bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Associated with Increased Alpha-Tocopherol Content in Milk in Response to Maternal Supplementation with 800 IU of Vitamin E
Authors: de Sousa Rebouças Amanda , Costa Lemos da Silva Ana Gabriella , Freitas de Oliveira Amanda , Thalia Pereira da Silva Lorena , de Freitas Felgueiras Vanessa , Cruz Marina Sampaio , Silbiger Vivian Nogueira , da Silva Ribeiro Karla Danielly , Dimenstein Roberto
Published: April 2019

Background: Vitamin E supplementation might represent an efficient strategy to increase the vitamin E content in milk. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of supplementation with 800 IU RRR-alpha-tocopherol on the alpha-tocopherol content of milk and the factors associated with the increase in vitamin E. Methods: Randomized clinical trial with 79 lactating women from Brazil, who were assigned to the control group, or to the supplemented group (800 IU of RRR-alpha-tocopherol). Milk and serum were collected between 30 and 90 days after delivery (collection 1), and on the next day (collection 2). Alpha-tocopherol was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: In the supplemented group, the alpha-tocopherol content in serum and milk increased after supplementation (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, only alpha-tocopherol in milk (collection 1) was associated with the level of this vitamin in milk after supplementation (β = 0.927, p < 0.001), and binary logistic regression showed that the dietary intake was the only determinant for the greater effect of supplementation in milk. Conclusion: The pre-existing vitamin level in milk and diet are determinants for the efficacy of supplementation in milk, suggesting that in populations with vitamin E deficiency, high-dose supplementation can be used to restore its level in milk.
Long-Acting Anti-HIV Drugs Targeting HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase
Authors: Singh Kamal , Sarafianos Stefan G. , Sönnerborg Anders
Published: April 2019

One of the major factors contributing to HIV-1 drug resistance is suboptimal adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Currently, recommended cART for HIV-1 treatment is a three-drug combination, whereas the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens consist of one or two antivirals. Treatment regimens require adherence to a once or twice (in a subset of patients) daily dose. Long-acting formulations such as injections administered monthly could improve adherence and convenience, and thereby have potential to enhance the chances of expected outcomes, although long-lasting drug concentrations can also contribute to clinical issues like adverse events and development of drug resistance. Globally, two long-acting antivirals have been approved, and fifteen are in clinical trials. More than half of investigational long-acting antivirals target HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) and/or integrase (HIV-1 IN). Here, we discuss the status and potential of long-acting inhibitors, including rilpivirine (RPV), dapivirine (DPV), and 4-ethynyl-2-fluoro-2-deoxyadenosine (EFdA; also known as MK-8591), which target RT, and cabotegravir (CAB), which targets IN. The outcomes of various clinical trials appear quite satisfactory, and the future of long-acting HIV-1 regimens appears bright.
Omadacycline: A Newly Approved Antibacterial from the Class of Tetracyclines
Authors: Durães Fernando , Sousa Emília
Published: April 2019

Omadacycline (Nuzyra®) is a new aminomethylcycline, approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018, as a tetracycline antibacterial. It can be used in community-acquired pneumonia and in acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections. It was developed and is commercialized by Paratek Pharmaceuticals. It is a semisynthetic compound, derived from minocycline, capable of evading widely distributed efflux and target protection antibacterial resistance mechanisms and has demonstrated activity in a broad spectrum of bacteria.
Comparison of Salbutamol Delivery Efficiency for Jet versus Mesh Nebulizer Using Mice
Authors: Chang Kyung Hwa , Moon Sang-Hyub , Oh Jin Young , Yoon Young-Soon , Gu Namyi , Lim Chi-Yeon , Park Bong Joo , Nam Ki Chang
Published: April 2019

Recent reports using a breathing simulator system have suggested that mesh nebulizers provide more effective medication delivery than jet nebulizers. In this study, the performances of jet and mesh nebulizers were evaluated by comparing their aerosol drug delivery efficiencies in mice. We compared four home nebulizers: two jet nebulizers (PARI BOY SX with red and blue nozzles), a static mesh nebulizer (NE-U22), and a vibrating mesh nebulizer (NE-SM1). After mice were exposed to salbutamol aerosol, the levels of salbutamol in serum and lung were estimated by enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The residual volume of salbutamol was the largest at 34.6% in PARI BOY SX, while the values for NE-U22 and NE-SM1 mesh nebulizers were each less than 1%. The salbutamol delivery efficiencies of NE-U22 and NE-SM1 were higher than that of PARI BOY SX, as the total delivered amounts of lung and serum were 39.9% and 141.7% as compared to PARI BOY SX, respectively. The delivery efficiency of the mesh nebulizer was better than that of the jet nebulizer. Although the jet nebulizer can generate smaller aerosol particles than the mesh nebulizer used in this study, the output rate of the jet nebulizer is low, resulting in lower salbutamol delivery efficiency. Therefore, clinical validation of the drug delivery efficiency according to nebulizer type is necessary to avoid overdose and reduced drug wastage.
Characteristics of Skin Deposition of Itraconazole Solubilized in Cream Formulation
Authors: Kim Hyeongmin , Jung Sukkyun , Yeo Sooho , Kim Dohyun , Na Young Chae , Yun Gyiae , Lee Jaehwi
Published: April 2019

