bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quaternary Ammonium Leucine-Based Surfactants: The Effect of a Benzyl Group on Physicochemical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Perinelli Diego Romano , Petrelli Dezemona , Vitali Luca Agostino , Bonacucina Giulia , Cespi Marco , Vllasaliu Driton , Giorgioni Gianfabio , Palmieri Giovanni Filippo
Published: June 2019

Quaternary ammonium amphiphiles are a class of compounds with a wide range of commercial and industrial uses. In the pharmaceutical field, the most common quaternary ammonium surfactant is benzalkonium chloride (BAC), which is employed as a preservative in several topical formulations for ocular, skin, or nasal application. Despite the broad antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi and small enveloped viruses, safety concerns regarding its irritant and cytotoxic effect on epithelial cells still remain. In this work, quaternary ammonium derivatives of leucine esters (C10, C12 and C14) were synthesised as BAC analogues. These cationic surfactants were characterised in terms of critical micelle concentration (CMC, by tensiometry), cytotoxicity (MTS and LDH assays on the Caco-2 and Calu-3 cell lines) and antimicrobial activity on the bacterial species Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis among the Gram-positives, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among the Gram-negatives and the yeast Candida albicans. They showed satisfactory surface-active properties, and a cytotoxic effect that was dependent on the length of the hydrophobic chain. Lower minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC) values were calculated for C14-derivatives, which were comparable to those calculated for BAC toward Gram-positive bacteria and slightly higher for Gram-negative bacteria and C. albicans. Thus, the synthesised leucine-based quaternary ammonium cationic surfactants can potentially find application as promising surface-active compounds with antimicrobial activity.
Use of nPSi-βCD Composite Microparticles for the Controlled Release of Caffeic Acid and Pinocembrin, Two Main Polyphenolic Compounds Found in a Chilean Propolis
Authors: Guzmán-Oyarzo Dina , Plaza Tanya , Recio-Sánchez Gonzalo , Abdalla Dulcineia S. P. , Salazar Luis A. , Hernández-Montelongo Jacobo
Published: June 2019

Propolis is widely recognized for its various therapeutic properties. These are attributed to its rich composition in polyphenols, which exhibit multiple biological properties (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic). Despite its multiple benefits, oral administration of polyphenols results in low bioavailability at the action site. An alternative to face this problem is the use of biomaterials at nano-micro scale due to its high versatility as carriers and delivery systems of various drugs and biomolecules. The aim of this work is to determine if nPSi-βCD microparticles are a suitable material for the load and controlled release of caffeic acid (CA) and pinocembrin (Pin), two of the main components of a Chilean propolis with anti-atherogenic and anti-angiogenic activity. Polyphenols and nPSi-βCD microparticles cytocompatibility studies were carried out with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results from physicochemical characterization demonstrated nPSi-βCD microparticles successfully retained and controlled release CA and Pin. Furthermore, nPSi-βCD microparticles presented cytocompatibility with HUVECs culture at concentrations of 0.25 mg/mL. These results suggest that nPSi-βCD microparticles could safely be used as an alternate oral delivery system to improve controlled release and bioavailability of CA or Pin—and eventually other polyphenols—thus enhancing its therapeutic effect for the treatment of different diseases.
Treatment of Flax Fabric with AP-DBD in Parallel Plane Configuration
Authors: Sachs Rüdiger , Ihde Jörg , Wilken Ralph , Mayer Bernd
Published: June 2019

For the use of natural fibers in composite materials it is often necessary to improve the compatibility between fiber (sizing) and polymer matrix systems, e.g., by increasing the number of functional groups on the fiber surfaces. In this work, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) source in plane configuration is used to treat flax fabrics in ambient air. It is examined whether it is possible to increase the functionality on both fabric sides, which is achieved by simple changes in the DBD setup. After evaluating the treatment homogeneity of the filamentary plasma, an explanation for the treatment mechanism on the fiber surfaces is developed. It is shown that waxy substances, which naturally occur on natural fibers, play an important role in the wettability of the fabric.
Thermally Healable and Recyclable Graphene-Nanoplate/Epoxy Composites Via an In-Situ Diels-Alder Reaction on the Graphene-Nanoplate Surface
Authors: Oh Cho-Rong , Lee Dae-Il , Park Jun-Hong , Lee Dai-Soo
Published: June 2019

In this work, thermally healable graphene-nanoplate/epoxy (GNP/EP) nanocomposites were investigated. GNPs were used as reinforcement and crosslinking platforms for the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A-based epoxy resin (DGEBA) through the Diels-Alder (DA) reaction with furfurylamine (FA). The GNPs and FA could then be used as a derivative of diene and dienophile in the DA reaction. It was expected that the combination of GNPs and FA in DGEBA would produce composites based on the interfacial properties of the components. We confirmed the DA reaction of GNPs and FA at the interface during curing of the GNP/EP nanocomposites. This procedure is simple and solvent-free. DA and retro DA reactions of the obtained composites were demonstrated, and the thermal healing properties were evaluated. The behavior of the GNP/EP nanocomposites in the DA reaction is similar to that of thermosetting polymers at low temperatures due to crosslinking by the DA reaction, and the nanocomposites can be recycled by a retro DA reaction at high temperatures.
Transparent, High Glass-Transition Temperature, Shape Memory Hybrid Polyimides Based on Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane
Authors: Lan Zhongxu , Chen Xueli , Zhang Xiao , Zhu Chongyu , Yu Yanlei , Wei Jia
Published: June 2019

