bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pleiotropic Activity of Metformin and Its Sulfonamide Derivatives on Vascular and Platelet Haemostasis
Authors: Markowicz-Piasecka Magdalena , Huttunen Kristiina M. , Sadkowska Adrianna , Sikora Joanna
Published: December 2019

As type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) predisposes patients to endothelial cell injury and dysfunction, improvement of vascular function should be an important target for therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of metformin, its sulfenamide and sulfonamide derivatives on selected parameters of endothelial and smooth muscle cell function, and platelet activity. Metformin was not found to significantly affect the viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) or aortal smooth muscle cells (AoSMC); however, it decreased cell migration by approximately 21.8% in wound healing assays after 24 h stimulation (wound closure 32.5 µm versus 41.5 µm for control). Metformin reduced platelet aggregation manifested by 19.0% decrease in maximum of aggregation (Amax), and 20% reduction in initial platelet aggregation velocity (v0). Furthermore, metformin decreased spontaneous platelet adhesion by 27.7% and ADP-induced adhesion to fibrinogen by 29.6% in comparison to control. Metformin sulfenamide with an n-butyl alkyl chain (compound 1) appeared to exert the most unfavourable effects on AoSMC cell viability (IC50 = 0.902 ± 0.015 μmol/mL), while 4-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (compound 3) and 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide (compound 4) derivatives of metformin did not affect AoSMC and HUVEC viability at concentrations up to 2.0 μmol/mL. These compounds were also found to significantly reduce migration of smooth muscle cells by approximately 81.0%. Furthermore, sulfonamides 3 and 4 decreased the initial velocity of platelet aggregation by 11.8% and 20.6%, respectively, and ADP-induced platelet adhesion to fibrinogen by 76.3% and 65.6%. Metformin and its p- and o-nitro-benzenesulfonamide derivatives 3, 4 appear to exert beneficial effects on some parameters of vascular and platelet haemostasis.
Adenosine Receptor Agonists Exhibit Anti-Platelet Effects and the Potential to Overcome Resistance to P2Y12 Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Wolska Nina , Boncler Magdalena , Polak Dawid , Wzorek Joanna , Przygodzki Tomasz , Gapinska Magdalena , Watala Cezary , Rozalski Marcin
Published: December 2019

Large inter-individual variation in platelet response to endogenous agonists and pharmacological agents, including resistance to antiplatelet therapy, prompts a search for novel platelet inhibitors and development new antithrombotic strategies. The present in vitro study evaluates the beneficial effects of three adenosine receptor (AR) agonists (regadenoson, LUF 5835 and NECA), different in terms of their selectivity for platelet adenosine receptors, when used alone and in combination with P2Y12 inhibitors, such as cangrelor or prasugrel metabolite. The anti-platelet effects of AR agonists were evaluated in healthy subjects (in the whole group and after stratification of individuals into high- and low-responders to P2Y12 inhibitors), using whole blood techniques, under flow (thrombus formation) and static conditions (study of platelet activation and aggregation). Compared to P2Y12 antagonists, AR agonists were much less or not effective under static conditions, but demonstrated similar antiplatelet activity in flow. In most cases, AR agonists significantly enhanced the anti-platelet effect of P2Y12 antagonists, despite possessing different selectivity profiles and antiplatelet activities. Importantly, their inhibitory effects in combination with P2Y12 antagonists were similar in high- and low-responders to P2Y12 inhibitors. In conclusion, a combination of anti-platelet agents acting via the P1 and P2 purinergic receptors represents a promising alternative to existing antithrombotic therapy.
Mammillaria Species—Polyphenols Studies and Anti-Cancer, Anti-Oxidant, and Anti-Bacterial Activities
Authors: O. Elansary Hosam , Szopa Agnieszka , Klimek-Szczykutowicz Marta , Jafernik Karolina , Ekiert Halina , Mahmoud Eman A. , Abdelmoneim Barakat Ahmed , O. El-Ansary Diaa
Published: December 2019

Discovering new natural resources of polyphenols is the aim of many recent studies in the field of natural product research. This study tentatively investigated the polyphenols profile of the stems of seven Mammillaria species (M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. hahniana, M. crucigera, M. candida, M. albilanata, and M. muehlenpfordtii) using high performance liquid chromatography with DAD detector (HPLC-DAD) method. Furthermore, the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial potentials of these extracts as well as major identified phenols were explored. The HPLC-DAD study confirmed the availability of six phenolic acids, including gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, sinapic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The dominant compounds were: gentisic acid in M. rhodantha and M. spinosissima; chlorogenic acid in M. muehlenpfordtii, M. crucigera, and M. rhodantha; and caffeic acid in M. rhodantha, M. crucigera, and M. spinosissima. Stems of Mammillaria sp. showed antiproliferative effects against HeLa, MCF-7, and Jurkat cells. In HeLa and MCF-7 cells, the best antiproliferative activities were found in the treatments with M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii. The apoptotic assay of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii showed accumulation of necrotic cells in the early and late apoptotic phase. M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, and M. muehlenpfordtii showed the highest anti-oxidant activities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), β-carotene bleaching, and ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP) assays. M. rhodantha was the best source of antioxidants. Mammillaria sp. showed moderate anti-bacterial effects against bacteria and the highest effects were found using the extracts of M. rhodantha, M. spinosissima, M. crucigera and M. muehlenpfordtii against most bacteria. The anti-bacterial activities were attributed to other phenolic compounds (e.g., chlorogenic acid) than gentisic acid, which was not active against most bacteria. Mammillaria sp. could be considered to be an important natural source of phenolic acids with anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidant activities.
Theoretical Considerations and the Microelectrophoresis Experiment on the Influence of Selected Chaotropic Anions on Phosphatidylcholine Membrane Surface Charge Density
Authors: Kotyńska Joanna , Naumowicz Monika
Published: December 2019