Itraconazole (ITZ) is an anti-fungal agent generally used to treat cutaneous mycoses. For efficient delivery of ITZ to the skin tissues, an oil-in-water (O/W) cream formulation was developed. The O/W cream base was designed based on the solubility measurement of ITZ in various excipients. A physical mixture of the O/W cream base and ITZ was also prepared as a control formulation to evaluate the effects of the solubilized state of ITZ in cream base on the in vitro skin deposition behavior of ITZ. Polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that ITZ was fully solubilized in the O/W cream formulation. The O/W cream formulation exhibited considerably enhanced deposition of ITZ in the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis compared with that of the physical mixture, largely owing to its high solubilization capacity for ITZ. Therefore, the O/W cream formulation of ITZ developed in this study is promising for the treatment of cutaneous mycoses caused by fungi such as dermatophytes and yeasts.
Competency and Its Many Meanings
Authors: Austin Zubin
Published: April 2019

Competency and competency assessment are central to much of professional education, regulation, and practice. In the name of safe and effective professional practice, elaborate competency education and competency assessment systems have evolved, and consume significant time, energy, and financial resources. This paper will review the evolution of competing competency discourses in pharmacy and discuss implications of these approaches on professional practice, with particular emphasis on understanding the consequences of outsized focus on competency at the expense of other potential lenses for understanding professional practice.
Contribution of Root Hair Development to Sulfate Uptake in Arabidopsis
Authors: Kimura Yuki , Ushiwatari Tsukasa , Suyama Akiko , Tominaga-Wada Rumi , Wada Takuji , Maruyama-Nakashita Akiko
Published: April 2019

Root hairs often contribute to nutrient uptake from environments, but the contribution varies among nutrients. In Arabidopsis, two high-affinity sulfate transporters, SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2, are responsible for sulfate uptake by roots. Their increased expression under sulfur deficiency (−S) stimulates sulfate uptake. Inspired by the higher and lower expression, respectively, of SULTR1;1 in mutants with more (werwolf [wer]) and fewer (caprice [cpc]) root hairs, we examined the contribution of root hairs to sulfate uptake. Sulfate uptake rates were similar among plant lines under both sulfur sufficiency (+S) and −S. Under −S, the expression of SULTR1;1 and SULTR1;2 was negatively correlated with the number of root hairs. These results suggest that both −S-induced SULTR expression and sulfate uptake rates were independent of the number of root hairs. In addition, we observed (1) a negative correlation between primary root lengths and number of root hairs and (2) a greater number of root hairs under −S than under +S. These observations suggested that under both +S and −S, sulfate uptake was influenced by the root biomass rather than the number of root hairs.
In-Situ Direct Synthesis of HKUST-1 in Wool Fabric for the Improvement of Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Lis Manuel J. , Caruzi Bianca Bastos , Gil Guilherme Andreoli , Samulewski Rafael Block , Bail Alesandro , Scacchetti Fabio Alexandre Pereira , Moisés Murilo Pereira , Maestá Bezerra Fabricio
Published: April 2019

The use of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOF) such as HKUST-1 in textiles is an alternative with regard to the development of technologies that are increasingly seeking for functionalities, mainly in the fields of health and hygiene, named biofunctional fabrics. However, the application of the MOF under the surface of the wool fiber can lead to a low durability finish due to its low fixation. Thus, this project aims to perform the direct synthesis of HKUST in the wool fiber, so that a product with good washing durability can be obtained. The purpose of this study was to incorporate metal-organic frameworks, composed of copper and trimesic acid, into woolen fabrics, to improve the antibacterial properties. The synthesis was performed directly in the wool fabric, at time intervals of 24 and 48 h. The resulting fabrics were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), Fourier Transform Spectroscopy Infrared-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR), and colorimetric analysis (CIElab), and the Antimicrobial Activity Test (American Association of Textile Chemist and Colourists - AATCC Test Method 61-2007-2A) was performed. The results suggested that the application produced textiles with antibacterial properties, showing activity against Escherichia coli.
Mechanical Properties of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Waterborne Polyurethane Conductive Coatings Prepared by Electrostatic Spraying
Authors: Wang Fangfang , Feng Lajun , Lu Man
Published: April 2019

Electrostatic spraying (ES) was used to prepare multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/waterborne polyurethane (WPU) abrasion-proof, conductive coatings to improve the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of WPU coatings. The dispersity of MWCNTs and the electrical conductivity, surface hardness, and wear resistance of the coating prepared by ES (ESC) were investigated. The ESC was further compared with coatings prepared by brushing (BrC). The results provide a theoretical basis for the preparation and application of conductive WPU coatings with excellent wear resistance. The dispersity of MWCNTs and the surface hardness and wear resistance of ESC were obviously better than those of BrC. With an increase in the MWCNT content, the surface hardness of both ESC and BrC went up. As the MWCNT content increased, the wear resistance of ESC first increased and then decreased, while the wear resistance of BrC decreased. It was evident that ESC with 0.3 wt% MWCNT was fully capable of conducting electricity, but BrC with 0.3 wt% MWCNT failed to conduct electricity. The best wear resistance was achieved for ESC with 0.3 wt% MWCNT. Its wear rate (1.18 × 10−10 cm3/mm N) and friction coefficient (0.28) were the lowest, which were 50.21% and 20.00% lower, respectively, than those of pure WPU ESC.
Polypyrrole–Methyl Orange Raman pH Sensor
Authors: Czaja Tomasz , Wójcik Kamil , Grzeszczuk Maria , Szostak Roman
Published: April 2019

