaging. Easy preparation of SPIONs with the controllable, well-defined properties is a key factor of their practical application. In this work, we report a simple synthesis of Ho-doped SPIONs by the co-precipitation route, with controlled size, shape and magnetic properties. To investigate the influence of the ions ratio on the nanoparticles’ properties, multiple techniques were used. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed the crystallographic structure, indicating formation of an Fe3O4 core doped with holmium. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed the correlation of the crystallites’ shape and size with the experimental conditions, pointing to critical holmium content around 5% for the preparation of uniformly shaped grains, while larger holmium content leads to uniaxial growth with a prism shape. Studies of the magnetic behaviour of nanoparticles show that magnetization varies with changes in the initial Ho3+ ions percentage during precipitation, while below 5% of Ho in doped Fe3O4 is relatively stable and sufficient for biomedicine applications. The characterization of prepared nanoparticles suggests that co-precipitation is a simple and efficient technique for the synthesis of superparamagnetic, Ho-doped SPIONs for hyperthermia application.
Habitual Fructose Intake Relates to Insulin Sensitivity and Fatty Liver Index in Recent-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Patients and Individuals without Diabetes
Authors: Weber Katharina , Simon Marie-Christine , Strassburger Klaus , Markgraf Daniel , Buyken Anette , Szendroedi Julia , Müssig Karsten , Roden Michael ,   GDS Group
Published: June 2018

The association between the amount and sources of fructose intake with insulin sensitivity and liver fat needs further elucidation. This study aimed at examining whether habitual intake of sucrose plus non-sucrose bound as well as of non-sucrose bound fructose (total fructose, fruit-derived, juice-derived, sugar sweetened beverages (SSB)-derived fructose) is cross-sectionally associated with insulin sensitivity and fatty liver index (FLI). Fructose intake was estimated using the EPIC food frequency questionnaire from 161 participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the ongoing German Diabetes Study (GDS) (age 53 ± 9 years; HbA1c 6.4 ± 0.9%) and 62 individuals without diabetes (CON) (47 ± 14 years; 5.3 ± 0.3%). Peripheral (M-value) and hepatic insulin resistance were assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps with stable isotope dilution. FLI was calculated based on body mass index, waist circumference, triglyceride and gamma glutamyl transferase concentrations. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed. A doubling of SSB-derived sucrose plus non-sucrose bound as well as of non-sucrose bound fructose intake was independently associated with a reduction of the M-value by −2.6% (−4.9; −0.2) and −2.7% (−5.2; −0.1) among T2D, respectively, with an increase in the odds of fatty liver by 16% and 17%, respectively among T2D (all p < 0.05). Doubling fruit-derived sucrose plus non-sucrose bound fructose intake independently related to a reduction in the odds of fatty liver by 13% (p = 0.033) among T2D. Moderate SSB-derived fructose intake may detrimentally affect peripheral insulin sensitivity, whereas fruit-derived fructose intake appeared beneficial for liver fat content.
Mechanism of Viscous Oil Fire Flooding Dehumidification Equipment and Structure Optimization
Authors: Sun Qiji , Lv Yanfang , Wang Chunsheng
Published: June 2018

Considering the issue caused by the tail gas of viscous oil fire flooding, which carries a large amount of jeopardizing liquid, the Liaohe Oilfield No. 56 desulfurization station applies the vertical processing separator as the main dehumidification equipment for moisture elimination. However, the lack of study on the separator’s gas–liquid separation mechanism leads to unclear recognition of the equipment’s processing capability, which easily causes the desulfurization tower to water out, and the tail gas gathering network system to get frozen and blocked. To result in a solution to the problems above, numerical simulation software is applied in this paper based on the oil field’s actual operation data to establish a mathematical model for calculation, which may assist in simulating the gas–liquid separating process, in analyzing the flow field distribution within the separator, and in studying the dehumidification mechanism in terms of influencing factors and laws of equipment dehumidification efficiency. Finally, this helps optimizing the separator’s structure based on the calculation results. The research results provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the practical application of dehumidification equipment in oil fields.
Sincere Performance in Pentecostal Megachurch Music
Authors: Abraham Ibrahim
Published: June 2018