Optically transparent polyimides with excellent thermal stability and shape memory effect have potential applications in optoelectronic devices and aerospace industries. A series of optically transparent shape memory polyimide hybrid films are synthesized from 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) and 2,2′-bis-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-4,4′-diamine (TFMB) with various polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) contents and then subjected to thermal imidization. The hybrid films show good optical transparency (>80% at 400 nm and >95% at 500 nm) with cutoff wavelengths ranging from 318 to 336 nm. Following the incorporation of the inorganic POSS structure, the hybrid films exhibit excellent thermal stability with glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from 351 to 372 °C. The hybrid films possess the highest Tg compared with the previously-reported shape memory polymers. These findings show that POSS is successfully utilized to develop transparent polyimides with excellent thermal stability and shape memory effect.
Guo Xiang and the Problem of Self-Cultivation in Daoist Naturalism
Authors: Coles Benjamin
Published: June 2019

Recent research on Daoism has distinguished various models of self-cultivation present in the tradition, in particular those which aim at returning humanity to a natural, spontaneous form of existence (often associated with early pre-Qin “philosophical” Daoism), and those which aim at transcending human nature through technical practices (often associated with later “religious” Daoism). During the Wei-Jin period, organized Daoist religion was still in its early stages, yet the difference between the two models was very much an issue in the Dark Learning (xuanxue) thought of the intellectual elite. In this paper, I trace this debate as expressed in Wei-Jin thinker Guo Xiang’s Commentary to the Zhuangzi, in particular in Guo’s criticisms of the desire or attempt to exceed the limits (ji) of one’s inherent nature and his reinterpretation of the Zhuangzi’s criticisms of technical practices. While Guo follows Xiang Xiu in rejecting many of the claims of radical transcendence through self-cultivation, I argue that this does not imply that he lacks any positive conception of self-cultivation, but rather that he sees such cultivation as only possible through an immanent historical process in which both natural spontaneity and artificial techniques have a role to play.
MallARD: An Autonomous Aquatic Surface Vehicle for Inspection and Monitoring of Wet Nuclear Storage Facilities
Authors: Groves Keir , West Andrew , Gornicki Konrad , Watson Simon , Carrasco Joaquin , Lennox Barry
Published: June 2019

Inspection and monitoring of wet nuclear storage facilities such as spent fuel pools or wet silos is performed for a variety of reasons, including nuclear security and characterisation of storage facilities prior to decommissioning. Until now such tasks have been performed by personnel or, if the risk to health is too high, avoided. Tasks are often repetitive, time-consuming and potentially dangerous, making them suited to being performed by an autonomous robot. Previous autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) have been designed for operation in natural outdoor environments and lack the localisation and tracking accuracy necessary for operation in a wet nuclear storage facility. In this paper the environmental and operational conditions are analysed, applicable localisation technologies selected and a unique aquatic autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) is designed and constructed. The ASV developed is holonomic, uses a LiDAR for localisation and features a robust trajectory tracking controller. In a series of experiments the mean error between the present ASV’s planned path and the actual path is approximately 1 cm, which is two orders of magnitude lower than previous ASVs. As well as lab testing, the ASV has been used in two deployments, one of which was in an active spent fuel pool.
Spaceborne GNSS-R Observation of Global Lake Level: First Results from the TechDemoSat-1 Mission
Authors: Xu Liwen , Wan Wei , Chen Xiuwan , Zhu Siyu , Liu Baojian , Hong Yang
Published: June 2019

Spaceborne global navigation satellite system reflectometry (GNSS-R) data collected by the UK TechDemoSat-1 (TDS-1) satellite is applied to retrieve global lake levels for the first time. Lake levels of 351 global lakes (area greater than 500 km2 and elevation lower than 3000 m each) are estimated using TDS-1 Level 1b data over 2015–2017. Strong correlations (overall R2 greater than 0.95) are observed among lake levels derived from TDS-1 and other altimetry satellites such as CryoSat-2, Jason, and Envisat (the latter two are collected by Hydroweb), although with large root-mean-square error (RMSE) (tens of meters) mainly due to the fact that TDS-1 is not dedicated for altimetry measuring purpose. Examples of the Caspian Sea and the Poyang Lake show consistent spatial and temporal variations between TDS-1 and other data sources. The results in this paper provide supportive information for further application of GNSS-R constellations to measure altimetry of inland water bodies.
Special Issue on Selected Papers from the “International Symposium on Remote Sensing 2018”
Authors: Jung Hyung-Sup , Ryu Joo-Hyung , Park Sang-Eun , Lee Hoonyol , Park No-Wook
Published: June 2019

