bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative Green Technologies of Intensification for Valorization of Seafood and Their By-Products
Authors: Al Khawli Fadila , Pateiro Mirian , Domínguez Rubén , Lorenzo José M. , Gullón Patricia , Kousoulaki Katerina , Ferrer Emilia , Berrada Houda , Barba Francisco J.
Published: December 2019

The activities linked to the fishing sector generate substantial quantities of by-products, which are often discarded or used as low-value ingredients in animal feed. However, these marine by-products are a prominent potential good source of bioactive compounds, with important functional properties that can be isolated or up-concentrated, giving them an added value in higher end markets, as for instance nutraceuticals and cosmetics. This valorization of fish by-products has been boosted by the increasing awareness of consumers regarding the relationship between diet and health, demanding new fish products with enhanced nutritional and functional properties. To obtain fish by-product-derived biocompounds with good, functional and acceptable organoleptic properties, the selection of appropriate extraction methods for each bioactive ingredient is of the outmost importance. In this regard, over the last years, innovative alternative technologies of intensification, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), have become an alternative to the conventional methods in the isolation of valuable compounds from fish and shellfish by-products. Innovative green technologies present great advantages to traditional methods, preserving and even enhancing the quality and the extraction efficiency, as well as minimizing functional properties’ losses of the bioactive compounds extracted from marine by-products. Besides their biological activities, bioactive compounds obtained by innovative alternative technologies can enhance several technological properties of food matrices, enabling their use as ingredients in novel foods. This review is focusing on analyzing the principles and the use of UAE and SFE as emerging technologies to valorize seafoods and their by-products.
Role of L. plantarum KX519413 as Probiotic and Acacia Gum as Prebiotic in Gastrointestinal Tract Strengthening
Authors: Chundakkattumalayil Honey Chandran , Kumar Sreelekshmi , Narayanan Rakhie , Thalakattil Raghavan Keerthi
Published: December 2019

Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics are potential mediators to maintaining healthy intestinal flora and have garnered an area of wide research in the past few years. The current study assesses the in vivo effects of probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum MBTU-HK1), prebiotic (acacia gum) (either singly or in combination as a synbiotic on growth performance), biochemical, hematological, physiological, and immunological effects and their role in the reduction of procarcinogen enzyme activities in male Balb/c mice. The absence of treatment-related toxicity and a normal physiological range of biochemical and hematological parameters ensure their safe consumption. The synbiotic group was found to possess lowered cholesterol levels and enhanced protein and mineral content. The probiotic and synbiotic groups reinforced immunoglobulin levels and had a modulatory effect on phagocytosis. A lymphocyte proliferation pattern suggested the stimulatory effect of synbiotic combination on splenocyte viability and proliferation. Total antioxidant capability in the liver was determined by a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay and all the treatment groups were found to possess increased scavenging activity. Synbiotic and prebiotic treatment was observed to lead to reduced tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels. Bacterial procarcinogenic fecal enzyme activities were found to be decreased, proving their role in the prevention of colon cancer incidence. This study proves the potency and safety of oral administration of L. plantarum MBTU-HK1 and acacia gum either individually or in combination.
Spray Coated Colloidal Quantum Dot Films for Broadband Photodetectors
Authors: Song Kaixuan , Yuan Jifeng , Shen Ting , Du Jiuyao , Guo Ruiqi , Pullerits Tönu , Tian Jianjun
Published: December 2019

A technique for scalable spray coating of colloidal CdSeTe quantum dots (QDs) for photovoltaics and photodetector applications is presented. A mixture solvent with water and ethanol was introduced to enhance the adhesive force between QDs and the substrate interface. The performance of the detector reached the highest values with 40 spray coating cycles of QD deposition. The photodetectors without bias voltage showed broadband response in the wavelength range of 300–800 nm, and high responsivity of 15 mA/W, detectivity of more than 1011 Jones and rise time of 0.04 s. A large size QD-logo pattern film (10 × 10 cm2) prepared by the spray coating process displayed excellent uniformity of thickness and absorbance. The large area detectors (the active area 1 cm2) showed almost the same performance as the typical laboratory-size ones (the active area 0.1 cm2). Our study demonstrates that the spray coating is a very promising film fabrication technology for the industrial-scale production of optoelectronic devices.
High Protein Diet and Metabolic Plasticity in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Myths and Truths
Authors: De Chiara Francesco , Ureta Checcllo Cynthia , Ramón Azcón Javier
Published: December 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by lipid accumulation within the liver affecting 1 in 4 people worldwide. As the new silent killer of the twenty-first century, NAFLD impacts on both the request and the availability of new liver donors. The liver is the first line of defense against endogenous and exogenous metabolites and toxins. It also retains the ability to switch between different metabolic pathways according to food type and availability. This ability becomes a disadvantage in obesogenic societies where most people choose a diet based on fats and carbohydrates while ignoring vitamins and fiber. The chronic exposure to fats and carbohydrates induces dramatic changes in the liver zonation and triggers the development of insulin resistance. Common believes on NAFLD and different diets are based either on epidemiological studies, or meta-analysis, which are not controlled evidences; in most of the cases, they are biased on test-subject type and their lifestyles. The highest success in reverting NAFLD can be attributed to diets based on high protein instead of carbohydrates. In this review, we discuss the impact of NAFLD on body metabolic plasticity. We also present a detailed analysis of the most recent studies that evaluate high-protein diets in NAFLD with a special focus on the liver and the skeletal muscle protein metabolisms.
Nutritional Factors Modulating Alu Methylation in an Italian Sample from The Mark-Age Study Including Offspring of Healthy Nonagenarians
Authors: Giacconi Robertina , Malavolta Marco , Bürkle Alexander , Moreno-Villanueva María , Franceschi Claudio , Capri Miriam , Slagboom P. Eline , Jansen Eugène H. J. M. , Dollé Martijn E. T. , Grune Tilman , Weber Daniela , Hervonen Antti , Stuetz Wolfgang , Breusing Nicolle , Ciccarone Fabio , Zampieri Michele , Aversano Valentina , Caiafa Paola , Formentini Laura , Piacenza Francesco , Pierpaoli Elisa , Basso Andrea , Provinciali Mauro , Cardelli Maurizio
Published: December 2019