Influence of sodium salts of selected chaotropic anions from the Hofmeister series (NaCl, NaBr, NaNO3, NaI) on the surface charge density of phosphatidylcholine membranes was studied. Small unilamellar lipid vesicles were used as a model system in the investigations. The theoretical and experimental approach to the interactions between inorganic anions and phosphatidylcholine membranes is presented. Experimental membrane surface charge densities data were determined as a function of pH of the aqueous electrolytes using microelectrophoresis method. The quantitative description of the interactions between zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine membrane and monovalent anions is presented. The equilibria constants of the binding of solution ions onto phospholipid surface were calculated. Knowledge of these parameters was essential to determine the theoretical membrane surface charge density values. The theoretical data were compared to the experimental ones in order to verify the mathematical model. Both approaches indicate that the anion-phosphatidylcholine membrane interaction increases with the size of the anion. The adsorption of chaotropic anions to membranes was found to follow the Hofmeister series I− > NO3− > Br− > Cl−.
Prospect of Polysaccharide-Based Materials as Advanced Food Packaging
Authors: Nešić Aleksandra , Cabrera-Barjas Gustavo , Dimitrijević-Branković Suzana , Davidović Sladjana , Radovanović Neda , Delattre Cédric
Published: December 2019

The use of polysaccharide-based materials presents an eco-friendly technological solution, by reducing dependence on fossil resources while reducing a product’s carbon footprint, when compared to conventional plastic packaging materials. This review discusses the potential of polysaccharides as a raw material to produce multifunctional materials for food packaging applications. The covered areas include the recent innovations and properties of the polysaccharide-based materials. Emphasis is given to hemicelluloses, marine polysaccharides, and bacterial exopolysaccharides and their potential application in the latest trends of food packaging materials, including edible coatings, intelligent films, and thermo-insulated aerogel packaging.
Substituted N-(Pyrazin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamides; Synthesis, Anti-Infective Evaluation, Cytotoxicity, and In Silico Studies
Authors: Bouz Ghada , Juhás Martin , Pausas Otero Lluis , Paredes de la Red Cristina , Janďourek Ondřej , Konečná Klára , Paterová Pavla , Kubíček Vladimír , Janoušek Jiří , Doležal Martin , Zitko Jan
Published: December 2019

We prepared a series of substituted N-(pyrazin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamides as an attempt to investigate the effect of different linkers connecting pyrazine to benzene cores on antimicrobial activity when compared to our previous compounds of amide or retro-amide linker type. Only two compounds, 4-amino-N-(pyrazin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (MIC = 6.25 μg/mL, 25 μM) and 4-amino-N-(6-chloropyrazin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (MIC = 6.25 μg/mL, 22 μM) exerted good antitubercular activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. However, they were excluded from the comparison as they—unlike the other compounds—possessed the pharmacophore for the inhibition of folate pathway, which was proven by docking studies. We performed target fishing, where we identified matrix metalloproteinase-8 as a promising target for our title compounds that is worth future exploration.
New Dammarane-Type Triterpenoid Saponins from Panax notoginseng Leaves and Their Nitric Oxide Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Sun Fan , Ruan Jingya , Zhao Wei , Zhang Ying , Xiang Guilin , Yan Jiejing , Hao Mimi , Wu Lijie , Zhang Yi , Wang Tao
Published: December 2019

Inflammation is a very common and important pathological process that can cause many diseases. The discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs and the treatment of inflammation are particularly essential. Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins (PNS) were demonstrated to show anti-inflammatory effects in the leaves of Panax notoginseng. Chromatographies and spectral analysis methods were combined to isolate and identify PNS. Moreover, the nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities of all compounds were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. As a result, eleven new dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins, notoginsenosides NL-A1–NL-A4 (1–4), NL-B1–NL-B3 (5–7), NL-C1–NL-C3 (8–10), and NL-D (11) were isolated, and their structures were identified by using various spectrometric techniques and chemical reactions. Among them, compounds 4 and 11 were characterized by the malonyl substitution at 3-position. The 3-malonyl substituted dammarane-type terpennoids were first obtained from natural products. In addition, compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8–10 were found to play an important role in suppressing NO levels at 50 μM, without cytotoxicity. All inhibitory activities were found to be dose-dependent.
Green and Efficient Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Components from Salvia miltiorrhiza by Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: He Xinping , Yang Jiehong , Huang Yan , Zhang Yin , Wan Haitong , Li Chang
Published: December 2019