Drawing on the work of Webb Keane and Joel Robbins in the anthropology of Christianity, furnished with the influential work of Charles Hirschkind in the anthropology of Islam, and the ethnographic studies of Tom Wagner and Mark Jennings on Pentecostal worship music, this article critically examines ideas of sincerity in the musical practices of Pentecostal megachurches. Making use of ethnographic data from research on congregational music in South Africa, including interviews with a variety of Pentecostal musicians, this article argues that the question of Protestant sincerity, understood following Keane as emphasizing individual moral autonomy and suspicion of external material religious forms for expressing one’s inner state, is particularly acute in the case of the Hillsong megachurch. Employing the full array of spectacular possibilities made available by the contemporary culture industry, Hillsong churches centralize cultural production and standardize musical performance whilst simultaneously emphasizing individual religious experience. It is argued that Pentecostal megachurches seek to realize a form of sincere mimicry grounded in learned and embodied practices.
Climate Sensitivity of High Arctic Permafrost Terrain Demonstrated by Widespread Ice-Wedge Thermokarst on Banks Island
Authors: Fraser Robert H. , Kokelj Steven V. , Lantz Trevor C. , McFarlane-Winchester Morgan , Olthof Ian , Lacelle Denis
Published: June 2018

Ice-wedge networks underlie polygonal terrain and comprise the most widespread form of massive ground ice in continuous permafrost. Here, we show that climate-driven thaw of hilltop ice-wedge networks is rapidly transforming uplands across Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Change detection using high-resolution WorldView images and historical air photos, coupled with 32-year Landsat reflectance trends, indicate broad-scale increases in ponding from ice-wedge thaw on hilltops, which has significantly affected at least 1500 km2 of Banks Island and over 3.5% of the total upland area. Trajectories of change associated with this upland ice-wedge thermokarst include increased micro-relief, development of high-centred polygons, and, in areas of poor drainage, ponding and potential initiation of thaw lakes. Millennia of cooling climate have favoured ice-wedge growth, and an absence of ecosystem disturbance combined with surface denudation by solifluction has produced high Arctic uplands and slopes underlain by ice-wedge networks truncated at the permafrost table. The thin veneer of thermally-conductive mineral soils strongly links Arctic upland active-layer responses to summer warming. For these reasons, widespread and intense ice-wedge thermokarst on Arctic hilltops and slopes contrast more muted responses to warming reported in low and subarctic environments. Increasing field evidence of thermokarst highlights the inherent climate sensitivity of the Arctic permafrost terrain and the need for integrated approaches to monitor change and investigate the cascade of environmental consequences.
Aerosol and Meteorological Parameters Associated with the Intense Dust Event of 15 April 2015 over Beijing, China
Authors: Zheng Sheng , Singh Ramesh P.
Published: June 2018

The northeastern parts of China, including Beijing city, the capital of China, were hit by an intense dust storm on 15 April 2015. The present paper discusses aerosol and meteorological parameters associated with this dust storm event. The back trajectory clearly shows that the dust originated from Inner Mongolia, the border of China, and Mongolia regions. Pronounced changes in aerosol and meteorological parameters along the dust track were observed. High aerosol optical depth (AOD) with low Ångström exponent (AE) are characteristics of coarse-mode dominated dust particles in the wavelength range 440–870 nm during the dusty day. During dust storm, dominance of coarse aerosol concentrations is observed in the aerosol size distribution (ASD). The single scattering albedo (SSA) retrieved from AERONET station shows increase with higher wavelength on the dusty day, and is found to be higher compared to the days prior to and after the dust event, supported with high values of the real part and decrease in the imaginary part of the refractive index (RI). With regard to meteorological parameters, during the dusty day, CO volume mixing ratio (COVMR) is observed to decrease, from the surface up to mid-altitude, compared with the non-dusty days due to strong winds. O3 volume mixing ratio (O3VMR) enhances at the increasing altitudes (at the low-pressure levels), and decreases near the surface at the pressure levels 500–925 hPa during the dust event, compared with the non-dusty periods. An increase in the H2O mass mixing ratio (H2OMMR) is observed during dusty periods at the higher altitudes equivalent to the pressure levels 500 and 700 hPa. The mid-altitude relative humidity (RH) is observed to decrease at the pressure levels 700 and 925 hPa during sand storm days. With the onset of the dust storm event, the RH reduces at the surface level.
The Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) Based on Bi-Parabolic NDVI-Ts Space and Gradient-Based Structural Similarity (GSSIM) for Long-Term Drought Assessment Across Shaanxi Province, China (2000–2016)
Authors: Liu Ying , Yue Hui
Published: June 2018

