bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Immiscible Two-Phase Displacement in Two-Dimensional Berea Sandstone
Authors: Gu Qingqing , Liu Haihu , Zhang Yonghao
Published: August 2018

Understanding the dynamic displacement of immiscible fluids in porous media is important for carbon dioxide injection and storage, enhanced oil recovery, and non-aqueous phase liquid contamination of groundwater. However, the process is not well understood at the pore scale. This work therefore focuses on the effects of interfacial tension, wettability, and the viscosity ratio on displacement of one fluid by another immiscible fluid in a two-dimensional (2D) Berea sandstone using the colour gradient lattice Boltzmann model with a modified implementation of the wetting boundary condition. Through invasion of the wetting phase into the porous matrix, it is observed that the viscosity ratio plays an important role in the non-wetting phase recovery. At the viscosity ratio ( λ ) of unity, the saturation of the wetting fluid is highest, and it linearly increases with time. The displacing fluid saturation reduces drastically when λ increases to 20; however, when λ is beyond 20, the reduction becomes less significant for both imbibition and drainage. The front of the bottom fingers is finally halted at a position near the inlet as the viscosity ratio increases to 10. Increasing the interfacial tension generally results in higher saturation of the wetting fluid. Finally, the contact angle is found to have a limited effect on the efficiency of displacement in the 2D Berea sandstone.
The Healing Effect of Human Milk Fat Globule-EGF Factor 8 Protein (MFG-E8) in A Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Nakashima Yoshiki , Miyagi-Shiohira Chika , Noguchi Hirofumi , Omasa Takeshi
Published: August 2018

We searched for drugs that alleviate the reduction of dopaminergic neurons caused by the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to the substantia nigra of the rat brain. Human milk fat globule-EGF factor 8 protein (MFG-E8) is similar to MFG-E8-S, a short isoform, of the mouse MFG-E8. However, the function of MFG-E8-S was not clear. Rats with LPS-induced Parkinson’s disease were prepared and the effects of human MFG-E8 were examined. MFG-E8 improved the significant reduction in mesencephalic dopamine neurons induced by the administration of LPS. LPS was administered to human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived dopaminergic neurons to induce inflammation and the effect of MFG-E8 was examined. MFG-E8 showed no toxicity toward neurons. We reanalyzed the results using public microarray data. MFG-E8 mRNA was found to be expressed in all parts of the body, particularly by adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Furthermore, we investigated the culture supernatant of ADSCs using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis method and successfully identified the peptide of the MFG-E8 F5/8 type C domain. The results suggested that MFG-E8-S may have a preventive effect against Parkinson’s disease.
Manufacturing, Modeling, Implementation and Evaluation of a Weatherproof Seal for Prefabricated Construction
Authors: Orlowski Kristopher , Shanaka Kasun , Mendis Priyan
Published: August 2018

Prefabricated forms of construction have led to the rapid onsite assembly of buildings however there are still on-site tasks and processes which can be reevaluated and redone specifically in keeping with the principles of prefabrication instead being adapted to fit its purpose. One such process is that of waterproofing between prefabricated panels and modules which come from the factory fully complete façade and all. Conventional means of waterproofing can be used however it results in more work done on site, potential delays and generally requires access from the external face of the building. This paper presents the Modelling, Implementation and Evaluation of purpose developed weatherproof seals specific for Prefabricated Construction. An overview is provided of the entire development process and specific focus is given to the modeling using finite element analysis (FEA) computer simulations, manufacturing and testing which then resulted in the implementation in a prefabricated panelised building which is used as a case study and the means of further evaluation. These strategies have enabled an efficient and robust prefabricated waterproofing solution specific for this form of construction to be understood and implemented. The resulting case study has successfully verified the time and cost savings when compared to conventional techniques whilst still providing a durable and effective weatherproof seal for prefabricated panelised and modular systems.
Metal–Organic Frameworks-Based Catalysts for Biomass Processing
Authors: Isaeva Vera I. , Nefedov Oleg M. , Kustov Leonid M.
Published: August 2018

Currently, metal–organic frame works (MOFs) as novel hybrid nanoporous materials are a top research interest, including endeavors in heterogeneous catalysis. MOF materials are promising heterogeneous catalytic systems due to their unique characteristics, such as a highly ordered structure, a record high surface area and a compositional diversity, which can be precisely tailored. Very recently, these metal-organic matrices have been proven as promising catalysts for biomass conversion into value-added products. The relevant publications show that the structure of MOFs can contribute essentially to the advanced catalytic performance in processes of biomass refining. This review aims at the consideration of the different ways for the rational design of MOF catalysts for biomass processing. The particular characteristics and peculiarities of the behavior of different MOF based catalytic systems including hybrid nanomaterials and composites will be also discussed by illustrating their outstanding performance with appropriate examples relevant to biomass catalytic processing.
Efficient Physisorption of Candida Antarctica Lipase B on Polypropylene Beads and Application for Polyester Synthesis
Authors: Weinberger Simone , Pellis Alessandro , Comerford James W. , Farmer Thomas J. , Guebitz Georg M.
Published: August 2018