The international symposium on remote sensing 2018 (ISRS 2018) was held in Pyeongchang, Korea, 9–11 May 2018 [...]
Object-Based Mapping of Coral Reef Habitats Using Planet Dove Satellites
Authors: Li Jiwei , Schill Steven R. , Knapp David E. , Asner Gregory P.
Published: June 2019

High spatial resolution benthic habitat information is essential for coral reef protection and coastal environmental management. Satellite-based shallow benthic composition mapping offers a more efficient approach than traditional field measurements, especially given the advancements in high spatial and temporal resolution satellite imagery. The Planet Dove satellite constellation now has more than 150 instruments in orbit that offer daily coverage at high spatial resolution (3.7 m). The Dove constellation provides regularly updated imagery that can minimize cloud in tropical oceans where dense cloud cover persists. Daily image acquisition also provides an opportunity to detect time-sensitive changes in shallow benthic habitats following coral bleaching events, storms, and other disturbances. We developed an object-based coral reef habitat mapping approach for Dove and similar multispectral satellites that provides bathymetry estimation, bottom reflectance retrieval, and object-based classification to identify different benthic compositions in shallow coastal environments. We tested our approach in three study sites in the Dominican Republic using 18 Dove images. Benthic composition classification results were validated by field measurements (overall accuracy = 82%). Bathymetry and bottom reflectance significantly contributed to identifying benthic habitat classes with similar surface reflectance. This new object-based approach can be effectively applied to map and manage coral reef habitats.
VIIRS-Derived Water Turbidity in the Great Lakes
Authors: Son Seunghyun , Wang Menghua
Published: June 2019

Satellite ocean color products from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) since 2012 and in situ water turbidity measurements from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Great Lakes Environmental Database System are used to develop a water turbidity algorithm for satellite ocean color applications in the Great Lakes for water quality monitoring and assessments. Results show that the proposed regional algorithm can provide reasonably accurate estimations of water turbidity from satellite observations in the Great Lakes. Therefore, VIIRS-derived water turbidity data are used to investigate spatial and temporal variations in water turbidity for the entirety of the Great Lakes. Water turbidity values are overall the highest in Lake Erie, moderate in Lake Ontario, and relatively low in lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron. Significantly high values in water turbidity appear in the nearshore regions, particularly in Thunder Bay (Lake Superior), Green Bay (Lake Michigan), and Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron). Seasonal patterns of water turbidity are generally similar in lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Ontario, showing relatively high values in the spring and autumn months and lows in the winter season, while the seasonal pattern in Lake Erie is apparently different from the other lakes, with the highest value in the winter season and the lowest in the summer season. A strong interannual variability in water turbidity is shown in the time series of the VIIRS-derived water turbidity data for most of the lakes.
Night Thermal Unmixing for the Study of Microscale Surface Urban Heat Islands with TRISHNA-Like Data
Authors: Granero-Belinchon Carlos , Michel Aurelie , Lagouarde Jean-Pierre , Sobrino Jose A. , Briottet Xavier
Published: June 2019

Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) at the surface and canopy levels are major issues in urban planification and development. For this reason, the comprehension and quantification of the influence that the different land-uses/land-covers have on UHIs is of particular importance. In order to perform a detailed thermal characterisation of the city, measures covering the whole scenario (city and surroundings) and with a recurrent revisit are needed. In addition, a resolution of tens of meters is needed to characterise the urban heterogeneities. Spaceborne remote sensing meets the first and the second requirements but the Land Surface Temperature (LST) resolutions remain too rough compared to the urban object scale. Thermal unmixing techniques have been developed in recent years, allowing LST images during day at the desired scales. However, while LST gives information of surface urban heat islands (SUHIs), canopy UHIs and SUHIs are more correlated during the night, hence the development of thermal unmixing methods for night LSTs is necessary. This article proposes to adapt four empirical unmixing methods of the literature, Disaggregation of radiometric surface Temperature (DisTrad), High-resolution Urban Thermal Sharpener (HUTS), Area-To-Point Regression Kriging (ATPRK), and Adaptive Area-To-Point Regression Kriging (AATPRK), to unmix night LSTs. These methods are based on given relationships between LST and reflective indices, and on invariance hypotheses of these relationships across resolutions. Then, a comparative study of the performances of the different techniques is carried out on TRISHNA synthesized images of Madrid. Since TRISHNA is a mission in preparation, the synthesis of the images has been done according to the planned specification of the satellite and from initial Aircraft Hyperspectral Scanner (AHS) data of the city obtained during the DESIREX 2008 capaign. Thus, the coarse initial resolution is 60 m and the finer post-unmixing one is 20 m. In this article, we show that: (1) AATPRK is the most performant unmixing technique when applied on night LST, with the other three techniques being undesirable for night applications at TRISHNA resolutions. This can be explained by the local application of AATPRK. (2) ATPRK and DisTrad do not improve significantly the LST image resolution. (3) HUTS, which depends on albedo measures, misestimates the LST, leading to the worst temperature unmixing. (4) The two main factors explaining the obtained performances are the local/global application of the method and the reflective indices used in the LST-index relationship.
Multispectral and Radar Data for the Setting of Gold Mineralization in the South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Zoheir Basem , Emam Ashraf , Abdel-Wahed Mohamed , Soliman Nehal
Published: June 2019