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) are recently developed green solvent alternatives to conventional fossil solvents. The present work systematically screened 22 different NaDESs for the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of bioactive components from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a widely used traditional Chinese medical plant. The suitable solvent and extraction condition were optimized in a two-round screening. In comparison with fossil solvents, NaDESs, especially L-proline-lactic acid (L-Pro-Lac) showed significant advantages in the extraction of salvianolic acid B (SAB), tanshinone IIA (TIIA) and cryptotanshinone (CYT). The optimized yields of the three targeting compounds were 42.05, 1.485 and 0.839 mg/g, respectively. The present method was also applied to the pretreatment of SM samples from different geographic origins. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities of NaDES extracts were determined in the study to prove the feasibility of NaDES in bioactive component extraction. The application of NaDESs in the extraction of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic small molecules from SM is proved to be a green and efficient method for pretreatment of herbal materials.
Novel Magnetic Silica-Ionic Liquid Nanocomposites for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Atta Ayman M. , Moustafa Yaser M. , Ezzat Abdelrahman O. , Hashem Ahmed I.
Published: December 2019

In this work, new imidazolium silica-ionic liquids doped with magnetite nanocomposites are prepared for use in the field of water purification owing to their unique properties, which can be manipulated by an external magnetic field. A silane precursor based on aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) condensed with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and glyoxal in an acetic acid solution is used to prepare disiloxyimidazolium ionic liquid (SIMIL). The silica composite (Si-IL) and silica-coated magnetite (Fe3O4-Si-IL) composites are prepared using the sol-gel technique. The chemical structures, morphologies, crystalline lattice structures, thermal stabilities, surface charges, surface areas, particle sizes, and magnetic characteristics of Fe3O4-Si-IL and Si-IL are investigated. The Fe3O4-Si-IL and Si-IL nanocomposites show excellent chemical adsorption capacities as 653 and 472 mg g−1, respectively, during times ranging 90 to 110 min when they are used as adsorbents to remove Congo red (CR) dye as a water pollutant.
Efficient Hydrogenation of Xylose and Hemicellulosic Hydrolysate to Xylitol over Ni-Re Bimetallic Nanoparticle Catalyst
Authors: Xia Haian , Zhang Lei , Hu Hong , Zuo Songlin , Yang Li
Published: December 2019

A disadvantage of the commercial Raney Ni is that the Ni active sites are prone to leaching and deactivation in the hydrogenation of xylose to xylitol. To explore a more stable and robust catalyst, activated carbon (AC) supported Ni-Re bimetallic catalysts (Ni-Re/AC) were synthesized and used to hydrogenate xylose and hemicellulosic hydrolysate into xylitol under mild reaction conditions. In contrast to the monometallic Ni/AC catalyst, bimetallic Ni-Re/AC exhibited better catalytic performances in the hydrogenation of xylose to xylitol. A high xylitol yield up to 98% was achieved over Ni-Re/AC (nNi:nRe = 1:1) at 140 °C for 1 h. In addition, these bimetallic catalysts also had superior hydrogenation performance in the conversion of the hydrolysate derived from the hydrolysis reaction of the hemicellulose of Camellia oleifera shell. The characterization results showed that the addition of Re led to the formation of Ni-Re alloy and improved the dispersion of Ni active sites. The recycled experimental results revealed that the monometallic Ni and the bimetallic Ni-Re catalysts tended to deactivate, but the introduction of Re was able to remarkably improve the catalyst’s stability and reduce the Ni leaching during the hydrogenation reaction.
Pre-Sleep Casein Protein Ingestion Does Not Impact Next-Day Appetite, Energy Intake and Metabolism in Older Individuals
Authors: Morehen Stephen , Smeuninx Benoit , Perkins Molly , Morgan Paul , Breen Leigh
Published: December 2019

Maintaining adequate daily protein intake is important to maintain muscle mass throughout the lifespan. In this regard, the overnight period has been identified as a window of opportunity to increase protein intake in the elderly. However, it is unknown whether pre-sleep protein intake affects next-morning appetite and, consequently, protein intake. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of a pre-sleep protein drink on next-morning appetite, energy intake and metabolism. Twelve older individuals (eight males, four females; age: 71.3 ± 4.2 years) took part in a single-blind randomised cross-over study. After a standardised dinner, participants consumed either a 40-g protein drink, isocaloric maltodextrin drink, or placebo water control before bedtime. Next-morning appetite, energy intake, resting metabolic rate (RMR), respiratory exchange rate (RER), and plasma acylated ghrelin, leptin, glucose, and insulin concentrations were assessed. No between-group differences were observed for appetite and energy intake at breakfast. Furthermore, RMR, RER, and assessed blood markers were not significantly different between any of the treatment groups. Pre-sleep protein intake does not affect next-morning appetite and energy intake and is therefore a viable strategy to increase daily protein intake in an older population.
Effect of Daily Ingestion of Quercetin-Rich Onion Powder for 12 Weeks on Visceral Fat: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study
Authors: Nishimura Mie , Muro Takato , Kobori Masuko , Nishihira Jun
Published: December 2019