An easy-to-prepare pH sensor based on electrochemically obtained polypyrrole doped with methyl orange ions is described. It enables the determination of a pH value in the 3–13 range for volumes below 1 µL. In a wide pH range, resonance and pre-resonance methyl orange Raman spectra, excited with the 514.5 nm line of an Ar+ laser, changed noticeably in function of H+ concentration. Two types of measurements were performed. In the first case, Raman spectra of the analyzed solutions were collected for samples placed on the sensor surface using a confocal microscope equipped with a 10x objective. Next, measurements were conducted for the same samples without the sensor. On the basis of these spectra, partial least-squares models were elaborated and validated. Relative standard errors of prediction for calibration, validation, and test samples were found to be in the 3.7%–3.9% range. An analogous model build using spectra registered without the sensor was characterized by slightly worse parameters.
Preparation of Hydrogel/Silver Nanohybrids Mediated by Tunable-Size Silver Nanoparticles for Potential Antibacterial Applications
Authors: Rodríguez Nuñez Yeray , Castro Ricardo , Arenas Felipe , López-Cabaña Zoraya , Carreño Gustavo , Carrasco-Sánchez Verónica , Marican Adolfo , Villaseñor Jorge , Vargas Esteban , Santos Leonardo , Durán-Lara Esteban
Published: April 2019

In this study, a versatile synthesis of silver nanoparticles of well-defined size by using hydrogels as a template and stabilizer of nanoparticle size is reported. The prepared hydrogels are based on polyvinyl alcohol and maleic acid as crosslinker agents. Three hydrogels with the same nature were synthesized, however, the crosslinking degree was varied. The silver nanoparticles were synthesized into each prepared hydrogel matrix achieving three significant, different-sized nanoparticles that were spherical in shape with a narrow size distribution. It is likely that the polymer network stabilized the nanoparticles. It was determined that the hydrogel network structure can control the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The hydrogel/silver nanohybrids were characterized by swelling degree, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated, confirming antimicrobial action of the encapsulated silver nanoparticles into the hydrogels.
Enhancing Saltiness Perception Using Chitin Nanomaterials
Authors: Tsai Wan-Chen , Wang Shang-Ta , Chang Ke-Liang Bruce , Tsai Min-Lang
Published: April 2019

In the present study, we prepared and characterized chitin nanomaterials with different diameters, lengths, and degree of deacetylation (DD), and investigated their capability for enhancing saltiness perception. Chitin was isolated from squid pens and transformed into chitin nanofiber (CNF), deacetylated chitin nanofiber (DACNF), and chitin nanocrystal (CNC) by ultrasonication, alkali treatment followed by ultrasonication and acid hydrolysis, respectively. The diameters of CNF, CNC and DACNF were 17.24 nm, 16.05 nm and 15.01 nm while the lengths were 1725.05 nm, 116.91 nm, and 1806.60 nm, respectively. The aspect ratios of CNF and DACNF were much higher than that of CNC. The crystalline indices of CNF and CNC were lower than that of original β-chitin, suggesting that ultrasonication and acid hydrolysis might change the molecular arrangement in crystalline region of chitin. The zeta-potentials were between 19.73 nV and 30.08 mV of chitin nanomaterials in distilled water. Concentrations of chitin nanomaterials (40–74 μg/mL) showed minimal effect on zeta-potential, whereas increasing the level of NaCl reduced the zeta-potential of solution. Moreover, NaCl solution (0.3%) with chitin nanomaterials addition produced significant higher saltiness perception than that of solution with NaCl alone. Therefore, chitin nanomaterials may be promising saltiness enhancers in the food industry.
Improved Aging Stability of Ethylene-Norbornene Composites Filled with Lawsone-Based Hybrid Pigment
Authors: Marzec Anna , Szadkowski Bolesław
Published: April 2019