Traditional NDVI-Ts space is triangular or trapezoidal, but Liu et al. (2015) discovered that the NDVI-Ts space was bi-parabolic when the study area was covered with low biomass vegetation. Moreover, the numerical value of the indicator was considered in most of the study when the drought conditions in the space domain were evaluated. In addition, quantitatively assessing the spatial-temporal changes of the drought was not enough. In this study, first, we used MODIS NDVI and Ts data to reexamine if the NDVI-Ts space with “time” and a single pixel domain is bi-parabolic in the Shaanxi province of China, which is vegetated with low biomass to high biomass. This is compared with the triangular NDVI-Ts space and one of the well-known drought indexes called the temperature-vegetation index (TVX). The results demonstrated that dry and wet edges exhibited a parabolic shape again in scatter plots of Ts and NDVI in the Shaanxi province, which was linear in the triangular NDVI-Ts space. The Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDIc) was obtained from bi-parabolic NDVI-Ts andTVDIt was obtained from the triangular NDVI-Ts space and TVX were compared with 10-cm depth relative soil moisture. By estimating the 10-cm depth soil moisture, TVDIc was better than TVDIt, which were all apparently better than TVX. Second, combined with MODIS data, the drought conditions of the study area were assessed by TVDIc between 2000 to 2016. Spatially, the drought in the Shaanxi Province between 2000 to 2016 were mainly distributed in the northwest, North Shaanxi, and the North and East Guanzhong plain. The drought area of the Shaanxi province accounted for 31.95% in 2000 and 27.65% in 2016, respectively. Third, we quantitatively evaluated the variation of the drought status by using Gradient-based Structural Similarity (GSSIM) methods. The area of the drought conditions significantly changed and moderately changed at 5.34% and 40.22%, respectively, between 2000 and 2016. Finally, the possible reasons for drought change were discussed. The change of precipitation, temperature, irrigation, destruction or betterment of vegetation, and the enlargement of opening mining, etc., can lead to the variations of drought.
Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of EVI and Its Response to Climatic Factors in Recent 16 years Based on Grey Relational Analysis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
Authors: He Dong , Yi Guihua , Zhang Tingbin , Miao Jiaqing , Li Jingji , Bie Xiaojuan
Published: June 2018

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) is a major source of rivers, catchment areas, and ecological barriers in the northeast of China, related to the nation’s ecological security and improvement of the ecological environment. Therefore, studying the response of vegetation to climate change has become an important part of current global change research. Since existing studies lack detailed descriptions of the response of vegetation to different climatic factors using the method of grey correlation analysis based on pixel, the temporal and spatial patterns and trends of enhanced vegetation index (EVI) are analyzed in the growing season in IMAR from 2000 to 2015 based on moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) EVI data. Combined with the data of air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation in the study area, the grey relational analysis (GRA) method is used to study the time lag of EVI to climate change, and the study area is finally zoned into different parts according to the driving climatic factors for EVI on the basis of lag analysis. The driving zones quantitatively show the characteristics of temporal and spatial differences in response to different climatic factors for EVI. The results show that: (1) The value of EVI generally features in spatial distribution, increasing from the west to the east and the south to the north. The rate of change is 0.22/10°E from the west to the east, 0.28/10°N from the south to the north; (2) During 2000–2015, the EVI in IMAR showed a slightly upward trend with a growth rate of 0.021/10a. Among them, the areas with slight and significant improvement accounted for 21.1% and 7.5% of the total area respectively, ones with slight and significant degradation being 24.6% and 4.3%; (3) The time lag analysis of climatic factors for EVI indicates that vegetation growth in the study area lags behind air temperature by 1–2 months, relative humidity by 1–2 months, and precipitation by one month respectively; (4) During the growing season, the EVI of precipitation driving zone (21.8%) in IMAR is much larger than that in the air temperature driving zone (8%) and the relative humidity driving zone (11.6%). The growth of vegetation in IMAR generally has the closest relationship with precipitation. The growth of vegetation does not depend on the change of a single climatic factor. Instead, it is the result of the combined action of multiple climatic factors and human activities.
A Seismic Capacity Evaluation Approach for Architectural Heritage Using Finite Element Analysis of Three-Dimensional Model: A Case Study of the Limestone Hall in the Ming Dynasty
Authors: Chen Siliang , Wang Shaohua , Li Chen , Hu Qingwu , Yang Hongjun
Published: June 2018