Quercetin, which is frequently found in vegetables such as onion, is widely found to have biological activities such as visceral fat reduction. Therefore, we performed this randomised double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group study and analysed the effects of daily intake of quercetin-rich onion on visceral fat for 12 weeks. Seventy healthy Japanese subjects whose body mass index (BMI) was ≥23 and <30 were recruited and randomly assigned to either the quercetin-rich onion group or placebo group. The subjects ingested 9 g of onion powder per day for 12 weeks. We conducted medical interviews, hematological and biological tests; measured body composition and vital signs; and analysed the Food Frequency Questionnaire weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12. Abdominal fat area was measured using computed tomography scanning at weeks 0 and 12. No significant differences in visceral fat area (VFA) were observed between the two groups. However, in subjects whose high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower, VFA was significantly lower in the quercetin-rich onion group. In addition, alanine aminotransferase was significantly lower in the quercetin-rich onion group than in the placebo group. Thus, the results suggest that quercetin-rich onion may be beneficial for preventing obesity and improving liver function.
Is There a Link between Zinc Intake and Status with Plasma Fatty Acid Profile and Desaturase Activities in Dyslipidemic Subjects?
Authors: Knez Marija , Pantovic Ana , Zekovic Milica , Pavlovic Zoran , Glibetic Maria , Zec Manja
Published: December 2019

The prevalence of obesity and dyslipidemia has increased worldwide. The role of trace elements in the pathogenesis of these conditions is not well understood. This study examines the relationship between dietary zinc (Zn) intake and plasma concentrations of Zn, copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) with lipid profile indicators, fatty acid composition in plasma phospholipids and desaturase enzyme activities in a dyslipidemic population. The role of the newly proposed biomarker of Zn status, the linoleic:dihomo-gama-linolenic acid (LA:DGLA) ratio, in predicting Zn status of dyslipidemic subjects has been explored. The study included 27 dyslipidemic adults, 39–72 years old. Trace elements were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry and fatty acid composition by a liquid gas chromatography. Desaturase activities were calculated from product-precursor fatty acid ratios. Dietary data were obtained using 24 h recall questionnaires. Insufficient dietary intake of Zn, low plasma Zn concentrations and an altered Cu:Zn ratio is related to modified fatty acid profile in subjects with dyslipidemia. Plasma Zn status was associated with obesity. There was no correlation between dietary Zn intake and plasma Zn status. The LA:DGLA ratio was inversely linked to dietary Zn intake. Cu, in addition to Zn, may directly or indirectly, affect the activity of desaturase enzymes.
Intestinal Fructose and Glucose Metabolism in Health and Disease
Authors: Merino Beatriz , Fernández-Díaz Cristina M. , Cózar-Castellano Irene , Perdomo German
Published: December 2019

The worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes have been linked to increased sugar consumption in humans. Here, we review fructose and glucose metabolism, as well as potential molecular mechanisms by which excessive sugar consumption is associated to metabolic diseases and insulin resistance in humans. To this end, we focus on understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of fructose and glucose transport and sensing in the intestine, the intracellular signaling effects of dietary sugar metabolism, and its impact on glucose homeostasis in health and disease. Finally, the peripheral and central effects of dietary sugars on the gut–brain axis will be reviewed.
GM-Improved Antiaging Effect of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene in Different Thermal Environments
Authors: Wang Yuchao , Chen Ming , Lan Miaoyu , Li Zhi , Lu Shulai , Wu Guangfeng
Published: December 2019

A stabilizer called 2-tert-butyl-6-(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzyl)-4-methylphenyl acrylate (GM) was mixed in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) with the same amount of 9-bis(octadecyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro[5.5]undecane (DSPDP), octadecyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (Irganox 1076) and tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) isocyanurate (Irganox 3114) to investigate the influence of additives on the antiaging effect of ABS in oven aging or repeated extrusion aging. It was found that the ABS doped with the GM stabilizer showed a better yellowing resistance and thermal stability than the ABS doped with other antioxidants. Owing to the fact that the stabilizer can act on the free radicals before it has been peroxidized, it could trap the free radicals as a consequence of directly blocking the oxidation process of the active species, thus solving the problem of oxidative degradation of the materials from the source. This work provides guidance for improving thermal stability of ABS, indicating a promising potential for industrial application.
Triple Layer Tungsten Trioxide, Graphene, and Polyaniline Composite Films for Combined Energy Storage and Electrochromic Applications
Authors: Lyu Hailong
Published: December 2019