In this study, we produced a new organic-inorganic hybrid pigment based on a natural chromophore. Lawsone was selected as the active organic compound and incorporated into aluminum-magnesium hydroxycarbonate (LH). The hydroxynaphthoquinone derivative lawsone (Lawsonia inermis L.) is a naturally occurring dye, which is commonly used as a colorant because of its nontoxicity and biological functions. The structure and stability of the hybrid colorant were investigated using 27-Al solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. TOF-SIMS and 27Al NMR spectroscopy revealed interactions between the dye molecules and metal ions present in the LH host, confirming successful formation of an LH-based hybrid (LH/lawsone). In the next part of the study, we examined the effect of the hybrid pigment on the mechanical and thermal properties of ethylene-norbornene (EN) materials, as well as the aging resistance of the colored composites to irradiation across the full solar spectrum. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and the results of tensile break tests revealed that the EN+LH/lawsone composite had significantly better resistance to solar irradiation in comparison to EN and EN with an unmodified carrier.
Erratum: Electrostatic-Interaction-Driven Assembly of Binary Hybrids towards Fire-Safe Epoxy Resin Nanocomposites. Polymers 2019, 11, 229.
Authors: Liu Lu , Wang Wei , Shi Yongqian , Fu Libi , Xu Lulu , Yu Bin
Published: April 2019

The authors wish to make a change to the published paper [...]
NMR Analysis of Poly(Lactic Acid) via Statistical Models
Authors: Suganuma Koto , Asakura Tetsuo , Oshimura Miyuki , Hirano Tomohiro , Ute Koichi , Cheng H. N.
Published: April 2019

The physical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) are influenced by its stereoregularity and stereosequence distribution, and its polymer stereochemistry can be effectively studied by NMR spectroscopy. In previously published NMR studies of PLA tacticity, the NMR data were fitted to pair-addition Bernoullian models. In this work, we prepared several PLA samples with a tin catalyst at different L,L-lactide and D,D-lactide ratios. Upon analysis of the tetrad intensities with the pair-addition Bernoullian model, we found substantial deviations between observed and calculated intensities due to the presence of transesterification and racemization during the polymerization processes. We formulated a two-state (pair-addition Bernoullian and single-addition Bernoullian) model, and it gave a better fit to the observed data. The use of the two-state model provides a quantitative measure of the extent of transesterification and racemization, and potentially yields useful information on the polymerization mechanism.
Nanomaterials in Advanced, High-Performance Aerogel Composites: A Review
Authors: Barrios Elizabeth , Fox David , Li Sip Yuen Yee , Catarata Ruginn , Calderon Jean E. , Azim Nilab , Afrin Sajia , Zhang Zeyang , Zhai Lei
Published: April 2019

Aerogels are one of the most interesting materials of the 21st century owing to their high porosity, low density, and large available surface area. Historically, aerogels have been used for highly efficient insulation and niche applications, such as interstellar particle capture. Recently, aerogels have made their way into the composite universe. By coupling nanomaterial with a variety of matrix materials, lightweight, high-performance composite aerogels have been developed for applications ranging from lithium-ion batteries to tissue engineering materials. In this paper, the current status of aerogel composites based on nanomaterials is reviewed and their application in environmental remediation, energy storage, controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing are discussed.
PA12 Powder Recycled from SLS for FDM
Authors: Feng Li , Wang Yan , Wei Qinya
Published: April 2019

In this study, Polyamide 12 (PA12) powder recycled after selective laser sintering (SLS) was made into filaments for fused deposition modelling (FDM). Compared with fresh PA12, the melt flow rate (MFR) of the recycled PA12 powder decreased by 77%, but the mechanical properties were only slightly reduced. In FDM, the printing speed and building orientation were changed, and the performance of the printed parts was tested. If the printing speed is too fast or too slow, the mechanical properties of the parts will be affected, and there is an optimal speed range. The tensile strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength of a printed test sample made from recycled powder reached 95%, 85%, and 87% of an x-direction test sample made from fresh PA12, respectively. For test samples printed from different orientations, the mechanical properties of the test samples printed in the x-direction were the best, while the crystallization performance was the opposite. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that the printed test sample had good compactness and mechanical properties, and the delamination phenomenon was basically not observed.
Structure and Properties of a Metallocene Polypropylene Resin with Low Melting Temperature for Melt Spinning Fiber Application
Authors: Xu Renwei , Zhang Peng , Wang Hai , Chen Xu , Xiong Jie , Su Jinpeng , Chen Peng , Zhang Zhicheng
Published: April 2019

An isotactic polypropylene (iPP-1) resin with low melting temperature (Tm) is synthesized by a metallocene catalyst and investigated for melt-spun fiber applications. The structure, thermal and mechanical properties, and feasibility of producing fibers of a commercial metallocene iPP (iPP-2) and a conventional Ziegler–Natta iPP (iPP-3) are carefully examined for comparison. Tm of iPP-1 is about 10 °C lower than the other two samples, which is well addressed both in the resin and the fiber products. Besides, the newly developed iPP-1 possesses higher isotacticity and crystallinity than the commercial ones, which assures the mechanical properties of the fiber products. Thanks to the addition of calcium stearate, its crystal grain size is smaller than those of the two other commercial iPPs. iPP-1 shows a similar rheological behavior as the commercial ones and good spinnability within a wide range of take-up speeds (1200–2750 m/min). The tensile property of fibers from iPP-1 is better than commercial ones, which can fulfill the application requirement. The formation of the mesomorphic phase in iPP-1 during melt spinning is confirmed by the orientation and crystallization investigation with wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), which is responsible for its excellent processing capability and the mechanical properties of the resultant fibers. The work may provide not only a promising candidate for the high-performance PP fiber but also a deep understanding of the formation mechanism of the mesomorphic phase during fiber spinning.
Synthesis and Characterization of Dental Nanocomposite Resins Filled with Different Clay Nanoparticles
Authors: Nikolaidis Alexandros K. , Koulaouzidou Elisabeth A. , Gogos Christos , Achilias Dimitris S.
Published: April 2019