A lot of architectural heritage in China are urgently in need to carry out seismic assessment for further conservation. In this paper, a seismic capacity evaluation approach for architectural heritage using finite element analysis with precision three-dimensional data was proposed. The Limestone Hall of Shaanxi Province was taken as an example. First, low attitude unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry and a close-range photogrammetry camera were used to collect multiple view images to obtain the precision three-dimensional current model of the Limestone. Second, the dimensions of internal structures of Limestone Hall are obtained by means of structural analysis; re-establishing the ideal model of Limestone Hall based on the modeling software. Third, a finite element analysis was conducted to find out the natural frequency and seismic stress in various conditions with the 3D model using ANSYS software. Finally, the seismic capacity analysis results were comprehensively evaluated for the risk assessment and simulation. The results showed that for architectural heritage with a multilayer structure, utilizing photogrammetric surveying and mapping, 3D software modeling, finite element software simulation, and seismic evaluation for simulation was feasible where the precision of the modeling and parameters determine the accuracy of the simulation. The precise degree of the three-dimensional model, the accurate degree of parameter measurement and estimation, the setting of component attributes in the finite element model and the strategy of finite element analysis have an important effect on the result of seismic assessment. The main body structure of the Limestone Hall could resist an VII-degree earthquake at most, and the ridge of the second floor could not resist a V-degree earthquake due to unsupported conditions. The maximum deformation of the Limestone Hall during the earthquake occurred in the tabia layer below the second roof.
Hybrid Histogram Descriptor: A Fusion Feature Representation for Image Retrieval
Authors: Feng Qinghe , Hao Qiaohong , Chen Yuqi , Yi Yugen , Wei Ying , Dai Jiangyan
Published: June 2018

Currently, visual sensors are becoming increasingly affordable and fashionable, acceleratingly the increasing number of image data. Image retrieval has attracted increasing interest due to space exploration, industrial, and biomedical applications. Nevertheless, designing effective feature representation is acknowledged as a hard yet fundamental issue. This paper presents a fusion feature representation called a hybrid histogram descriptor (HHD) for image retrieval. The proposed descriptor comprises two histograms jointly: a perceptually uniform histogram which is extracted by exploiting the color and edge orientation information in perceptually uniform regions; and a motif co-occurrence histogram which is acquired by calculating the probability of a pair of motif patterns. To evaluate the performance, we benchmarked the proposed descriptor on RSSCN7, AID, Outex-00013, Outex-00014 and ETHZ-53 datasets. Experimental results suggest that the proposed descriptor is more effective and robust than ten recent fusion-based descriptors under the content-based image retrieval framework. The computational complexity was also analyzed to give an in-depth evaluation. Furthermore, compared with the state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN)-based descriptors, the proposed descriptor also achieves comparable performance, but does not require any training process.
Detection of Oil Chestnuts Infected by Blue Mold Using Near-Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging Combined with Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Feng Lei , Zhu Susu , Lin Fucheng , Su Zhenzhu , Yuan Kangpei , Zhao Yiying , He Yong , Zhang Chu
Published: June 2018