Alu hypomethylation promotes genomic instability and is associated with aging and age-related diseases. Dietary factors affect global DNA methylation, leading to changes in genomic stability and gene expression with an impact on longevity and the risk of disease. This preliminary study aims to investigate the relationship between nutritional factors, such as circulating trace elements, lipids and antioxidants, and Alu methylation in elderly subjects and offspring of healthy nonagenarians. Alu DNA methylation was analyzed in sixty RASIG (randomly recruited age-stratified individuals from the general population) and thirty-two GO (GeHA offspring) enrolled in Italy in the framework of the MARK-AGE project. Factor analysis revealed a different clustering between Alu CpG1 and the other CpG sites. RASIG over 65 years showed lower Alu CpG1 methylation than those of GO subjects in the same age class. Moreover, Alu CpG1 methylation was associated with fruit and whole-grain bread consumption, LDL2-Cholesterol and plasma copper. The preserved Alu methylation status in GO, suggests Alu epigenetic changes as a potential marker of aging. Our preliminary investigation shows that Alu methylation may be affected by food rich in fibers and antioxidants, or circulating LDL subfractions and plasma copper.
Differential Responses of Blood Essential Amino Acid Levels Following Ingestion of High-Quality Plant-Based Protein Blends Compared to Whey Protein—A Double-Blind Randomized, Cross-Over, Clinical Trial
Authors: Brennan Jessica L. , Keerati-u-rai Maneephan , Yin Huaixia , Daoust Julie , Nonnotte Emilie , Quinquis Laurent , St-Denis Thierry , Bolster Douglas R.
Published: December 2019

This study assessed the bio-equivalence of high-quality, plant-based protein blends versus Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) in healthy, resistance-trained men. The primary endpoint was incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of blood essential Amino Acids (eAAs) 4 hours after consumption of each product. Maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of blood leucine were secondary outcomes. Subjects (n = 18) consumed three plant-based protein blends and WPI (control). An analysis of Variance model was used to assess for bio-equivalence of total sum of blood eAA concentrations. The total blood eAA iAUC ratios of the three blends were [90% CI]: #1: 0.66 [0.58–0.76]; #2: 0.71 [0.62–0.82]; #3: 0.60 [0.52–0.69], not completely within the pre-defined equivalence range [0.80–1.25], indicative of 30–40% lower iAUC versus WPI. Leucine Cmax of the three blends was not equivalent to WPI, #1: 0.70 [0.67–0.73]; #2: 0.72 [0.68–0.75]; #3: 0.65 [0.62–0.68], indicative of a 28–35% lower response. Leucine Tmax for two blends were similar to WPI (#1: 0.94 [0.73–1.18]; #2: 1.56 [1.28–1.92]; #3: 1.19 [0.95–1.48]). The plant-based protein blends were not bio-equivalent. However, blood leucine kinetic data across the blends approximately doubled from fasting concentrations, whereas blood Tmax data across two blends were similar to WPI. This suggests evidence of rapid hyperleucinemia, which correlates with a protein’s anabolic potential.
Dietary Intake and Sources of Potassium in a Cross-Sectional Study of Australian Adults
Authors: Bolton Kristy A. , Trieu Kathy , Woodward Mark , Nowson Caryl , Webster Jacqui , Dunford Elizabeth K. , Bolam Bruce , Grimes Carley
Published: December 2019