Different polyaniline (PANI)-based hybrid films were successfully prepared by electro-polymerizing aniline monomers onto pre-spin-coated indium tin oxide (ITO) glass slides with WO3, graphene, or WO3/graphene films. Comparing with pristine PANI, the shifts of the characteristic peaks of PANI-based nanocomposites in UV-visible absorption spectra (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicate the chemical interaction between the PANI matrix and the nanofillers, which is also confirmed by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Corresponding coloration efficiencies were obtained for the WO3/PANI (40.42 cm2 C−1), graphene/PANI (78.64 cm2 C−1), and WO3/graphene/PANI (67.47 cm2 C−1) films, higher than that of the pristine PANI film (29.4 cm2 C−1), suggesting positive effects of the introduced nanofillers on the electrochromic performance. The areal capacitances of the films were observed to increase following the order as bare WO3 < WO3/graphene < pristine PANI < WO3/PANI < graphene/PANI < WO3/graphene/PANI films from both the cyclic voltammogram (CV) and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) results. The enhanced energy storage and electrochromic performances of the PANI-based nanocomposite films can be attributed to the capacitance contributions of the introduced nanofillers, increased PANI amount, and the rougher morphology due to the embedment of the nanofillers into the PANI matrix. This extraordinary energy storage and electrochromic performances of the WO3/graphene/PANI film make it a promising candidate for combined electrochromic and energy storage applications.
A Low-Power CMOS Wireless Acoustic Sensing Platform for Remote Surveillance Applications
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhou Ranran , Liu Zhenyue , Yan Bingbo
Published: December 2019

A low-power wireless acoustic sensing platform for remote surveillance applications based on a 180 nm CMOS technology is proposed in this paper. The audio signal, which is acquired by a microphone, is first amplified and filtered. Then, the analog signal is converted to a digital signal by a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). A digital automatic gain control module is integrated to obtain an optimal input of the ADC. The digital signal is modulated and transmitted at the 433 MHz ISM band after being repacked and encoded. To save power for portable applications, the chip switches to standby mode when no audio is detected. The wireless sensing platform occupies a chip area of 1.76 mm 2 . The supply voltage is 2.5 V for the power amplifier and 1.8 V for other circuits. The measured maximum output power is 5.7 dBm and the transmission distance is over 500 m for real application scenarios. The chip consumes 25.1 mW power in normal work mode and 0.058 mW in standby mode. Compared to existing wireless acoustic sensors, the proposed wireless acoustic sensing platform can achieve features such as compactness, power efficiency, and reliability.
The Segmentation Method of Target Point Cloud for Polarization-Modulated 3D Imaging
Authors: Wang Shengjie , Liu Bo , Chen Zhen , Li Heping , Jiang Shuo
Published: December 2019

To implement target point cloud segmentation for a polarization-modulated 3D imaging system in practical projects, an efficient segmentation concept of multi-dimensional information fusion is designed. As the electron multiplier charge coupled device (EMCCD) camera can only acquire the gray image, but has no ability for time resolution owing to the time integration mechanism, large diameter electro-optic modulators (EOM) are used to provide time resolution for the EMCCD cameras to obtain the polarization-modulated images, from which a 3D image can also be simultaneously reconstructed. According to the characteristics of the EMCCD camera’s plane array imaging, the point-to-point mapping relationship between the gray image pixels and point cloud data coordinates is established. The target’s pixel coordinate position obtained by image segmentation is mapped to 3D point cloud data to get the segmented target point cloud data. On the basis of the specific environment characteristics of the experiment, the maximum entropy test method is applied to the target segmentation of the gray image, and the image morphological erosion algorithm is used to improve the segmentation accuracy. This method solves the problem that conventional point clouds’ segmentation methods cannot effectively segment irregular objects or closely bound objects. Meanwhile, it has strong robustness and stability in the presence of noise, and reduces the computational complexity and data volume. The experimental results show that this method is better for the segmentation of the target in the actual environment, and can avoid the over-segmentation and under-segmentation to some extent. This paper illustrates the potential and feasibility of the segmentation method based on this system in real-time data processing.
A CNN-Assisted Enhanced Audio Signal Processing for Speech Emotion Recognition
Authors: Mustaqeem  , Kwon Soonil
Published: December 2019

Speech is the most significant mode of communication among human beings and a potential method for human-computer interaction (HCI) by using a microphone sensor. Quantifiable emotion recognition using these sensors from speech signals is an emerging area of research in HCI, which applies to multiple applications such as human-reboot interaction, virtual reality, behavior assessment, healthcare, and emergency call centers to determine the speaker’s emotional state from an individual’s speech. In this paper, we present major contributions for; (i) increasing the accuracy of speech emotion recognition (SER) compared to state of the art and (ii) reducing the computational complexity of the presented SER model. We propose an artificial intelligence-assisted deep stride convolutional neural network (DSCNN) architecture using the plain nets strategy to learn salient and discriminative features from spectrogram of speech signals that are enhanced in prior steps to perform better. Local hidden patterns are learned in convolutional layers with special strides to down-sample the feature maps rather than pooling layer and global discriminative features are learned in fully connected layers. A SoftMax classifier is used for the classification of emotions in speech. The proposed technique is evaluated on Interactive Emotional Dyadic Motion Capture (IEMOCAP) and Ryerson Audio-Visual Database of Emotional Speech and Song (RAVDESS) datasets to improve accuracy by 7.85% and 4.5%, respectively, with the model size reduced by 34.5 MB. It proves the effectiveness and significance of the proposed SER technique and reveals its applicability in real-world applications.
Real-Time Dynamic Path Planning of Mobile Robots: A Novel Hybrid Heuristic Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Wu Qing , Chen Zeyu , Wang Lei , Lin Hao , Jiang Zijing , Li Shuai , Chen Dechao
Published: December 2019