Mildew damage is a major reason for chestnut poor quality and yield loss. In this study, a near-infrared hyperspectral imaging system in the 874–1734 nm spectral range was applied to detect the mildew damage to chestnuts caused by blue mold. Principal component analysis (PCA) scored images were firstly employed to qualitatively and intuitively distinguish moldy chestnuts from healthy chestnuts. Spectral data were extracted from the hyperspectral images. A successive projections algorithm (SPA) was used to select 12 optimal wavelengths. Artificial neural networks, including back propagation neural network (BPNN), evolutionary neural network (ENN), extreme learning machine (ELM), general regression neural network (GRNN) and radial basis neural network (RBNN) were used to build models using the full spectra and optimal wavelengths to distinguish moldy chestnuts. BPNN and ENN models using full spectra and optimal wavelengths obtained satisfactory performances, with classification accuracies all surpassing 99%. The results indicate the potential for the rapid and non-destructive detection of moldy chestnuts by hyperspectral imaging, which would help to develop online detection system for healthy and blue mold infected chestnuts.
Scale Estimation and Correction of the Monocular Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) Based on Fusion of 1D Laser Range Finder and Vision Data
Authors: Zhang Zhuang , Zhao Rujin , Liu Enhai , Yan Kun , Ma Yuebo
Published: June 2018

This article presents a new sensor fusion method for visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) through integration of a monocular camera and a 1D-laser range finder. Such as a fusion method provides the scale estimation and drift correction and it is not limited by volume, e.g., the stereo camera is constrained by the baseline and overcomes the limited depth range problem associated with SLAM for RGBD cameras. We first present the analytical feasibility for estimating the absolute scale through the fusion of 1D distance information and image information. Next, the analytical derivation of the laser-vision fusion is described in detail based on the local dense reconstruction of the image sequences. We also correct the scale drift of the monocular SLAM using the laser distance information which is independent of the drift error. Finally, application of this approach to both indoor and outdoor scenes is verified by the Technical University of Munich dataset of RGBD and self-collected data. We compare the effects of the scale estimation and drift correction of the proposed method with the SLAM for a monocular camera and a RGBD camera.
Preliminary Study on Biosensor-Type Time-Temperature Integrator for Intelligent Food Packaging
Authors: Mijanur Rahman A. T. M. , Kim Do Hyeon , Jang Han Dong , Yang Jung Hwa , Lee Seung Ju
Published: June 2018

A glucose biosensor was utilized as a platform for the time-temperature integrator (TTI), a device for intelligent food packaging. The TTI system is composed of glucose oxidase, glucose, a pH indicator, and a three-electrode potentiostat, which produces an electrical signal as well as color development. The reaction kinetics of these response variables were analyzed under isothermal conditions. The reaction rates of the electrical current and color changes were 0.0360 ± 0.0020 (95% confidence limit), 0.0566 ± 0.0026, 0.0716 ± 0.0024, 0.1073 ± 0.0028 µA/min, and 0.0187 ± 0.0005, 0.0293 ± 0.0018, 0.0363 ± 0.0012, 0.0540 ± 0.0019 1/min, at 5, 15, 25, and 35 °C, respectively. The Arrhenius activation energy of the current reaction (Eacurrent) was 25.0 ± 1.6 kJ/mol and the Eacolor of the color reactions was 24.2 ± 0.6 kJ/mol. The similarity of these Ea shows agreement in the prediction of food qualities between the electrical signal and color development. Consequently, the function of the new time-temperature integrator system could be extended to that of a biosensor compatible with any electrical utilization equipment.
An Optimization Routing Algorithm for Green Communication in Underground Mines
Authors: Xu Heng , Li Qiyue , Wang Jianping , Luo Guojun , Zhu Chenghui , Sun Wei
Published: June 2018

With the long-term dependence of humans on ore-based energy, underground mines are utilized around the world, and underground mining is often dangerous. Therefore, many underground mines have established networks that manage and acquire information from sensor nodes deployed on miners and in other places. Since the power supplies of many mobile sensor nodes are batteries, green communication is an effective approach of reducing the energy consumption of a network and extending its longevity. To reduce the energy consumption of networks, all factors that negatively influence the lifetime should be considered. The degree constraint minimum spanning tree (DCMST) is introduced in this study to consider all the heterogeneous factors and assign weights for the next step of the evaluation. Then, a genetic algorithm (GA) is introduced to cluster sensor nodes in the network and balance energy consumption according to several heterogeneous factors and routing paths from DCMST. Based on a comparison of the simulation results, the optimization routing algorithm proposed in this study for use in green communication in underground mines can effectively reduce the network energy consumption and extend the lifetimes of networks.
Polystyrene Oxygen Optodes Doped with Ir(III) and Pd(II) meso-Tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin Using an LED-Based High-Sensitivity Phosphorimeter
Authors: De Moraes Filho Alexandre F. , Gewehr Pedro M. , Maia Joaquim M. , Jakubiak Douglas R.
Published: June 2018