A diet rich in potassium is important to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study assessed potassium intake; food sources of potassium (including NOVA level of processing, purchase origin of these foods); and sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na:K) in a cross-section of Australian adults. Data collection included 24-h urines (n = 338) and a 24-h diet recall (subsample n = 142). The mean (SD) age of participants was 41.2 (13.9) years and 56% were females. Mean potassium (95%CI) 24-h urinary excretion was 76.8 (73.0–80.5) mmol/day compared to 92.9 (86.6–99.1) by 24-h diet recall. Na:K was 1.9 (1.8–2.0) from the urine excretion and 1.4 (1.2–1.7) from diet recall. Foods contributing most to potassium were potatoes (8%), dairy milk (6%), dishes where cereal is the main ingredient (6%) and coffee/coffee substitutes (5%). Over half of potassium (56%) came from minimally processed foods, with 22% from processed and 22% from ultraprocessed foods. Almost two-thirds of potassium consumed was from foods purchased from food stores (58%), then food service sector (15%), and fresh food markets (13%). Overall, potassium levels were lower than recommended to reduce chronic disease risk. Multifaceted efforts are required for population-wide intervention—aimed at increasing fruit, vegetable, and other key sources of potassium intake; reducing consumption of processed foods; and working in supermarket/food service sector settings to improve the healthiness of foods available.
Can Cynodon dactylon Suppress the Growth and Development of the Invasive Weeds Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia?
Authors: Ngondya Issakwisa B. , Treydte Anna C. , Ndakidemi Patrick A. , Munishi Linus K.
Published: December 2019

Approaches to managing invasive plants is challenging, particularly in protected areas where conventional methods, such as chemical herbicide applications are limited. We studied the effects of varying densities of Cynodon dactylon on the growth and development of the invasive weeds Tagetes minuta and Gutenbergia cordifolia in northern Tanzania. We conducted pot and field plot experiments following a completely randomized block design that was replicated three times. Increasing densities of C. dactylon significantly reduced growth, leaf total chlorophyll, biomass and significantly increased leaf anthocyanin of both T. minuta and G. cordifolia invasives. Our results further showed that the critical density of C. dactylon to suppress the two invasive species is ≥ 8 plants/m2. We suggest that C. dactylon can successfully be used as an alternative eco-friendly and sustainable approach for managing invasive weeds, such as T. minuta and G. cordifolia. This management technique can additionally improve forage production and biomass for wild and domestic herbivores in the affected areas.
Synthesis and Characterization of Aminosilane Grafted Cellulose Nanocrystal Modified Formaldehyde-Free Decorative Paper and its CO2 Adsorption Capacity
Authors: Zhu Wenkai , Ji Meixiu , Zhang Yang , Wang Zhe , Chen Wei , Xue Yuanyuan
Published: December 2019

As one of the main consumables of interior decoration and furniture, decorative paper can be seen everywhere in the indoor space. However, because of its high content of formaldehyde, it has a certain threat to people’s health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and study new formaldehyde-free decorative paper to meet the market demand. In this work, we have obtained formaldehyde-free decorative paper with high CO2 adsorption capacity. Here, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were prepared by hydrolyzing microcrystalline cellulose with sulfuric acid. The N-(2-aminoethyl) (3-amino-propyl) methyldimethoxysilane (AEAPMDS) was grafted onto the CNCs by liquid phase hydrothermal treatment, and the aqueous solution was substituted by tert-butanol to obtain aminated CNCs (AEAPMDS-CNCs). The as-prepared AEAPMDS-CNCs were applied to formaldehyde-free decorative paper by the spin-coating method. The effects of various parameters on the properties of synthetic materials were systematically studied, and the optimum reaction conditions were revealed. Moreover, the surface bond strength and abrasion resistance of modified formaldehyde-free decorative paper were investigated. The experimental results showed that AEAPMDS grafted successfully without destroying the basic morphology of the CNCs. The formaldehyde-free decorative paper coated with AEAPMDS-CNCs had high CO2 adsorption capacity and exhibited excellent performance of veneer to plywood. Therefore, laminating the prepared formaldehyde-free decorative paper onto indoor furniture can achieve the purpose of capturing indoor CO2 and have a highly potential use for the indoor decoration.
Advances in the Processing of UHMWPE-TiO2 to Manufacture Medical Prostheses via SPIF
Authors: Ortiz-Hernández Rodrigo , Ulloa-Castillo Nicolás A. , Diabb-Zavala José M. , Estrada-De La Vega Alejandro , Islas-Urbano Jorge , Villela-Castrejón Javier , Elías-Zúñiga Alex
Published: December 2019

This research focuses on developing a novel ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material reinforced with titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles for producing craniofacial prostheses via an incremental sheet forming process (SPIF). First, UHMWPE-TiO 2 nanocomposite sheets were produced using incipient wetting and the compression molding process by considering different concentrations of TiO 2 nanoparticles. Then, the influence that the compression molding fabrication process has on the crystallinity and structural properties of the produced sample sheets was investigated. Experimental characterizations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), tensile mechanical testing, and live/dead cell viability assays provided data that show an enhancement of the physical, mechanical, and biological properties. Finally, modifications on the nanocomposite material properties due to the SPIF manufacturing processes of a craniofacial prosthesis are addressed.
Hydrolytic Degradation of Comb-Like Graft Poly (Lactide-co-Trimethylene Carbonate): The Role of Comonomer Compositions and Sequences
Authors: Leng Xuefei , Zhang Wenwen , Wang Yiying , Wang Yanshai , Li Xiaoqing , Wei Zhiyong , Li Yang
Published: December 2019