Satellite-based multi-sensor data coupled with field and microscopic investigations are used to unravel the setting and controls of gold mineralization in the Wadi Beitan–Wadi Rahaba area in the South Eastern Desert of Egypt. The satellite-based multispectral and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data promoted a vibrant litho-tectonic understanding and abetted in assessing the regional structural control of the scattered gold occurrences in the study area. The herein detailed approach includes band rationing, principal component and independent component analyses, directional filtering, and automated and semi-automated lineament extraction techniques to Landsat 8- Operational Land Imager (OLI), Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), and Sentinel-1B data. Results of optical and SAR data processed as grayscale raster images of band ratios, Relative Absorption Band Depth (RBD), and (mafic–carbonate–hydrous) mineralogical indices are used to extract the representative pixels (regions of interest). The extracted pixels are then converted to vector shape files and are finally imported into the ArcMap environment. Similarly, manually and automatically extracted lineaments are merged with the band ratios and mineralogical indices vector layers. The data fusion approach used herein reveals no particular spatial association between gold occurrences and certain lithological units, but shows a preferential distribution of gold–quartz veins in zones of chlorite–epidote alteration overlapping with high-density intersections of lineaments. Structural features including en-echelon arrays of quartz veins and intense recrystallization and sub-grain development textures are consistent with vein formation and gold deposition syn-kinematic with the host shear zones. The mineralized, central-shear quartz veins, and the associated strong stretching lineation affirm vein formation amid stress build-up and stress relaxation of an enduring oblique convergence (assigned as Najd-related sinistral transpression; ~640–610 Ma). As the main outcome of this research, we present a priority map with zones defined as high potential targets for undiscovered gold resources.
Spatially Variable Glacier Changes in the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal, 2000 to 2016
Authors: Lovell Arminel M. , Carr J. Rachel , Stokes Chris R.
Published: June 2019

Himalayan glaciers have shrunk rapidly in recent decades, but the spatial pattern of ice loss is highly variable and appears to be modulated by factors relating to individual glacier characteristics. This hinders our ability to predict their future evolution, which is vital for water resource management. The aim of this study is to assess recent glacier changes in the little-studied Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA; area: 7629 km2) in Nepal, and to explore local controls influencing their behaviour. We map changes in glacier area, surface elevation, and ice flow velocity on a large sample of glaciers (n = 162) in the ACA between 2000 and 2016. We found that total glacier area decreased by 8.5% between 2000 and 2014/15. Ice surface velocity changes between 2002 and 2016 were variable, with no clear trend of acceleration or deceleration. The mean surface elevation change for a smaller sample of glaciers (n = 72) was −0.33 ± 0.22 m a−1 between 2000 and 2013/16, which equates to a mean mass balance of −0.28 ± 0.24 m w.e. a−1. There was a trend of increasingly less negative mass balance towards the north. Glaciers that lost the most mass in the north of the ACA tended to have lower maximum elevations, bottom-heavy hypsometries, and were more likely to be avalanche-fed. However, these patterns were not apparent in glaciers in central ACA. There was no significant difference in the mean surface elevation change rate on the ablation zones of debris-covered compared with debris-free glaciers. Our work shows that glaciers in the ACA are losing area and mass at variable rates, but that the influence of local controls is complex, which introduces large uncertainties when predicting their future evolution.
Automated Visual Recognizability Evaluation of Traffic Sign Based on 3D LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Zhang Shanxin , Wang Cheng , Lin Lili , Wen Chenglu , Yang Chenhui , Zhang Zhemin , Li Jonathan
Published: June 2019

Maintaining the high visual recognizability of traffic signs for traffic safety is a key matter for road network management. Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) systems provide efficient way of 3D measurement over large-scale traffic environment. This paper presents a quantitative visual recognizability evaluation method for traffic signs in large-scale traffic environment based on traffic recognition theory and MLS 3D point clouds. We first propose the Visibility Evaluation Model (VEM) to quantitatively describe the visibility of traffic sign from any given viewpoint, then we proposed the concept of visual recognizability field and Traffic Sign Visual Recognizability Evaluation Model (TSVREM) to measure the visual recognizability of a traffic sign. Finally, we present an automatic TSVREM calculation algorithm for MLS 3D point clouds. Experimental results on real MLS 3D point clouds show that the proposed method is feasible and efficient.
Development of a Simple Assay Method for Adenosine Deaminase via Enzymatic Formation of an Inosine-Tb3+ Complex
Authors: Lee Suji , Park Heewon , Ki Yeongcheol , Lee Hohjai , Han Min Su
Published: June 2019