Nanotechnology comprises a promising approach towards the update of dental materials.The present study focuses on the reinforcement ofdental nanocomposite resins with diverse organomodified montmorillonite (OMMT) nanofillers. The aim is to investigate whether the presence of functional groups in the chemical structure of the nanoclay organic modifier may virtually influence the physicochemical and/or the mechanical attitude of the dental resin nanocomposites. The structure and morphology of the prepared materials were investigated by means of wide angle X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to determine the variation of the degree of conversion over time. Measurements of polymerization shrinkage and mechanical properties were conducted with a linear variable displacement transducer apparatus and a dynamometer, respectively. All the obtained nanocomposites revealed intercalated structures and most of them had an extensive filler distribution into the polymer matrix. Polymerization kinetics werefound to be influenced by the variance of the clay organomodifier, whilenanoclays with vinyl groups considerably increased the degree of conversion. Polymerization shrinkage was almost limited up to 50% by incorporating nanoclays. The absence of reactive groups in the OMMT structure may retain setting contraction atlow levels. An enhancement of the flexural modulus was observed, mainly by using clay nanoparticles decorated with methacrylated groups, along with a decrease in the flexural strength at a high filler loading. The overall best performance was found for the nanocomposites with OMMTs containing double bonds. The significance of the current work relies on providing novel information about chemical interactions phenomena between nanofillers and the organic matrix towards the improvement of dental restorative materials.
Optimization of Laccase/Mediator System (LMS) Stage Applied in Fractionation of Eucalyptus globulus
Authors: Loaiza Javier M. , Alfaro Ascensión , López Francisco , García María T. , García Juan C.
Published: April 2019

In a biorefinery framework, a laccase/mediator system treatment following autohydrolysis was carried out for eucalyptus wood prior to soda-anthraquinone pulping. The enzymatic and autohydrolysis conditions, with a view to maximizing the extraction of hemicelluloses while preserving the integrity of glucan, were optimized. Secondly, pulping of solid phase from Eucalyptus globulus wood autohydrolysis and the enzymatic process was carried out and compared with a conventional soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulping process. The prehydrolysis and enzymatic delignification of the raw material prior to the delignification with soda- Anthraquinone (AQ) results in paper sheets with a lower kappa number and brightness and strength properties close to conventional soda-AQ paper and a liquid fraction rich in hemicellulose compounds that can be used in additional ways. The advantage of this biorefinery scheme is that it requires a lower concentration of chemical reagents, and lower operating times and temperature in the alkaline delignification stage, which represents an economic and environmental improvement over the conventional process.
Preparation and Performance of Different Modified Ramie Fabrics Reinforced Anionic Polyamide-6 Composites
Authors: Kan Ze , Shi Hao , Zhao Erying , Wang Hui
Published: April 2019

Anionic polyamide-6 (APA-6) composites are prepared by the VARIM process using different modified ramie fabrics to study the structure and properties of different composites. This study can not only evaluate the optimal modification method for the ramie fabrics, but also further explore the interface interaction mechanism between ramie fabrics and APA-6. In this article, the ramie fabrics are modified by a pretreatment, coupling agent and alkali modification. Different modification methods have different effects on the structure, surface properties and mechanical properties of ramie fabrics, which will further affect the impregnation process, interfacial and mechanical properties of the composites. Through the performance analysis of different modified ramie fabrics reinforced APA-6 composites, the conversion, crystallinity and molecular weight of these composites are at a high level, which indicate that the polymerization of these composites is well controlled. The coupling agent modified ramie fabrics composites and the pretreated ramie fabrics composites have higher flexural modulus, tensile strength and dynamic mechanical properties. Alkali-modified ramie fabrics composites have slightly lower mechanical properties, which however have the highest interlaminar shear strength and outperformed interface properties of the composites.
“Such Fictitious Evil Spirits”: Adriaan Koerbagh’s Rejection of Biblical Demons and Demonic Possession in A Light Shining in Dark Places (1668)
Authors: del Olmo Ismael
Published: April 2019

This paper traces Adriaan Koerbagh’s interpretation of biblical devils and scriptural instances of demonic possession in his 1668 Een Ligt Schijnende in Duystere Plaatsen (A light shining in dark places). Koerbagh’s book is a radical exponent of the early Dutch Enlightenment, and its views on demonology are of importance if we want to assess the extent to which traditional scholastic pneumatology was challenged in the second half of the XVIIth century. This paper will also address Thomas Hobbes’ positions regarding demons and demonic possession in Leviathan (1651), given that Hobbes’ interpretations were fundamental to Koerbagh’s own positions. We will focus on the Hobbesian exegetical strategies of etymology, naturalization, and metaphorization, which helped Koerbagh to point at diseases, evil thoughts, figures of speech, or human enemies as plausible explanations for scriptural passages concerning devils and possession. But we will also see that Koerbagh’s Cartesian definition of spirits led him to a more radical stance than that of Hobbes: demons do not exist at all. This paper will end by claiming that Koerbagh’s interpretation of Christian demonology both as a remnant of Pagan and Jewish superstitions, and a knowledge indifferent to salvation—themselves Hobbesian principles—went hand in hand with his attempt to secularize the biblical text. Thus, the devil, once a part of the sacred truth, could now be seen as a fragment of a human cultural heritage.
What is Benefit Sharing? Respecting Indigenous Rights and Addressing Inequities in Arctic Resource Projects
Authors: Wilson Emma
Published: April 2019