This paper presents a gaseous oxygen detection system based on time-resolved phosphorimetry (time-domain), which is used to investigate O2 optical transducers. The primary sensing elements were formed by incorporating iridium(III) and palladium(II) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin complexes (IrTFPP-CO-Cl and PdTFPP) in polystyrene (PS) solid matrices. Probe excitation was obtained using a violet light-emitting diode (LED) (low power), and the resulting phosphorescence was detected by a high-sensitivity compact photomultiplier tube. The detection system performance and the preparation of the transducers are presented along with their optical properties, phosphorescence lifetimes, calibration curves and photostability. The developed lifetime measuring system showed a good signal-to-noise ratio, and reliable results were obtained from the optodes, even when exposed to moderate levels of O2. The new IrTFPP-CO-Cl membranes exhibited room temperature phosphorescence and moderate sensitivity: <τ0>/<τ21%> ratio of ≈6. A typically high degree of dynamic phosphorescence quenching was observed for the traditional indicator PdTFPP: <τ0>/<τ21%> ratio of ≈36. Pulsed-source time-resolved phosphorimetry combined with a high-sensitivity photodetector can offer potential advantages such as: (i) major dynamic range, (ii) extended temporal resolution (Δτ/Δ[O2]) and (iii) high operational stability. IrTFPP-CO-Cl immobilized in polystyrene is a promising alternative for O2 detection, offering adequate photostability and potentially mid-range sensitivity over Pt(II) and Pd(II) metalloporphyrins.
Fire Source Range Localization Based on the Dynamic Optimization Method for Large-Space Buildings
Authors: Wang Guoyong , Feng Xiaoliang , Zhang Zhenzhong
Published: June 2018

This paper is concerned to the fire localization problem for large-space buildings. Two kinds of circular fire source arrangement localization methods are proposed on the basis of the dynamic optimization technology. In the Range-Point-Range frame, a dynamic optimization localization is proposed to globally estimate the circle center of the circular arrangement to be determined based on all the point estimates of the fire source. In the Range-Range-Range frame, a dynamic optimization localization method is developed by solving a non-convex optimization problem. In this way, the circle center and the radius are obtained simultaneously. Additionally, the dynamic angle bisector method is evaluated. Finally, a simulation with three simulation scenes is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and availability of the proposed methods.
Next Day Subjective and Objective Recovery Indices Following Acute Low and High Training Loads in Academy Rugby Union Players
Authors: Noon Mark R. , James Rob S. , Clarke Neil D. , Taylor Richard J. , Thake C. Douglas
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity of selected subjective and objective monitoring assessments in detecting changes in group and individual responses to low and high load bouts of high intensity intermittent exercise. In a counterbalanced crossover design, Thirteen Academy Rugby Union players (mean ± SD: age: 18 ± 1 years) performed a low load (15 min) and a high load (90 min) bout of high intensity intermittent exercise (Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test) one week apart. Monitoring assessments were performed immediately prior to and 20 h following each trial. Subjective self-report Well-being Questionnaire (WQ) items showed small to large deteriorations following the high load compared to low load (d = 0.4–1.5, p = 0.03–0.57). A very large increase in resting HR (HRrest) (d = 2.1, p = 0.02), moderate decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) indices (d = 0.7, p = 0.04 and d = 0.7, p = 0.01 for the natural logarithm of the standard deviation of R-R intervals (ln SDNN) and the root square of the mean squared differences of successive R-R intervals (rMSSD), respectively) and no change in countermovement jump (d = 0.0, p = 0.97) were evident following the high load compared to low load. Individual WQ responses revealed 7/9, 7/9, 6/9, 6/9, 5/9, 3/9 and 1/9 participants reported deteriorations in recovery, sleep quality, motivation, muscle soreness, fatigue, stress and appetite, respectively, following the high load compared to low load. Individual analysis indicated a negative response following the high load compared to low load in HRrest, ln SDNN and ln rMSSD for 4/6, 2/6 and 1/6 participants, respectively. Selected WQ items detected group and individual responses to high load and low load highlighting their potential utility. However, objective assessments lacked the sensitivity to detect small individual changes.
Measurements of Pedestrian Friendliness of Residential Area: A Case Study in Hexi District of Nanjing
Authors: Qian Caiyun , Zhu Difei , Zhou Yang , Chen Jiadeng
Published: June 2018