The effect of sequence on copolymer properties is rarely studied, especially the degradation behavior of the biomaterials. A series of linear-comb block, gradient, random copolymers were successfully achieved using hydroxylated polybutadiene as the macroinitiator by simple ring-opening polymerization of l-lactide (l-LA) and 1,3-trimethylene carbonate (TMC). The hydrolytic degradation behaviors of the copolymers were systemically evaluated by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to illustrate the influences of comonomer compositions and sequence structures. The linear-comb block copolymers (lcP(TMC-b-LLA)) with different compositions had different degradation rates, which increased with l-LA content. Thermal property changes were observed with decreased Tm and increased ΔHm in all block copolymers during the degradation. To combine different sequence structures, unique degradation behaviors were observed for the linear-comb block, gradient and random copolymers even with similar comonomer composition. The degradation rates of linear-comb PLLA-gradient-PTMC (lcP(LLA-grad-TMC)) and linear-comb PLLA-random-PTMC (lcP(LLA-ran-TMC)) were accelerated due to the loss of regularity and crystallinity, resulting in a remarkable decrease on weight retention and molar mass. The hydrolysis degradation rate increased in the order lcP(TMC-b-LLA), lcP(LLA-ran-TMC), lcP(LLA-grad-TMC). Therefore, the hydrolytic degradation behavior of comb-like graft copolymers depends on both the compositions and the sequences dramatically.
PH-Sensitive, Polymer Functionalized, Nonporous Silica Nanoparticles for Quercetin Controlled Release
Authors: Xu Lin , Li Hong-Liang , Wang Li-Ping
Published: December 2019

Some pH-sensitive, poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) grafted silica nanoparticles (SNPs) (SNPs-g-PDEAEMA) were designed and synthesized via surface initiated, metal-free, photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The structures of the polymers formed in solution were determined by 1H NMR. The modified nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS, GPC, TEM and TGA. The analytical results show that α-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB) (ATRP initiator) had been successfully anchored onto SNPs’ surfaces, and was followed by surface-initiated, metal-free ATRP of 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA). The resultant SNPs-g-PDEAEMA were uniform spherical nanoparticles with the particles size of about 22–25 nm, and the graft density of PDEAEMA on SNPs’ surfaces obtained by TGA was 19.98 μmol/m2. Owing to the covalent grafting of pH-sensitive PDEAEMA, SNPs-g-PDEAEMA can dispersed well in acidic aqueous solution, but poorly in neutral and alkaline aqueous solutions, which is conducive to being employed as drug carriers to construct a pH-sensitive controlled drug delivery system. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation results showed that the cytotoxicity of SNPs-g-PDEAEMA to the L929 cells had completely disappeared on the 3rd day. The loading of quercetin on SNPs-g-PDEAEMA was performed using adsorption process from ethanol solutions, and the dialysis release rate increased sharply when the pH value of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) decreased from 7.4 to 5.5. All these results indicated that the pH-responsive microcapsules could serve as potential anti-cancer drug carriers.
Quality Properties and Pyrolysis Characteristics of Cassava Rhizome Pellets Produced by Alternating between Pelletizing and Torrefaction
Authors: Soponpongpipat Nitipong , Comsawang Paisan , Nanetoe Suwat
Published: December 2019

This work investigated quality properties of pellets of raw cassava rhizome (P-RC), pellets of pelletized cassava rhizome followed by torrefaction (T-CP), and pellets of torrefied cassava rhizome followed by pelletizing (P-TC). Torrefaction was conducted at temperatures of 230, 250, and 280 °C for 30 min. Pyrolysis characteristics of T-CP and P-TC at torrefied temperatures of 230 and 250 °C were studied using thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that at the similar torrefied temperature, P-TC had a higher bulk density, energy density, and pellet durability than that of T-CP and P-RC while T-CP had a higher HHV and moisture absorption than P-TC and P-RC. The bulk density of P-TC was 1.13–1.19 and 1.33–1.52 times higher than that of P-RC and T-CP, respectively. The HHV of T-CP was 1.07 and 1.29 times higher than P-TC and P-RC, respectively. The energy density of P-TC was 1.24–1.56 and 1.20–1.41 times higher than that of P-RC and T-CP. In terms of Pellet Fuel Institute (PFI) standard, the durability index of P-RC, P-TC, and T-CP at torrefied temperatures of 230 and 250 °C was acceptable. However, dramatically low and unacceptable durability index was found in case of T-CP at torrefied temperature of 280 °C. The moisture absorption of P-TC was lower than that of P-RC and T-CP. Finally, T-CP had a lower pyrolysis temperature and had a much lower solid yield than that of P-TC. Variation of pyrolysis characteristics indicated the difference in chemical composition between T-CP and P-TC.
The Myelin Sheath Maintains the Spatiotemporal Fidelity of Action Potentials by Eliminating the Effect of Quantum Tunneling of Potassium Ions through the Closed Channels of the Neuronal Membrane
Authors: Barjas Qaswal Abdallah
Published: December 2019