Mobile robots are becoming more and more widely used in industry and life, so the navigation of robots in dynamic environments has become an urgent problem to be solved. Dynamic path planning has, therefore, received more attention. This paper proposes a real-time dynamic path planning method for mobile robots that can avoid both static and dynamic obstacles. The proposed intelligent optimization method can not only get a better path but also has outstanding advantages in planning time. The algorithm used in the proposed method is a hybrid algorithm based on the beetle antennae search (BAS) algorithm and the artificial potential field (APF) algorithm, termed the BAS-APF method. By establishing a potential field, the convergence speed is accelerated, and the defect that the APF is easily trapped in the local minimum value is also avoided. At the same time, by setting a security scope to make the path closer to the available path in the real environment, the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method are verified through simulative results.
Smart & Green: An Internet-of-Things Framework for Smart Irrigation
Authors: G. S. Campos Nidia , Rocha Atslands R. , Gondim Rubens , Coelho da Silva Ticiana L. , Gomes Danielo G.
Published: December 2019

Irrigation is one of the most water-intensive agricultural activities in the world, which has been increasing over time. Choosing an optimal irrigation management plan depends on having available data in the monitoring field. A smart agriculture system gathers data from several sources; however, the data are not guaranteed to be free of discrepant values (i.e., outliers), which can damage the precision of irrigation management. Furthermore, data from different sources must fit into the same temporal window required for irrigation management and the data preprocessing must be dynamic and automatic to benefit users of the irrigation management plan. In this paper, we propose the Smart&Green framework to offer services for smart irrigation, such as data monitoring, preprocessing, fusion, synchronization, storage, and irrigation management enriched by the prediction of soil moisture. Outlier removal techniques allow for more precise irrigation management. For fields without soil moisture sensors, the prediction model estimates the matric potential using weather, crop, and irrigation information. We apply the predicted matric potential approach to the Van Genutchen model to determine the moisture used in an irrigation management scheme. We can save, on average, between 56.4% and 90% of the irrigation water needed by applying the Zscore, MZscore and Chauvenet outlier removal techniques to the predicted data.
Simultaneous Optimization of Vehicle Arrival Time and Signal Timings within a Connected Vehicle Environment
Authors: Wu Wei , Huang Ling , Du Ronghua
Published: December 2019

Most existing signal timing plans are optimized given vehicles’ arrival time (i.e., the time for the upcoming vehicles to arrive at the stop line) as exogenous input. In this paper, based on the connected vehicle (CV) technique, vehicles can be regarded as moving sensors, and their arrival time can be dynamically adjusted by speed guidance according to the current signal status and traffic conditions. Therefore, an integrated traffic control model is proposed in this study to optimize vehicle arrival time (or travel speed) and signal timing simultaneously. “Speed guidance model at a red light” and “speed guidance model at a green light” are presented to model the influences between travel speed and signal timing. Then, the methods to model the vehicle arrival time, vehicle delay, and number of stops are proposed. The total delay, which includes the control delay, queuing delay, and signal delay, is used as the objective of the proposed model. The decision variables consist of vehicle arrival time, starting time of green, and duration of green for each phase. The sliding time window is adopted to dynamically tackle the problems. Compared with the results optimized by the classical actuated signal control method and the fixed-time-based speed guidance model, the proposed model can significantly decrease travel delays as well as improve the flexibility and mobility of traffic control. The sensitivity analysis with the communication distance, the market penetration of connected vehicles, and the compliance rate of speed guidance further demonstrates the potential of the proposed model to be applied in various traffic conditions.
A Robust PDR/UWB Integrated Indoor Localization Approach for Pedestrians in Harsh Environments
Authors: Tong Haibin , Xin Ning , Su Xianli , Chen Tengfeng , Wu Jingjing
Published: December 2019

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have been widely used in industrial, construction, and other fields. In recent years, demands for pedestrian localization have been increasing rapidly. In most cases, these applications work in harsh indoor environments, which have posed many challenges in achieving high-precision localization. Ultra-wide band (UWB)-based localization systems and pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) algorithms are popular. However, both have their own advantages and disadvantages, and both exhibit a poor performance in harsh environments. UWB-based localization algorithms can be seriously interfered by non-line-of-sight (NLoS) propagation, and PDR algorithms display a cumulative error. For ensuring the accuracy of indoor localization in harsh environments, a hybrid localization approach is proposed in this paper. Firstly, UWB signals cannot penetrate obstacles in most cases, and traditional algorithms for improving the accuracy by NLoS identification and mitigation cannot work in this situation. Therefore, in this study, we focus on integrating a PDR and UWB-based localization algorithm according to the UWB communication status. Secondly, we propose an adaptive PDR algorithm. UWB technology can provide high-precision location results in line-of-sight (LoS) propagation. Based on these, we can train the parameters of the PDR algorithm for every pedestrian, to improve the accuracy. Finally, we implement this hybrid localization approach in a hardware platform and experiment with it in an environment similar to industry or construction. The experimental results show a better accuracy than traditional UWB and PDR approaches in harsh environments.
Large Structural Shear Deformation and Failure Monitoring Using Bend Losses in Polymer Optical Fibre
Authors: Yuen Terry Y. P. , Tsai Cheng-An , Deb Trissa , Lin Yu-Hsiang , Nyienyi June , Wan Kai Tai , Huang Qunxian
Published: December 2019