International standards refer to Indigenous peoples’ right to benefit from resource development, participate in decision-making and determine priorities in development planning that directly affects them. While good practice exists in benefit sharing, Indigenous peoples still lack opportunities for a meaningful role in strategic planning. In his role as UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya identified a ‘preferred model’ of resource development in which Indigenous peoples have greater control over planning decisions and project implementation, and consequently a more meaningful share of the benefits of resource development. This paper explores the requirements of international standards and guidance alongside different models of benefit sharing in practice by extractive industries in Arctic and sub-Arctic contexts. It is based primarily on desk-based analysis of international hard and soft law and industry standards, while also drawing on ethnographic field research in Russia and Norway. It highlights good practice within mainstream development scenarios and identifies models of benefit sharing that represent a greater degree of Indigenous participation and control. It concludes that there is a need to consider benefit sharing within an overall paradigm that allows greater space for Indigenous voices in decision making, including at the strategic planning stage.
Correction: Balsamo, G., et al. Satellite and In Situ Observations for Advancing Global Earth Surface Modelling: A Review. Remote Sensing 2018, 10, 2038
Authors: Balsamo Gianpaolo , Agusti-Panareda Anna , Albergel Clement , Arduini Gabriele , Beljaars Anton , Bidlot Jean , Blyth Eleanor , Bousserez Nicolas , Boussetta Souhail , Brown Andy , Buizza Roberto , Buontempo Carlo , Chevallier Frédéric , Choulga Margarita , Cloke Hannah , Cronin Meghan F. , Dahoui Mohamed , De Rosnay Patricia , Dirmeyer Paul A. , Drusch Matthias , Dutra Emanuel , Ek Michael B. , Gentine Pierre , Hewitt Helene , Keeley Sarah P.E. , Kerr Yann , Kumar Sujay , Lupu Cristina , Mahfouf Jean-François , McNorton Joe , Mecklenburg Susanne , Mogensen Kristian , Muñoz-Sabater Joaquín , Orth Rene , Rabier Florence , Reichle Rolf , Ruston Ben , Pappenberger Florian , Sandu Irina , Seneviratne Sonia I. , Tietsche Steffen , Trigo Isabel F. , Uijlenhoet Remko , Wedi Nils , Woolway R. Iestyn , Zeng Xubin
Published: April 2019

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Impact of Coastal Infrastructure on Ocean Colour Remote Sensing: A Case Study in Jiaozhou Bay, China
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Jalón-Rojas Isabel , Wang Xiao Hua
Published: April 2019

Spatial and temporal ocean colour data are increasingly accessible through remote sensing, which is a key tool for evaluating coastal biogeochemical and physical processes, and for monitoring water quality. Coastal infrastructure such as cross-sea bridges may impact ocean colour remote sensing due to the different spectral characteristics of asphalt and the seawater surface. However, this potential impact is typically ignored during data post-processing. In this study, we use Jiaozhou Bay (East China) and its cross-bay bridge to examine the impact of coastal infrastructure on water-quality remote-sensing products, in particular on chlorophyll-a concentration and total suspended sediment. The values of these products in the bridge area were significantly different to those in the adjacent water. Analysis of the remote-sensing reflectance and application of the Normalised Difference Water Index demonstrate that this phenomenon is caused by contamination of the signal by bridge pixels. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products helped estimate the pixel scale that could be influenced by contamination. Furthermore, we found similar pixel contamination at Hangzhou Bay Bridge, suggesting that the impact of large coastal infrastructure on ocean colour data is common, and must therefore be considered in data post-processing.
Optimizing Field Data Collection for Individual Tree Attribute Predictions Using Active Learning Methods
Authors: Malek Salim , Miglietta Franco , Gobakken Terje , Næsset Erik , Gianelle Damiano , Dalponte Michele
Published: April 2019