As part of urban transportation, walking plays an important role in promoting the development of urban green transportation systems. Through the analysis of resident travel preference and the influence factors on travel choice of land use and related effects, this paper puts forward the walking accessibility, pedestrian route directness (PRD), street walking popularity and the ratio of green interface as a quantitative index of the measurement system of pedestrian friendliness, to evaluate the effect of land use and urban space on the residents’ walking. Based on this, this paper takes Nanjing Hexi District as an example, using ArcGIS software to quantify the city residents’ travel purpose. Two-dimensional space characteristic analysis verifies that the high density and high degree of mixing, high accessibility blocks with good street environmental quality and open environment on the pedestrian block has a good role in promoting walking, and then puts forward optimization suggestions to promote the pedestrian friendliness in Hexi District.
Developing Countries in the Lead—What Drives the Diffusion of Plastic Bag Policies?
Authors: Knoblauch Doris , Mederake Linda , Stein Ulf
Published: June 2018

While diffusion patterns are quite well understood in the context of the Global North, diffusion research has only been applied to a limited extent to investigate how policies spread across developing countries. In this article, we therefore analyze the diffusion patterns of plastic bag bans and plastic bag taxes in the Global South and Global North to contribute to the further refinement of diffusion theory by specifically addressing the under-researched Global South. Moreover, with an in-depth investigation of plastic bag policies through the lens of diffusion research, the article provides insights in the rather new and still underexplored policy field of plastic pollution. We find that industrialized countries have mostly adopted plastic bag taxes, while developing countries have mainly introduced plastic bag bans and thus more stringent legislation than countries in the Global North. So far, the key driving force for the diffusion of plastic bag policies in the Global North has been the global public pressure. In the Global South, where plastic bag litter is much more visible and harmful due to limited waste collection and recycling rates, national problem pressure has been much more influential.
Land Ownership, Rent-Seeking, and Rural Gentrification: Reconstructing Villages for Sustainable Urbanization in China
Authors: Yang Jinkun , Hui Eddie C. M. , Lang Wei , Li Xun
Published: June 2018

Gentrification is a widespread urban phenomenon across the post-industrial world. However, rural gentrification has been explored insufficiently in the context of China’s unprecedented urbanization. By reviewing the redevelopment processes in Zengcuoan village, Xiamen City, China, this study empirically reveals that the socio-spatial transformation of this village has been mainly led by artists and villagers based on institutional arrangements of land ownership. Rural gentrification, which involves refurbishing houses and public spaces, has played a key role in social life and the engagement between indigenous villagers and artists. As active rent-seekers, indigenous villagers contribute to gentrification in a combined effect with China’s rural land property rights. Contrary to Western findings, villagers in China act as landlords who benefit from rural gentrification, which in turn causes grassroots artists or young people to move out because of the increasing rent or property prices. This paper attempted to enrich the extant understanding of rural Chinese gentrification and broaden the analytics of gentrification studies of the institutional arrangements from a land-ownership perspective. Contributing to the literature on rural gentrification, this study highlights the excessive commercialization of rent-seeking as the trigger of gentrification.
A Sustainable Agricultural Future Relies on the Transition to Organic Agroecological Pest Management
Authors: Brzozowski Lauren , Mazourek Michael
Published: June 2018