The myelin sheath facilitates action potential conduction along the axons, however, the mechanism by which myelin maintains the spatiotemporal fidelity and limits the hyperexcitability among myelinated neurons requires further investigation. Therefore, in this study, the model of quantum tunneling of potassium ions through the closed channels is used to explore this function of myelin. According to the present calculations, when an unmyelinated neuron fires, there is a probability of 9.15 × 10 − 4 that it will induce an action potential in other unmyelinated neurons, and this probability varies according to the type of channels involved, the channels density in the axonal membrane, and the surface area available for tunneling. The myelin sheath forms a thick barrier that covers the potassium channels and prevents ions from tunneling through them to induce action potential. Hence, it confines the action potentials spatiotemporally and limits the hyperexcitability. On the other hand, lack of myelin, as in unmyelinated neurons or demyelinating diseases, exposes potassium channels to tunneling by potassium ions and induces the action potential. This approach gives different perspectives to look at the interaction between neurons and explains how quantum physics might play a role in the actions occurring in the nervous system.
Dare to Compare: Reflections on Experimenting with Comparative Hagiology
Authors: Siebeking R. Brian
Published: December 2019

In this response essay, I consider Jon Keune’s proposal to prioritize the act of comparison over definitional agreement when beginning an exercise in comparative hagiology. Reflecting on my own experience as the respondent for a panel at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR), which saw me comparing two very different “hagiographical texts,” I argue in support of Keune’s approach by stressing its advantage in pushing conceptual creativity and collaborative inclusivity. In the process, I accept Massimo Rondolino’s invitation to consider his working re-definition of “hagiography”, which I take as a starting point for thinking through some of the questions my panel’s unconventional primary texts raise and how they might recommend revisiting our categories. In the end, I advocate for a capacious view of potential comparanda as one of the best ways to foster a process of continuous self-reflection and scholarly development.
Evaluation of Five Satellite Top-of-Atmosphere Albedo Products over Land
Authors: Zhan Chuan , Allan Richard P. , Liang Shunlin , Wang Dongdong , Song Zhen
Published: December 2019

Five satellite top-of-atmosphere (TOA) albedo products over land were evaluated in this study including global products from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) (TAL-AVHRR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) (TAL-MODIS), and Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES); one regional product from the Climate Monitoring Satellite Application Facility (CM SAF); and one harmonized product termed Diagnosing Earth’s Energy Pathways in the Climate system (DEEP-C). Results showed that overall, there is good consistency among these five products, particularly after the year 2000. The differences among these products in the high-latitude regions were relatively larger. The percentage differences among TAL-AVHRR, TAL-MODIS, and CERES were generally less than 20%, while the differences between TAL-AVHRR and DEEP-C before 2000 were much larger. Except for the obvious decrease in the differences after 2000, the differences did not show significant changes over time, but varied among different regions. The differences between TAL-AVHRR and the other products were relatively large in the high-latitude regions of North America, Asia, and the Maritime Continent, while the differences between DEEP-C and CM SAF in Europe and Africa were smaller. Interannual variability was consistent between products after 2000, before which the differences among the three products were much larger.
HDRANet: Hybrid Dilated Residual Attention Network for SAR Image Despeckling
Authors: Li Jingyu , Li Ying , Xiao Yayuan , Bai Yunpeng
Published: December 2019

In order to remove speckle noise from original synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images effectively and efficiently, this paper proposes a hybrid dilated residual attention network (HDRANet) with residual learning for SAR despeckling. Firstly, HDRANet employs the hybrid dilated convolution (HDC) in lightweight network architecture to enlarge the receptive field and aggregate global information. Then, a simple yet effective attention module, convolutional block attention module (CBAM), is integrated into the proposed model to constitute a residual HDC attention block through skip connection, which further enhances representation power and performance of the model. Extensive experimental results on the synthetic and real SAR images demonstrate the superior performance of HDRANet over the state-of-the-art methods in terms of quantitative metrics and visual quality.
MASS-UMAP: Fast and Accurate Analog Ensemble Search in Weather Radar Archives
Authors: Franch Gabriele , Jurman Giuseppe , Coviello Luca , Pendesini Marta , Furlanello Cesare
Published: December 2019

The use of analog-similar weather patterns for weather forecasting and analysis is an established method in meteorology. The most challenging aspect of using this approach in the context of operational radar applications is to be able to perform a fast and accurate search for similar spatiotemporal precipitation patterns in a large archive of historical records. In this context, sequential pairwise search is too slow and computationally expensive. Here, we propose an architecture to significantly speed up spatiotemporal analog retrieval by combining nonlinear geometric dimensionality reduction (UMAP) with the fastest known Euclidean search algorithm for time series (MASS) to find radar analogs in constant time, independently of the desired temporal length to match and the number of extracted analogs. We show that UMAP, combined with a grid search protocol over relevant hyperparameters, can find analog sequences with lower mean square error (MSE) than principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, we show that MASS is 20 times faster than brute force search on the UMAP embedding space. We test the architecture on real dataset and show that it enables precise and fast operational analog ensemble search through more than 2 years of radar archive in less than 3 seconds on a single workstation.
Geophysical Prospecting Using ERT and IP Techniques to Locate Galena Veins
Authors: Martínez Julián , Rey Javier , Sandoval Senén , Hidalgo Mª Camen , Mendoza Rosendo
Published: December 2019