Rapid identification of structural damage positions is essential to the post-disaster rehabilitation of structures and infrastructures. Large shear deformation, e.g., shear failure of bridge piers, shear-slip of slopes, and shear cracking of structural walls, is often the cause of structural instability. Distributed optical fibre sensing (DOFS) techniques have an advantage over point-based sensors in terms of spatial continuous structural condition monitoring. This paper presents the development of new measurement theory and algorithm to evaluate the structural shear deflection based on the large beam deflection and optical bend loss theories. The proposed technique adopted a photon-counting Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (ν-OTDR) with polymer optical fibres (POFs) which has a large deformation measurement range and high spatial resolution. In the experiment, shear deformation events can be successfully detected and evaluated from the proposed technique. When the normalised shear deformation is larger than 0.2, both the event locations and the magnitudes can be accurately determined. When normalised shear deformation is lesser than 0.2, the error in the magnitude evaluation increased, but the event location can be found with an absolute error <0.5 m. Multiple shear events can be treated as independent events when they are separated by more than 5 m. Various configurations of POFs attached to concrete beam specimens for rupture failure monitoring were also studied. The configuration that could maximise the POF curvature at the beam failure produced the largest ν-OTDR signals. In other configurations in which the POFs were only stretched at failure, the signals were less strong and were influenced by the POF-structure bonding strength.
Interference-Aware Radio Resource Management for Cognitive High-Throughput Satellite Systems
Authors: Zhang Rui , Ruan Yuhan , Li Yongzhao , Liu Can
Published: December 2019

By providing interactive broadband services to geographical areas underserved by terrestrial infrastructure, multi-beam satellite systems play a central role in future wireless communications. Targeting the terabit throughput requirements in satellite communications, we introduce a cognitive radio-based high-throughput satellite (HTS) system architecture where full frequency reuse is employed among beams. Moreover, by analyzing the characteristics of the considered architecture, we discuss the design challenges of radio resource management in cognitive HTS systems exposed to both intra-system and inter-system co-channel interference. Furthermore, to combat interference with low overhead, we propose a generic interference-aware resource management framework based on joint spatial division and multiplexing (JSDM). Under this framework, user grouping along with two-stage precoding is studied to achieve substantial improvement in the overall system throughput. Finally, some future research directions and challenges are also given.
A Hydrodynamic Model for Measuring Fluid Density and Viscosity by Using Quartz Tuning Forks
Authors: Zhang Mi , Chen Dehua , He Xiao , Wang Xiuming
Published: December 2019

A hydrodynamic model of using quartz tuning forks (QTFs) for density and viscosity sensing, by measuring the resonance frequency and quality factor, has been established based on the cantilever beam theory applied to the atomic force microscope (AFM). Two examples are presented to verify the usability of this model. Then, the Sobol index method is chosen for explaining quantitatively how the resonance frequency and quality factor of the QTFs are affected by the fluid density and viscosity, respectively. The results show that the relative mean square error in viscosity of the eight solutions evaluated by the hydrodynamic model is reduced by an order of magnitude comparing with Butterworth–Van Dyke equivalent circuit method. When the measured resonance frequency and quality factor of the QTFs vary from 25,800–26,100 Hz and 28–41, the sensitivities of the quality factor affected by the fluid density increase. This model provides an idea for improving the accuracy of fluid component recognition in real time, and lays a foundation for the application of miniaturized and cost-effective downhole fluid density and viscosity sensors.
Corrosion Monitoring of Reinforced Steel Embedded in Cement Mortar under Wet-And-Dry Cycles by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Kim Je-Kyoung , Kee Seong-Hoon , Futalan Cybelle M. , Yee Jurng-Jae
Published: December 2019

The primary objective of the present work is to measure the corrosion rate of reinforcing steel embedded in concrete structures in a simulated marine environment of high chloride concentration. The selection of a single frequency that corresponds to the solution resistance and single frequency that corresponds to the charge transfer resistance were performed and measurements were carried out in a relatively faster time. A total of seven cement mortar specimens were prepared. The effect of varying cover thickness (5–50 mm) and rebar distance (10–80 mm) on the electrical resistance of the concrete and corrosion rate of the steel was examined. To simulate the corrosion of reinforced concrete in a marine environment, cement mortars were exposed to 25 wet–dry cycles that involve an immersion for 8 h in 3 wt.% NaCl solution and drying time of 16 h under room temperature. Alternative current (AC) impedance measurements were carried out within a frequency range from 100 kHz to 1 mHz. Results show that the formation of rust layers on rebars has caused a significant decrease in the maximum phase shift to θ = −30°. An accelerated corrosion rate of the rebars was observed during drying stage.
Function Extension Based Real-Time Wavelet De-Noising Method for Projectile Attitude Measurement
Authors: Deng Zhihong , Wang Jinwen , Liang Xinyu , Liu Ning
Published: December 2019