Light detection and ranging (lidar) data are nowadays a standard data source in studies related to forest ecology and environmental mapping. Medium/high point density lidar data allow to automatically detect individual tree crowns (ITCs), and they provide useful information to predict stem diameter and aboveground biomass of each tree represented by a detected ITC. However, acquisition of field data is necessary for the construction of prediction models that relate field data to lidar data and for validation of such models. When working at ITC level, field data collection is often expensive and time-consuming as accurate tree positions are needed. Active learning (AL) can be very useful in this context as it helps to select the optimal field trees to be measured, reducing the field data collection cost. In this study, we propose a new method of AL for regression based on the minimization of the field data collection cost in terms of distance to navigate between field sample trees, and accuracy in terms of root mean square error of the predictions. The developed method is applied to the prediction of diameter at breast heights (DBH) and aboveground biomass (AGB) of individual trees by using their height and crown diameter as independent variables and support vector regression. The proposed method was tested on two boreal forest datasets, and the obtained results show the effectiveness of the proposed selecting strategy to provide substantial improvements over the different iterations compared to a random selection. The obtained RMSE of DBH/AGB for the first dataset was 5.09 cm/95.5 kg with a cost equal to 8256/6173 m by using the proposed multi-objective method of selection. However, by using a random selection, the RMSE was 5.20 cm/102.1 kg with a cost equal to 28,391/30,086 m. The proposed approach can be efficient in order to get more accurate predictions with smaller costs, especially when a large forest area with no previous field data is subject to inventory and analysis.
A Local Feature Descriptor Based on Oriented Structure Maps with Guided Filtering for Multispectral Remote Sensing Image Matching
Authors: Ma Tao , Ma Jie , Yu Kun
Published: April 2019

Multispectral image matching plays a very important role in remote sensing image processing and can be applied for registering the complementary information captured by different sensors. Due to the nonlinear intensity difference in multispectral images, many classic descriptors designed for images of the same spectrum are unable to work well. To cope with this problem, this paper proposes a new local feature descriptor termed histogram of oriented structure maps (HOSM) for multispectral image matching tasks. This proposed method consists of three steps. First, we propose a new method based on local contrast to construct the structure guidance images from the multispectral images by transferring the significant contours from source images to results, respectively. Second, we calculate oriented structure maps with guided image filtering. In details, we first construct edge maps by the progressive Sobel filters to extract the common structure characteristics from the multispectral images, and then we compute the oriented structure maps by performing the guided filtering on the edge maps with the structure guidance images constructed in the first step. Finally, we build the HOSM descriptor by calculating the histogram of oriented structure maps in a local region of each interest point and normalize the feature vector. The proposed HOSM descriptor was evaluated on three commonly used datasets and was compared with several state-of-the-art methods. The experimental results demonstrate that the HOSM descriptor can be robust to the nonlinear intensity difference in multispectral images and outperforms other methods.
X-Ray Pulsar-Based Navigation Considering Spacecraft Orbital Motion and Systematic Biases
Authors: Xue Mengfan , Shi Yifang , Guo Yunfei , Huang Na , Peng Dongliang , Luo Ji’an , Shentu Han , Chen Zhikun
Published: April 2019

The accuracy of X-ray pulsar-based navigation is greatly affected by the Doppler effect caused by the spacecraft orbital motion and the systematic biases introduced by the pulsar directional error, spacecraft-borne clock error, etc. In this paper, an innovative navigation method simultaneously employing the pulse phase (PP), the difference of two neighbor PPs (DPP) and the Doppler frequency (DF) of X-ray pulsars as measurements is proposed to solve this problem. With the aid of the spacecraft orbital dynamics, a single pair of PP and DF relative to the spacecraft’s state estimation error can be estimated by using the joint probability density function of the arrival photon timestamps as the likelihood function. The systematic biases involved to the PP is proved to be nearly invariant over two adjacent navigation periods and the major part of it is eliminated in the DPP; therefore, the DPP is also exploited as additional navigation measurement to weaken the impact of systematic biases on navigation accuracy. Results of photon-level simulations show that the navigation accuracy of the proposed method is remarkably better than that of the method only using PP, the method using both PP and DF and the method using both PP and DPP for Earth orbit.
New ISE-Based Apparatus for Na+, K+, Cl−, pH and Transepithelial Potential Difference Real-Time Simultaneous Measurements of Ion Transport across Epithelial Cells Monolayer–Advantages and Pitfalls
Authors: Zając Mirosław , Lewenstam Andrzej , Stobiecka Magdalena , Dołowy Krzysztof
Published: April 2019

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common fatal human genetic disease, which is caused by a defect in an anion channel protein (CFTR) that affects ion and water transport across the epithelium. We devised an apparatus to enable the measurement of concentration changes of sodium, potassium, chloride, pH, and transepithelial potential difference by means of ion-selective electrodes that were placed on both sides of a 16HBE14σ human bronchial epithelial cell line that was grown on a porous support. Using flat miniaturized ISE electrodes allows for reducing the medium volume adjacent to cells to approximately 20 μL and detecting changes in ion concentrations that are caused by transport through the cell layer. In contrast to classic electrochemical measurements, in our experiments neither the calibration of electrodes nor the interpretation of results is simple. The calibration solutions might affect cell physiology, the medium composition might change the direction of actions of the membrane channels and transporters, and water flow that might trigger or cut off the transport pathways accompanies the transport of ions. We found that there is an electroneutral transport of sodium chloride in both directions of the cell monolayer in the isosmotic transepithelial concentration gradient of sodium or chloride ions. The ions and water are transported as an isosmotic solution of 145 mM of NaCl.
Event-Triggered Ephemeral Group Communication and Coordination over Sound for Smart Consumer Devices
Authors: Song Doohwan , Yeom Ikjun , Woo Honguk
Published: April 2019