Adenosine deaminase (ADA), which catalyzes the irreversible deamination of adenosine to inosine, is related to various human diseases such as tuberculous peritonitis and leukemia. Therefore, the method used to detect ADA activity and screen the effectiveness of various inhibitor candidates has important implications for the diagnosis treatment for various human diseases. A simple and rapid assay method for ADA, based on the enzymatic formation of a luminescent lanthanide complex, is proposed in this study. Inosine, an enzymatic product of ADA with stronger sensitization efficiency for Tb3+ than adenosine, produced a strong luminescence by forming an inosine-Tb3+ complex, and it enabled the direct monitoring of ADA activity in real-time. By introducing only Tb3+ to adenosine and ADA in the buffer, the enhancement of luminescence enabled the detection of a low concentration of ADA (detection limit 1.6 U/L). Moreover, this method could accurately determine the inhibition efficiency (IC50) of the known ADA inhibitor, erhythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), and the inhibition of ADA could be confirmed by the naked eye. Considering its simplicity, this assay could be extended to the high-throughput screening of various ADA inhibitor candidates.
Robust Non-Rigid Feature Matching for Image Registration Using Geometry Preserving
Authors: Zhu Hao , Zou Ke , Li Yongfu , Cen Ming , Mihaylova Lyudmila
Published: June 2019

In this paper, a robust non-rigid feature matching approach for image registration with geometry constraints is proposed. The non-rigid feature matching approach is formulated as a maximum likelihood (ML) estimation problem. The feature points of one image are represented by Gaussian mixture model (GMM) centroids, and are fitted to the feature points of the other image by moving coherently to encode the global structure. To preserve the local geometry of these feature points, two local structure descriptors of the connectivity matrix and Laplacian coordinate are constructed. The expectation maximization (EM) algorithm is applied to solve this ML problem. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach has better performance than current state-of-the-art methods.
Corrections of BDS Code Multipath Error in Geostationary Orbit Satellite and Their Application in Precise Data Processing
Authors: Song Weiwei , Wu Qiong , Gong Xiaopeng , Zheng Fu , Lou Yidong
Published: June 2019

Multipath error is a main error source in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data processing, which cannot be removed by a differential technique because of the strong relationship with the environment around the station. The multipath effect of the code observables is more complex than that of the carrier-phase observables, especially for BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites. In this contribution, we deeply analyzed the characteristic and effect on the precise data processing of GEO satellite multipath errors based on a large number of permanent GNSS stations. A linear combination of code and carrier-phase observables was used to analyze the characteristics of repeatability for BDS GEO’s multipath. Then, a correction method was proposed to eliminate the multipath error of the GEO code observables, based on wavelet transform. The experiment data were collected at 83 globally distributed stations, from multi-GNSS experiments and national BDS augmentation systems, from days 32 to 66 in 2017. The results show that the systematic multipath variation component of the GEO code observables can be obtained with wavelet transform, which can significantly contribute to correcting the multipath error of GEO satellites. The average root mean square error (RMSE) of the multipath series is decreased by approximately 19.5%, 20.2%, and 7.5% for B1, B2, and B3, respectively. In addition, some experiments, including ionospheric delay extraction and satellite clock estimation, were conducted in simulated real-time mode in order to validate the effect of the correction methods. For the ionospheric delay estimation, the average RMSE of the slant ionospheric delay is reduced by approximately 15.5%. Moreover, the multipath correction can contribute greatly to shortening the convergence time of the satellite clock estimation of the BDS GEO satellites.
An Energy-Efficient Clustering Routing Protocol Based on a High-QoS Node Deployment with an Inter-Cluster Routing Mechanism in WSNs
Authors: Xu Kaida , Zhao Zhidong , Luo Yi , Hui Guohua , Hu Liqin
Published: June 2019

Currently, wireless sensor network (WSN) protocols are mainly used to achieve low power consumption of the network, but there are few studies on the quality of services (QoS) of these networks. Coverage can be used as a measure of the WSN’s QoS, which can further reflect the quality of data information. Additionally, the coverage requirements of regional monitoring target points are different in real applications. On this basis, this paper proposes an energy-efficient clustering routing protocol based on a high-QoS node deployment with an inter-cluster routing mechanism (EECRP-HQSND-ICRM) in WSNs. First, this paper proposes formula definitions for information integrity, validity, and redundancy from the coverage rate and introduces a node deployment strategy based on twofold coverage. Then, in order to satisfy the uniformity of the distribution of cluster heads (CHs), the monitoring area is divided into four small areas centered on the base station (BS), and the CHs are selected in the respective cells. Finally, combined with the practical application of the WSN, this paper optimizes the Dijkstra algorithm, including: (1) nonessential paths neglecting considerations, and (2) a simultaneous introduction of end-to-end weights and path weights, achieving the selection of optimal information transmission paths between the CHs. The simulation results show that, compared with the general node deployment strategies, the deployment strategy of the proposed protocol has higher information integrity and validity, as well as lower redundancy. Meanwhile, compared with some classic protocols, this protocol can greatly reduce and balance network energy consumption and extend the network lifetime.
Impact of Thermal Control Measures on the Imaging Quality of an Aerial Optoelectronic Sensor
Authors: Liu Fuhe , Cheng Zhifeng , Jia Ping , Zhang Bao , Liu Xiaofeng , Hu Rizha
Published: June 2019