The need to improve agricultural sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and buffer environmental change is widely recognized. Investment in conventional agriculture has supported its present yield advantage. However, organic agriculture with agroecological management has nascent capacity for sustainable production and for increasing yields in the future. Conventional systems have leveraged reductionist approaches to address pests, primarily through pesticides that seek to eliminate biological factors that reduce yield, but come at a cost to human and ecosystem health, and leave production systems vulnerable to the development of pest resistance to these chemicals or traits. Alternatives are needed, and are found in organic production approaches. Although both organic and agroecology approaches encompass more than pest management, this aspect is a pivotal element of our agricultural future. Through increased investment and application of emerging analytical approaches to improve plant breeding for and management of these systems, yields and resilience will surpass approaches that address components alone.
Designing Learning for Sustainable Development: Digital Practices as Boundary Crossers and Predictors of Sustainable Lifestyles
Authors: Istenic Starcic Andreja , Terlevic Maja , Lin Lin , Lebenicnik Maja
Published: June 2018

Sustainable development (SD) is a multidimensional issue. However, research findings report a divide between students’ awareness and behavior. It is identified that study programs are designed more for awareness outcomes, and not so much for behavioral outcomes. For higher-order learning outcomes manifested in a sustainable development behavior, the authors argue for a model based on an understanding of learning as boundary crossing. Based on this model, learning for sustainable development occurs in relating social practices, lifestyles, academic practices, professional practices, and students’ digital practices. To inform teachers’ approaches to teaching as an important driver of institutional change, we conducted a survey among students of urban and spatial planning in Slovenia. Examined factors included personal, academic, and digital predictors for sustainable development awareness, lifestyle, and behavioral intention. We hypothesized that a significant predictor for sustainable development behavior, which was measured as sustainable lifestyle and sustainable development behavioral intention, would be learning in social practices, and that learning in social practices would predict preferred teaching methods. The findings of hierarchical regression analysis indicated personal factors as the most important predictors of SD behavioral intention, and academic predictors as the most important factors for SD awareness. Digital practices were found to be the most important predictors of a sustainable lifestyle. Social practices of sustainable lifestyle, digital practices, and perceived teaching methods predicted students’ preferred teaching methods. We discuss the future directions of sustainable development education, considering digital social media practices as essential boundary crossers.
Hybrid Energy System with Optimized Storage for Improvement of Sustainability in a Small Town
Authors: Jiang Fengchang , Xie Haiyan , Ellen Oliver
Published: June 2018

With the rise of renewable energy comes significant challenges and benefits. The current studies on the incorporation of renewable-energy policies and energy-storage technologies attempt to address the optimization of hybrid energy systems (HESs). However, there is a gap between the currents needs of HES in small towns for energy independence and the understanding of integrated optimization approaches for employing the technology. The purpose of this research is to determine the technical, systematic and financial requirements needed to allow a city or community to become independent of the utilization of traditional energy and develop a reliable program for a clean and environment-friendly energy supply. This paper presents the sensitivity analysis and Bayesian prediction (SABP) method for the optimized design of a hybrid photo-voltaic wind energy system. This method uses the actual data to analyze and compare the main, optimized and desired scenarios of HES designs. The results show that optimized design can minimize the cost of the energy generated while reliably matching local electricity demand. The SABP system helps to eliminate the dependence on traditional energy resources, reduce transition costs by purchasing electricity, and decrease the financial burden of a small city.
Towards an Impact Evaluation Framework to Measure Urban Resilience in Food Practices
Authors: Dezio Catherine , Marino Davide
Published: June 2018

The relationship among agriculture, food and cities is experiencing profound transformations that led us to reflect on causes and processes. Our research questions regarded the role of agriculture and food in territorial resilience, the relationship between global problems and local solutions (i.e., urban scale), the relationship between the action scales and the results of a practice, and the means to measure the effectiveness of a practice. The following paper adopts the coevolutive approach, which recognizes territorial dynamics as products of biunivocal relations between social and environmental components. We also outline an impact evaluation framework for assessing territorial resilience of urban food systems. The paper includes an analysis conducted on 50 local practices regarding the relationship between food and city. This analysis was collected within the Observatory of Resilience Practices, a project funded by the Cariplo Foundation and conducted by the Polytechnic University of Milan. The paper concludes by suggesting implementation of the methodology for assessing the impact of practices, and includes broader reasoning regarding the role of local bottom-up practices in territorial governance.