Voice-based interfaces have become one of the most popular device capabilities, recently being regarded as one flagship user experience of smart consumer devices. However, the lack of common coordination mechanisms might often degrade the user experience, especially when interacting with multiple voice-enabled devices located closely. For example, a hotword or wake-up utterance such as “hi Bixby” or “ok Google” frequently triggers redundant responses by several nearby smartphones. Motivated by the problem of uncoordinated react of voice-enabled devices especially in a multiple device environment, in this paper, we discuss the notion of an ephemeral group of consumer devices in which the member devices and the transient lifetime are implicitly determined by an external event (e.g., hotword detection) without any provisioned group structure, and specifically we concentrate on the time-constrained leader election process in such an ephemeral group. To do so: (i) We first present the sound-based multiple device communication framework, namely tailtag, that leverages the isomorphic capability of consumer devices for the tasks of processing hotword events and transmitting data over sound, and thus renders both the tasks confined to the same room area and enables the spontaneous leader election process in a unstructured group upon a hotword event. (ii) To improve the success rate of the leader election with a given time constraint, we then develop the adaptive messaging scheme especially tailored for sound-based data communication that inherently has low data rate. Our adaptive scheme utilizes an application-specific score that is individually calculated by a member device for each event detection, and employs score-based scheduling by which messages of a high score are scheduled first and so unnecessary message transmission can be suppressed during the election process. (iii) Through experiments, we also demonstrate that, when a hotword is detected by multiple smartphones in a room, the framework with the adaptive messaging scheme enables them to successfully achieve a coordinated response under the given latency bound, yielding an insignificant non-consensus probability, no more than 2%.
An Interoperable Access Control Framework for Diverse IoT Platforms Based on OAuth and Role
Authors: Oh Se-Ra , Kim Young-Gab , Cho Sanghyun
Published: April 2019

Due to the rapid development of Internet of Things (IoT), IoT platforms that can provide common functions for things are becoming increasingly important. However, access control frameworks in diverse IoT platforms have been developed for individual security goals, designs, and technologies. In particular, current OAuth-based access control frameworks that are widely used in IoT research have not been providing interoperability among IoT platforms even though sharing resources and services is a critical issue for IoT platforms. Therefore, we analyze the main requirements for an IoT access control framework to properly design our framework and propose an interoperable access control framework based on OAuth 2.0 and Role. Our approach describes a new extended authorization grant flow to issue an Interoperable Access Token (IAT) that has a global access scope across IoT platforms using multiple pairs of clients’ credentials. With the IAT and proposed framework, we can access client-specific domains in heterogeneous IoT platforms, then valuable resources (e.g., data and services) in the domains can be accessed by validating the roles, which will greatly simplify permission management. Furthermore, IAT supports a simple token management (e.g., token issuance, refreshing, and revocation) by managing only one token for diverse IoT platforms. In addition, we implement our interoperable access control framework on Mobius and FIWARE, which are promising open-source IoT platforms, and test an interoperability scenario to demonstrate our approach with the implementation. Furthermore, the proposed framework is compared with other IoT access control approaches based on the selected requirements in this paper.
Star Image Prediction and Restoration under Dynamic Conditions
Authors: Liu Di , Chen Xiyuan , Liu Xiao , Shi Chunfeng
Published: April 2019

The star sensor is widely used in attitude control systems of spacecraft for attitude measurement. However, under high dynamic conditions, frame loss and smearing of the star image may appear and result in decreased accuracy or even failure of the star centroid extraction and attitude determination. To improve the performance of the star sensor under dynamic conditions, a gyroscope-assisted star image prediction method and an improved Richardson-Lucy (RL) algorithm based on the ensemble back-propagation neural network (EBPNN) are proposed. First, for the frame loss problem of the star sensor, considering the distortion of the star sensor lens, a prediction model of the star spot position is obtained by the angular rates of the gyroscope. Second, to restore the smearing star image, the point spread function (PSF) is calculated by the angular velocity of the gyroscope. Then, we use the EBPNN to predict the number of iterations required by the RL algorithm to complete the star image deblurring. Finally, simulation experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness and real-time of the proposed algorithm.
Multichannel Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Analyzer with Microfluidic Sensors
Authors: Ojarand Jaan , Min Mart , Koel Ants
Published: April 2019

Impedance spectroscopy is a common approach in assessing passive electrical properties of biological matter. However, several problems appear in microfluidic devices in connection with the requirement for high sensitivity of signal acquisition from small volume sensors. The developed compact and inexpensive analyzer provides impedance spectroscopy measurement from three sensors, both connected in direct and differential modes. Measurement deficiencies are reduced with a novel design of sensors, measurement method, optimized electronics, signal processing, and mechanical design of the analyzer. Proposed solutions are targeted to the creation of reliable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic and monitoring appliances, including lab-on-a-chip type devices in the next steps of development. The test results show the good working ability of the developed analyzer; however, also limitations and problems that require attention and further improvement are appointed.