The image resolution is the most important performance parameter for an aerial optoelectronic sensor. Existing thermal control methods cannot eliminate the sensor’s temperature gradient, making the image resolution difficult to further improve. This article analyzes the different impacts of temperature changes on the imaging resolution and proposes modifications. Firstly, the sensor was subjected to thermo-optical simulation by means of finite element analysis, and the different impacts of temperature changes on the imaging quality were analyzed. According to the simulation results, an active thermal control method is suggested to enhance the temperature uniformity of the sensor. Considering the impacts of active and passive thermal control measures, thermal optical analysis was carried out to predict the performance of the sensor. The results of the analysis show that the imaging quality of the sensor has been significantly improved. The experimental results show that the image resolution of the optoelectronic sensor improved from 47 to 59 lp/mm, which demonstrates that the sensor can produce a high image quality in a low-temperature environment.
Application of Logging While Drilling Tool in Formation Boundary Detection and Geo-steering
Authors: Zhu Gaoyang , Gao Muzhi , Kong Fanmin , Li Kang
Published: June 2019

Logging while drilling (LWD) plays a crucial role in geo-steering, which can determine the formation boundary and resistivity in real time. In this study, an efficient inversion, which can accurately invert formation information in real time on the basis of fast-forward modeling, is presented. In forward modeling, the Gauss–Legendre quadrature combined with the continued fraction method is used to calculate the response of the LWD instrument in a layered formation. In inversion modeling, the Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm, combined with the line search method of the Armijo criterion, are used to minimize the cost function, and a constraint algorithm is added to ensure the stability of the inversion. A positive and negative sign is added to the distance parameter to determine whether the LWD instrument is located above or below the formation boundary. We have carried out a series of experiments to verify the accuracy of the inversion. The experimental results suggest that the forward algorithm can make the infinite integral of the Bessel function rapidly converge, and accurately obtain the response of the LWD instrument in a layered formation. The inversion can accurately determine the formation resistivity and boundary in real time. This is significant for geological exploration.
Non-Contact Monitoring of Breathing Pattern and Respiratory Rate via RGB Signal Measurement
Authors: Massaroni Carlo , Lo Presti Daniela , Formica Domenico , Silvestri Sergio , Schena Emiliano
Published: June 2019

Among all the vital signs, respiratory rate remains the least measured in several scenarios, mainly due to the intrusiveness of the sensors usually adopted. For this reason, all contactless monitoring systems are gaining increasing attention in this field. In this paper, we present a measuring system for contactless measurement of the respiratory pattern and the extraction of breath-by-breath respiratory rate. The system consists of a laptop’s built-in RGB camera and an algorithm for post-processing of acquired video data. From the recording of the chest movements of a subject, the analysis of the pixel intensity changes yields a waveform indicating respiratory pattern. The proposed system has been tested on 12 volunteers, both males and females seated in front of the webcam, wearing both slim-fit and loose-fit t-shirts. The pressure-drop signal recorded at the level of nostrils with a head-mounted wearable device was used as reference respiratory pattern. The two methods have been compared in terms of mean of absolute error, standard error, and percentage error. Additionally, a Bland–Altman plot was used to investigate the bias between methods. Results show the ability of the system to record accurate values of respiratory rate, with both slim-fit and loose-fit clothing. The measuring system shows better performance on females. Bland–Altman analysis showed a bias of −0.01 breaths · min − 1 , with respiratory rate values between 10 and 43 breaths · min − 1 . Promising performance has been found in the preliminary tests simulating tachypnea.
Socially Compliant Path Planning for Robotic Autonomous Luggage Trolley Collection at Airports
Authors: Wang Jiankun , Meng Max Q.-H.
Published: June 2019