The aim of this study is to prove the effectiveness of two electrical geophysical prospecting techniques, namely electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polarization (IP), in locating thin vein structures of metal sulphides embedded in Palaeozoic materials underlying a sedimentary cover. For this purpose, a Quaternary basin known as La Garza was selected, located in the mining district of Linares-La Carolina (Southern Spain). Galena (PbS) veins appear abundantly throughout this area, hosted in the Palaeozoic granitic bedrock. The studied veins show thicknesses from 0.5 to 2.0 m, and most present a vertical planar distribution. The veins lose their continuity below the sedimentary cover due to normal fractures that control the subsidence of the basin. During the 1980s, geophysical research campaigns were carried out in La Garza using vertical electrical sounding and failed in detecting the hidden veins. For this reason, to carry out this study, a closed regular mesh was designed, composed by eight ERT and IP profiles, with variable lengths between 315 and 411 metres. An electrode spacing between 5 and 7 metres was selected, thus allowing the granite bedrock to be reached without significantly reducing the resolution capabilities of the method. Even though ERT and IP are well-known geophysical techniques for mapping ore deposits, this is a case study that shows the advantages of the simultaneous use of both techniques (ERT and IP), over their individual application. ERT allows for reconstructing the morphology of the basin and the fractures that control it due to high-resistivity contrast between the overlying sedimentary cover and the underlaying granitic basement. However, it cannot provide any insights about their degree of mineralization. At this point, it is the IP technique that makes it possible to differentiate which are the mineralized structures. Some of these fractures produce high (above 50 mV/V) and moderate (below 50 mV/V) chargeability values, suggesting the existence of several unexploited metal veins. Furthermore, the derived models enable researchers to analyse the morphology of this sedimentary basin controlled by normal faults.
Evaluating Combinations of Sentinel-2 Data and Machine-Learning Algorithms for Mangrove Mapping in West Africa
Authors: Mondal Pinki , Liu Xue , Fatoyinbo Temilola E. , Lagomasino David
Published: December 2019

Creating a national baseline for natural resources, such as mangrove forests, and monitoring them regularly often requires a consistent and robust methodology. With freely available satellite data archives and cloud computing resources, it is now more accessible to conduct such large-scale monitoring and assessment. Yet, few studies examine the reproducibility of such mangrove monitoring frameworks, especially in terms of generating consistent spatial extent. Our objective was to evaluate a combination of image processing approaches to classify mangrove forests along the coast of Senegal and The Gambia. We used freely available global satellite data (Sentinel-2), and cloud computing platform (Google Earth Engine) to run two machine learning algorithms, random forest (RF), and classification and regression trees (CART). We calibrated and validated the algorithms using 800 reference points collected using high-resolution images. We further re-ran 10 iterations for each algorithm, utilizing unique subsets of the initial training data. While all iterations resulted in thematic mangrove maps with over 90% accuracy, the mangrove extent ranges between 827–2807 km2 for Senegal and 245–1271 km2 for The Gambia with one outlier for each country. We further report “Places of Agreement” (PoA) to identify areas where all iterations for both methods agree (506.6 km2 and 129.6 km2 for Senegal and The Gambia, respectively), thus have a high confidence in predicting mangrove extent. While we acknowledge the time- and cost-effectiveness of such methods for the landscape managers, we recommend utilizing them with utmost caution, as well as post-classification on-the-ground checks, especially for decision making.
An Efficient and Accurate Method for Different Configurations Railway Extraction Based on Mobile Laser Scanning
Authors: Zou Rong , Fan Xiaoyun , Qian Chuang , Ye Wenfang , Zhao Peng , Tang Jian , Liu Hui
Published: December 2019

The precision of railway map is becoming a significant issue for autonomous train scheduling, monitoring and maintenance, related location-based service (LBS), and further ensuring travel safety. Mobile 3D laser scanning is an efficient method for making relative high-precision railway track maps, particularly during the night period of railway maintenance, for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can work without ambient light. In this paper, we propose an efficient and accurate railway track vectorization method based on the LiDAR point clouds from the self-built train Mobile Laser Scanning (MLS) system. Our method takes full use of railway track geometry and reflection intensity feature of LiDAR, without any trajectory prior information. Firstly, clear track points are filtered by intensity; then, a K-means clustering fused Region-Grow Fitting algorithm is applied. It can not only extract the line vector of railway track, but also can tell the track branches apart, especially on bends and turnout. Experiments were carried on using point clouds with an average density of 490 points per square meter. The experimental results show that the method not only can quickly extract linear objects such as railway track and catenary, but also can detect the railways even in complex real-world topologies such as at bends and turnouts. The precision of the detection area in bends and turnouts are 90.32% and 81.31% respectively, the sensitivity is 83.27% and 83.33%, respectively. Moreover, it can identify the track networks.
Mask OBB: A Semantic Attention-Based Mask Oriented Bounding Box Representation for Multi-Category Object Detection in Aerial Images
Authors: Wang Jinwang , Ding Jian , Guo Haowen , Cheng Wensheng , Pan Ting , Yang Wen
Published: December 2019