The real-time measurement of the projectile attitude is the key to realize the whole process guidance of the projectile. Due to the high dynamic characteristics of the projectile motion, the attitude measurement is affected by the real-time and accuracy of the gyro signal de-noising. For the nonlinear discontinuity of the conventional extension method in real-time wavelet de-noising, a function extension real-time wavelet de-noising method is proposed in this paper. In this method, a prediction model of gyro signal is established based on the Roggla formula. According to the model, the signal is fitted in the sliding window, and the signal of the same length is predicted to realize the right boundary extension. The simulation and experiment results show that compared with the traditional extension method, the proposed method can in-crease the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the smoothness, and can decrease the attitude mean absolute error (AMAE) and the attitude root mean square error (ARMSE). Moreover, the time delay caused by signal de-noising can be effectively solved. The real-time performance of the attitude measurement can be ensured.
Train-Scheduling Optimization Model for Railway Networks with Multiplatform Stations
Authors: Garrisi Gianmarco , Cervelló-Pastor Cristina
Published: December 2019

This paper focuses on optimizing the schedule of trains on railway networks composed of busy complex stations. A mathematical formulation of this problem is provided as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP). However, the creation of an optimal new timetable is an NP-hard problem; therefore, the MILP can be solved for easy cases, computation time being impractical for more complex examples. In these cases, a heuristic approach is provided that makes use of genetic algorithms to find a good solution jointly with heuristic techniques to generate an initial population. The algorithm was applied to a number of problem instances producing feasible, though not optimal, solutions in several seconds on a laptop, and compared to other proposals. Some improvements are suggested to obtain better results and further improve computation time. Rail transport is recognized as a sustainable and energy-efficient means of transport. Moreover, each freight train can take a large number of trucks off the roads, making them safer. Studies in this field can help to make railways more attractive to travelers by reducing operative cost, and increasing the number of services and their punctuality. To improve the transit system and service, it is necessary to build optimal train scheduling. There is an interest from the industry in automating the scheduling process. Fast computerized train scheduling, moreover, can be used to explore the effects of alternative draft timetables, operating policies, station layouts, and random delays or failures.
The Potential of Gully Erosion on the Yamal Peninsula, West Siberia
Authors: Sidorchuk Aleksey
Published: December 2019

The Yamal Peninsula occupies the northern part of the West Siberian Plain in Russia. This territory has rapidly developed due to the exploitation of several gas fields. At the same time, the Yamal Peninsula is one of the most severely gullied landscapes in the Arctic. The potential risk of damage to the environment or structures and the cost of such damages are very high there. The erosion potential is the cumulative erosion by runoff above critical, calculated for each point at a catchment. Calculations take into account the geomorphic, lithological, and vegetation cover thresholds, realized in the form of critical runoff depth of erosion initiation. It also takes into account action of all flows between the critical and maximum runoff. The calculations for several gullied catchments on the Yamal Peninsula show the uneven distribution of erosion potential level with the maximum of gully erosion on the steep banks of the river valleys and on gully heads with bare soil. The area with potential erosion in these catchments varies within the range of 17–33%. The erosion on the Yamal Peninsula is mainly of natural origin. It occurs on steep slopes and at the heads of gullies. These landforms are not used for exploitation camps and settlements. Nevertheless, the linear structures, such as railways, roads and pipelines, can cross these unstable landforms with the risk of damage. Erosion potential increases at the spots with bare soil, which appear due to both construction work and natural processes, such as slumping.
Techno-Economic Feasibility Assessment of Grid-Connected PV Systems for Residential Buildings in Saudi Arabia—A Case Study
Authors: Imam Amir A. , Al-Turki Yusuf A. , R. Sreerama Kumar
Published: December 2019

This paper presents a techno-economic feasibility evaluation for a grid-connected photovoltaic energy conversion system on the rooftop of a typical residential building in Jeddah, one of the major cities in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, electric energy consumption is the highest in the domestic sector, with 48.1% of the total electricity consumption. As the power generation in Saudi Arabia mainly relies on conventional resources, environmental pollution and energy sustainability are major concerns. To minimize these issues, the Saudi government is in the process of maximizing the utilization of renewable energy resources for power generation. Investing in solar energy in Saudi Arabia is important because the country is witnessing a rapid increase in load demand, with annual growth rates of 6%. In this paper, the system advisor model software for renewable energy modeling has been utilized to perform a techno-economic feasibility analysis of a residential grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system, which is proposed for a typical apartment in Saudi Arabia, on the basis of various key performance indicators, namely: yield factor, capacity factor, performance ratio, levelized cost of energy, net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period. A sensitivity analysis that investigates the impact of varying techno-economic parameters on system performance and feasibility is also discussed. The size of the PV system for a typical Saudi Arabian apartment is estimated to be 12.25 kW. Results have shown that the proposed system can generate 87% of the electricity needs of an apartment. The technical analysis showed that the capacity factor and the performance ratio were 22% and 78% respectively. The levelized cost of energy and net present value revealed competitive figures of 0.0382 $/kWh and $4378, respectively. The investigations indicate that residential PV installations are an effective option for energy management in the country.