This paper describes a socially compliant path planning scheme for robotic autonomous luggage trolley collection at airports. The robot is required to efficiently collect all assigned luggage trolleys in a designated area, while avoiding obstacles and not offending the pedestrians. This path planning problem is formulated in this paper as a Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP). Different from the conventional solutions to the TSP, in which the Euclidean distance between two sites is used as the metric, a high-dimensional metric including the factor of pedestrians’ feelings is applied in this work. To obtain the new metric, a novel potential function is firstly proposed to model the relationship between the robot, luggage trolleys, obstacles, and pedestrians. The Social Force Model (SFM) is utilized so that the pedestrians can bring extra influence on the potential field, different from ordinary obstacles. Directed by the attractive and repulsive force generated from the potential field, a number of paths connecting the robot and the luggage trolley, or two luggage trolleys, can be obtained. The length of the generated path is considered as the new metric. The Self-Organizing Map (SOM) satisfies the job of finding a final path to connect all luggage trolleys and the robot located in the potential field, as it can find the intrinsic connection in the high dimensional space. Therefore, while incorporating the new metric, the SOM is used to find the optimal path in which the robot can collect the assigned luggage trolleys in sequence. As a demonstration, the proposed path planning method is implemented in simulation experiments, showing an increase of efficiency and efficacy.
Opportunities and Challenges for the Construction of a Smart City Geo-Spatial Framework in a Small Urban Area in Central China
Authors: Wang Huini , Zhang Ming , Zhong Ming
Published: June 2019

In 2006, China lunched its first Digital City initiative to build a national geo-spatial framework. Over the past ten years, 511 county-cities benefited from the national initiative with funding and technical resources channeled from the central government. Has the initiative achieved its goals? How has the geo-spatial framework affected local governmental administration, public services, business operation, and the daily life of citizens? What lessons can be learned from the ten-year experience of digital city development? Answering these questions is of important policy, scholarly, and practical interest. The Digital City initiative set the foundation for building smart cities that China’s central government agencies and many local municipalities are currently pursuing. A review in retrospect of China’s digital city development helps inform future Smart City investment decisions and related policy making in the nation. Lessons learned from the Chinese experience are also valuable to cities in other countries.
Soil Gaseous Emissions and Partial C and N Balances of Small-Scale Farmer Fields in a River Oasis of Western Mongolia
Authors: Jordan Greta , Goenster-Jordan Sven , Ulziisuren Baigal , Buerkert Andreas
Published: June 2019

During the last decades, Mongolian river oases were subjected to an expansion of farmland. Such intensification triggers substantial gaseous carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses that may aggravate disequilibria in the soil surface balances of agricultural plots. This study aims to quantify such losses, and assess the implications of these emissions against the background of calculated partial C and N balances. To this end, CO2, NH3, and N2O soil emissions from carrot, hay, and rye plots were measured by a portable dynamic closed chamber system connected to a photoacoustic multi-gas analyzer in six farms of the Mongolian river oasis Bulgan sum center. Average C and N flux rates (1313 g CO2-C ha−1 h−1 to 1774 g CO2-C ha−1 h−1; 2.4 g NH3-N ha−1 h−1 to 3.3 g NH3-N ha−1 h−1; 0.7 g N2O-N ha−1 h−1 to 1.1 g N2O-N ha−1 h−1) and cumulative emissions (3506 kg C ha−1 season−1 to 4514 kg C ha−1 season−1; 7.4 kg N ha−1 season−1 to 10.9 kg N ha−1 season−1) were relatively low compared to those of other agroecosystems, but represented a substantial pathway of losses (86% of total C inputs; 21% of total N inputs). All C and N balances were negative (−1082 kg C ha−1 season−1 to −1606 kg C ha−1 season−1; −27 kg N ha−1 season−1 to −65 kg N ha−1 season−1). To reduce these disequilibria, application of external inputs may need to be intensified whereby such amendments should be incorporated into soil to minimize gaseous emissions.
Decision Support Model for Evaluating Alternative Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Management Schemes—A Case Study
Authors: Aidonis Dimitrios , Achillas Charisios , Folinas Dimitrios , Keramydas Christos , Tsolakis Naoum
Published: June 2019

Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a constantly increasing component of the total volume of municipal solid waste. E-waste streams are expected to continue escalating in the near future. The underlining paradox lies in the fact that end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment constitute a critical waste stream owing to the contained hazardous and toxic elements, but they also present an important source of valuable raw materials. Therefore, identification of alternative scenarios for integrated WEEE management is imperative. To that end, this research develops a methodological approach that focuses on determining the optimal WEEE management scheme, among available alternatives, applicable to the specific case of Greece. In particular, a binary linear programming model is formulated that maximizes the performance of 9 alternative WEEE management scenarios. The mathematical model considers 12 performance assessment criteria identified across financial, technical, social, and environmental dimensions. Priority levels are assigned to each criterion based on the input of 19 involved experts. A range of “what-if” analyses indicate that mechanical recycling of WEEE, in tandem with exporting of residues, is the most efficient e-waste management strategy in the case of Greece. The research findings indicate that the joint cooperation of all stakeholders, together with political will and effectiveness, is required for the integrated WEEE management at a national level.
Competitiveness and Its Impact on Sustainability, Business Environment, and Human Development of EU (28) Countries in terms of Global Multi-Criteria Indices
Authors: Kiseľáková Dana , Šofranková Beáta , Gombár Miroslav , Čabinová Veronika , Onuferová Erika
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the following research problem was addressed: Is there a significant economic impact of multidimensional specified competitiveness within the EU (28) countries on the competitive business environment, human development, and sustainable growth? Based on the mentioned research problem, we formulated the aim of paper: To detect the significant interrelations among the assessment of global competitiveness, business environment as well as human development in the EU (28) countries for the period of 2006–2017. To address these problems, the methodology of global multi-criteria indices, namely the global competitiveness index (GCI), doing business index (DBI), and human development index (HDI), as well as panel analysis and non-linear regression analyses with ANOVA, were applied. The panel analysis results suggest that there is a direct linear relationship between the GCI and HDI. Moreover, the impact of the DBI on the change in the GCI score was not confirmed. We identified the main areas of countries’ interest, and important economic and statistical significant relations of competitiveness by creating three models: The GD model (constructed by GCI and DBI scores), GH model (GCI and HDI scores), and GDH model (GCI, DBI and HDI scores). Based on the results, all interrelations were confirmed. However, the highest extent of variability for the explanation of the selected data was recorded in the case of the GDH model (87.12%). We detected the impact of the business environment and human resources as competitive advantages on global macroeconomic competitiveness. As the business sector in EU (28) countries is represented mainly by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), enterprise activities play a key role in the process of sustainable competitive economic development. Moreover, human resources are considered to be another important driver of the internationalization of European SMEs.
The Effects of Road Access on Income Generation. Evidence from An Integrated Conservation and Development Project in Cameroon
Authors: Spey Ina-Kathrin , Kupsch Denis , Bobo Kadiri Serge , Waltert Matthias , Schwarze Stefan
Published: June 2019

Many integrated conservation and development projects use road construction to induce a shift in income activities, since road access can reduce both poverty and environmental degradation. There is, however, little empirical evidence on the effects of road access on income patterns. We contribute to existing literature by analyzing the effects of road access on income activity choice in Korup National Park, Cameroon using a difference-in-difference approach. Road access led to a rise in total household income by 38% due to higher household participation in self-employment and wage labor. We neither found an effect on income from crop farming nor on participation in hunting activities. The effects of road access can be diverse and unforeseeable. Road construction in protected areas should thus be carefully considered and planned and only be implemented when other options are not feasible.
Improvement of Human Thermal Comfort by Optimizing the Airflow Induced by a Ceiling Fan
Authors: Lin Hsin-Hung
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the greenhouse effect and the overuse of electricity and energy under a sustainable environment. The goal is to investigate the airflow that is induced by ceiling fans, by measuring human body temperature. In the simulation model, the thermal plume phenomenon is observed in the indoor environment. By changing the ceiling fan parameters, the influence of the airflow is investigated by practical measurement of human body temperature. The indoor convective heat transfer is enhanced by installing a ceiling fan, which affects the whole body thermal sensation (WBTS). Different scenarios are reviewed by adjusting the fan speed in the simulation model, so that the distribution of human body temperature can be determined. By modeling the blade plane of the ceiling fan, the airflow characteristics can be determined by making the simulation model rotate in order to assess the thermal comfort characteristics. As the ceiling fan generates circulation within the domain, the thermal comfort is significantly enhanced. By keeping a reasonable thermal comfort level, a higher room temperature or a higher heat load is allowed so that a sustainable environment can be maintained without affecting the indoor thermal comfort or the efficiency of energy usage.
Global Investment Failures and Transformations: A Review of Hyped Jatropha Spaces
Authors: Antwi-Bediako Richmond , Otsuki Kei , Zoomers Annelies , Amsalu Aklilu
Published: June 2019

There was a heightened global interest in large-scale Jatropha cultivation for the past few decades, and this incited investment toward the crop in many developing countries. Many saw Jatropha as a green fuel that could possibly be an alternative to fossil fuel, which has adverse implications to deal with the impacts of climate change. However, Jatropha investments failed to meet global expectations, leading to unexpected social, environmental, and economic transformations in the investment spaces. This paper reviews and synthesizes the transformations and complexities in failed Jatropha spaces in six previous major Jatropha investment destinations across the world—Mexico, India, China, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ghana—by employing qualitative data analysis. The findings generally show that, in all of the countries studied, promoters of Jatropha investments, including the central government and private investors, subscribed to a “wait-and-see” approach with positive expectations. The review revealed that the intended goal of establishing global Jatropha investments to serve as an alternative source of fuel failed because of the unexpected complexities of the hype, which dwelled much on the deferment option of the “wait-and-see” approach for global Jatropha investments. Failure of the investments along with unmet expectations led to land-use changes from Jatropha to the cultivation of other crops (often food crops) or total land abandonment. Although we are not totally pessimistic about the economic and production viability of Jatropha as a biofuel feedstock, we emphasize the importance of paying considerable attention to other feedstocks that might have a better future as alternatives to fossil-based energy for the deployment of sustainable bioenergy. Furthermore, our findings provide meaningful justification for policy- and decision-makers in the development space to tacitly reflect and appraise new investment initiatives or interventions before endorsement.