Object detection in aerial images is a fundamental yet challenging task in remote sensing field. As most objects in aerial images are in arbitrary orientations, oriented bounding boxes (OBBs) have a great superiority compared with traditional horizontal bounding boxes (HBBs). However, the regression-based OBB detection methods always suffer from ambiguity in the definition of learning targets, which will decrease the detection accuracy. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive analysis of OBB representations and cast the OBB regression as a pixel-level classification problem, which can largely eliminate the ambiguity. The predicted masks are subsequently used to generate OBBs. To handle huge scale changes of objects in aerial images, an Inception Lateral Connection Network (ILCN) is utilized to enhance the Feature Pyramid Network (FPN). Furthermore, a Semantic Attention Network (SAN) is adopted to provide the semantic feature, which can help distinguish the object of interest from the cluttered background effectively. Empirical studies show that the entire method is simple yet efficient. Experimental results on two widely used datasets, i.e., DOTA and HRSC2016, demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Erratum: Ahmad, S.; Malik, S.; Park, D.-H.; Kim, D. Design of Lightweight Driver-Assistance System for Safe Driving in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Ahmad Shabir , Malik Sehrish , Park Dong-Hwan , Kim DoHyeun
Published: December 2019

The authors wish to make the following erratum to this paper [...]
Closed-Form Expression for the Symbol Error Probability in Full-Duplex Spatial Modulation Relay System and Its Application in Optimal Power Allocation
Authors: Nguyen Le Van , Nguyen Ba Cao , Tran Xuan Nam , Dung Le The
Published: December 2019

Full-duplex (FD) communication and spatial modulation (SM) are two promising techniques to achieve high spectral efficiency. Recent works in the literature have investigated the possibility of combining the FD mode with SM in the relay system to benefit their advantages. In this paper, we analyze the performance of the FD-SM decode-and-forward (DF) relay system and derive the closed-form expression for the symbol error probability (SEP). To tackle the residual self-interference (RSI) due to the FD mode at the relay, we propose a simple yet effective power allocation algorithm to compensate for the RSI impact and improve the system SEP performance. Both numerical and simulation results confirm the accuracy of the derived SEP expression and the efficacy of the proposed optimal power allocation.
Repeated Game Analysis of a CSMA/CA Network under a Backoff Attack
Authors: Parras Juan , Zazo Santiago
Published: December 2019

We study a CSMA/CA (Carrier Sense Medium Access with Collision Avoidance) wireless network where some stations deviate from the defined contention mechanism. By using Bianchi’s model, we study how this deviation impacts the network throughput and show that the fairness of the network is seriously affected, as the stations that deviate achieve a larger share of the resources than the rest of stations. Previously, we modeled this situation using a static game and now, we use repeated games, which, by means of the Folk theorem, allow all players to have better outcomes. We provide analytical solutions to this game for the two player case using subgame perfect and correlated equilibria concepts. We also propose a distributed algorithm based on communicating candidate equilibrium points for learning the equilibria of this game for an arbitrary number of players. We validate approach using numerical simulations, which allows comparing the solutions we propose and discussing the advantages of using each of the methods we propose.
Directional Modulation Technique Using a Polarization Sensitive Array for Physical Layer Security Enhancement
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Bin , Le Mingnan , Wang Jun , Peng Jinye
Published: December 2019

Directional modulation (DM), as an emerging promising physical layer security (PLS) technique at the transmitter side with the help of an antenna array, has developed rapidly over decades. In this study, a DM technique using a polarization sensitive array (PSA) to produce the modulation with different polarization states (PSs) at different directions is investigated. A PSA, as a vector sensor, can be employed for more effective DM for an additional degree of freedom (DOF) provided in the polarization domain. The polarization information can be exploited to transmit different data streams simultaneously at the same directions, same frequency, but with different PSs in the desired directions to increase the channel capacity, and with random PSs off the desired directions to enhance PLS. The proposed method has the capability of concurrently projecting independent signals into different specified spatial directions while simultaneously distorting signal constellation in all other directions. The symbol error rate (SER), secrecy rate, and the robustness of the proposed DM scheme are analyzed. Design examples for single- and multi-beam DM systems are also presented. Simulations corroborate that (1) the proposed method is more effective for PLS; (2) the proposed DM scheme is more power-efficient than the traditional artificial noise aided DM schemes; and (3) the channel capacity is significantly improved compared with conventional scalar antenna arrays.
Materials for Solid-Phase Extraction of Organic Compounds
Authors: Fontanals Núria , Marcé Rosa M. , Borrull Francesc
Published: December 2019

This review provides an overview of the most recent developments involving materials for solid-phase extraction applied to determine organic contaminants. It mainly concerns polymer-based sorbents that include high-capacity, as well as selective sorbents, inorganic-based sorbents that include those prepared using sol-gel technology along with structured porous materials based on inorganic species, and carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. Different types of magnetic nanoparticles coated with these materials are also reviewed. Such materials, together with their main morphological and chemical features, are described, as are some representative examples of their application as solid-phase extraction materials to extract organic compounds from different types of samples, including environmental water, biological fluids, and food.
Influence of Interlocking Directorates on Integration after the Acquisition of Warsaw Stock Exchange—Listed Companies
Authors: Stankiewicz-Mróz Anna
Published: December 2019

Acquisition processes are aimed at achieving value based on synergistic effects. One of the most important obstacles in achieving value is the manner of conducting post-transaction integration—a risk area often ignored. This study assumes that a factor that may be important for the course of integration after the acquisition of enterprises may be the fact of personal connections through interlocking directorates between transaction partners of acquisitions. The research was carried out in two stages. The first was to identify the scope of connections by interlocking between WSE-listed companies participating in acquisition transactions. This stage was implemented using the social network analysis method (SNA) and covered 188 companies. In the second stage, research was conducted using semi-structured interview techniques with the CEOs of the acquiring companies. The aim of the study was to identify the relationship between personal relations and the course of post-transaction integration. The analysis focused primarily on two factors: the dynamics of integration activities and their centralization. The research covered 38 companies that were included in the sample in the first stage of the research (including 19 personally related companies and, for comparison, in 19 unrelated companies). Studies have shown that the fact of connecting through interlocking affects the post-transaction integration model in the analyzed group. The dynamically centralized model dominates in enterprises related by particular persons. Many integration activities are carried out in the first 100 days. The factor affecting the implemented integration model is the durability of connections between participants before and after the transaction is conducted and the position in the network of connections determined by such sociometric measures as the centrality of proximity and own vector. Enterprises connected with long-term relationships usually demonstrate high dynamics of integration activities, which are conducted by joint teams whose group employees represent each of the merging enterprises. In addition, the CEOs surveyed from this group of companies declare having an integration plan with different levels of detail in each case.
Predicting Stormwater Retention Capacity of Green Roofs: An Experimental Study of the Roles of Climate, Substrate Soil Moisture, and Drainage Layer Properties
Authors: Longobardi Antonia , D’Ambrosio Roberta , Mobilia Mirka
Published: December 2019

Due to the ever-increasing degree of urbanization, blue and green infrastructures are becoming important tools for achieving stormwater management sustainability in urban areas. Concerning green roofs, although scientists have investigated their behaviors under different climates and building practices, their hydrological performance is still a thought-provoking field of research. An event scale analysis based on thirty-five rainfall–runoff events recorded at a new set of experimental green roofs located in Southern Italy has been performed with the aim of identifying the relative roles of climate, substrate moisture conditions, and building practices on retention properties. The retention coefficient showed a wide range of variability, which could not be captured by neither simple nor multiple linear regression analysis, relating the latter to rainfall characteristics and substrate soil water content. Significant improvements in the prediction of the retention coefficient were obtained by a preliminary identification of groups of rainfall–runoff events, based on substrate soil water content thresholds. Within each group, a primary role is played by rainfall. At the experimental site, building practices, particularly those concerning the drainage layer properties, appeared to affect the retention properties only for specific event types.
Environmental Assessment of Magnesium Oxychloride Cement Samples: A Case Study in Europe
Authors: Kastiukas Gediminas , Ruan Shaoqin , Unluer Cise , Liang Shuang , Zhou Xiangming
Published: December 2019

This study is the first in the literature to systematically assess the environmental impacts of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) samples, which are regarded as a more eco-friendly construction material than Portland cement. The environmental impacts of MOC samples prepared with various molar ratios of MgO/MgCl2∙6H2O and sources of reactive magnesia were obtained via a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach (from cradle to grave), and the obtained outcomes were further compared with the counterparts associated with the preparation of Portland cement (PC) samples. Meanwhile, a sensitivity analysis in terms of shipping reactive magnesia from China to Europe was performed. Results indicated that the preparation of MOC samples with higher molar ratios led to more severe overall environmental impacts and greater CO2 sequestration potentials due to the difference of energies required for the production of MgO and MgCl2∙6H2O as well as their various CO2 binding capacities, whereas in terms of CO2 intensities, the molar ratios in MOC samples should be carefully selected depending on the strength requirements of the applications. Furthermore, various allocation procedures and MgO production processes will greatly influence the final outcomes, and allocation by mass is more recommended. Meanwhile, the environmental impacts associated with the transportation of reactive magnesia from China to Europe can be ignored. Finally, it can be concluded that MOC concrete is no longer a type of ‘low-carbon’ binder in comparison with PC concrete in terms of CO2 emissions, and in view of the single scores and mixing triangles for weighing, MOC concrete can only be identified as a type of more sustainable binder than PC concrete when the main component MgO in MOC samples is obtained through the dry process route rather than the wet process route.
On the Sustainability of Technology Licensing Under Asymmetric Information Game
Authors: Tsai Chien-Shu , Tsai Ting-Chung , Ko Po-Sheng , Lee Chien-Hui , Lee Jen-Yao , Wang Yu-Lin
Published: December 2019

Past research indicates that a licensor tends to adopt the fixed fee, in order to obtain higher profit rather than secure royalty when he participates in zero production in the market. This study instead finds that the patentee’s optimum strategy may vary. In addition to the fixed-fee strategy, royalty or mixed licensing, or fixed fee plus royalty may be potential choices for the patentee as well which is depend on the market scale, incidence of market scale, and magnitude of cost-saving. The patentee may choose to only authorize a type of high market size based on self-interested motives. The technology licensing market is not sustainable.