In the present work, Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB) was adsorbed onto polypropylene beads using different reaction conditions, in order to investigate their influence on the immobilization process and the enzyme activity of the preparations in polymerization reactions. In general, lower salt concentrations were more favorable for the binding of enzyme to the carrier. Polymerisation of dimethyl adipate (DMA) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) was investigated in thin-film systems at 70 °C and at both atmosphere pressure (1000 mbar) and 70 mbar. Conversion rates and molecular masses of the reaction products were compared with reactions catalyzed by CaLB in its commercially available form, known as Novozym 435 (CaLB immobilized on macroporous acrylic resin). The best results according to molecular weight and monomer conversion after 24 h reaction time were obtained with CaLB immobilized in 0.1 M Na2HPO4\NaH2PO4 buffer at pH 8, producing polyesters with 4 kDa at conversion rates of 96% under low pressure conditions. The stability of this preparation was studied in a simulated continuous polymerization process at 70 °C, 70 mbar for 4 h reaction time. The data of this continuous polymerizations show that the preparation produces lower molecular weights at lower conversion rates, but is comparable to the commercial enzyme concerning stability for 10 cycles. However, after 24 h reaction time, using our optimum preparation, higher molecular weight polyesters (4 kDa versus 3.1 kDa) were obtained when compared to Novozym 435.
Genetic Predisposition to Neuroblastoma
Authors: Barr Erin K. , Applebaum Mark A.
Published: August 2018

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor in children under the age of one. It displays remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity, resulting in differences in outcomes that correlate with clinical and biologic features at diagnosis. While neuroblastoma accounts for approximately 5% of all cancer diagnoses in pediatrics, it disproportionately results in about 9% of all childhood deaths. Research advances over the decades have led to an improved understanding of neuroblastoma biology. However, the initiating events that lead to the development of neuroblastoma remain to be fully elucidated. It has only been recently that advances in genetics and genomics have allowed researchers to unravel the predisposing factors enabling the development of neuroblastoma and fully appreciate the interplay between the genetics of tumor and host. In this review, we outline the current understanding of familial neuroblastoma and highlight germline variations that predispose children to sporadic disease. We also discuss promising future directions in neuroblastoma genomic research and potential clinical applications for these advances.
Low Complexity Estimation Method of Rényi Entropy for Ergodic Sources
Authors: Kim Young-Sik
Published: August 2018

Since the entropy is a popular randomness measure, there are many studies for the estimation of entropies for given random samples. In this paper, we propose an estimation method of the Rényi entropy of order α . Since the Rényi entropy of order α is a generalized entropy measure including the Shannon entropy as a special case, the proposed estimation method for Rényi entropy can detect any significant deviation of an ergodic stationary random source’s output. It is shown that the expected test value of the proposed scheme is equivalent to the Rényi entropy of order α . After deriving a general representation of parameters of the proposed estimator, we discuss on the particular orders of Rényi entropy such as α → 1 , α = 1 / 2 , and α = 2 . Because the Rényi entropy of order 2 is the most popular one, we present an iterative estimation method for the application with stringent resource restrictions.
Visualization Study on Thermo-Hydrodynamic Behaviors of a Flat Two-Phase Thermosyphon
Authors: Wang Chao , Yao Feng , Shi Juan , Wu Liangyu , Zhang Mengchen
Published: August 2018

The coupled effect of boiling and condensation inside a flat two-phase thermosyphon has a non-negligible influence on the two-phase fluid flow behavior and heat transfer process. Therefore, a flat two-phase thermosyphon with transparent wall was manufactured. Based on this device, a visualization experiment system was developed to study the vapor–liquid two-phase behaviors and thermal performance of the flat two-phase thermosyphon. A cross-shaped wick using copper mesh was embedded into the cavity of two-phase thermosyphon to improve the heat transfer performance. The effects of heat flux density, working medium, and wick structure on the thermal performance are examined and analyzed. The results indicated that a strong liquid disturbance is caused by the bubble motions, leading to the enhancement of both convective boiling and condensation heat transfer. More bubbles are generated as the heat flux increases; therefore, the disturbance of bubble motion on liquid pool and condensation film becomes stronger, resulting in better thermal performance of the flat two-phase thermosyphon. The addition of the wick inside the cavity effectively reduces the temperature oscillation of the evaporator wall. In addition, the wick structure provides backflow paths for the condensate owing to the effect of capillary force and enhances the vapor–liquid phase change heat transfer, resulting in the improvement of thermal performance for the flat two-phase thermosyphon.
Modeling Lean and Agile Approaches: A Western Canadian Forest Company Case Study
Authors: Vergara Francisco P. , Palma Cristian D. , Nelson John
Published: August 2018

In the forest supply chain of the coast of British Columbia, the material flows are directed toward the push production of commodity products. This industry has not adopted lean and agile principles due to unclear economic impacts on the supply chain in changing market conditions. We tested the ability of lean and agile principles to improve performance in the coastal integrated forest industry. Mixed integer programming formulations were subject to over–under production capacity, and over–under demand fulfillment penalties to emulate agile, lean, and hybrid manufacturing environments, when solving the planning problem. Assuming that the coastal integrated forest industry performs as a hybrid environment, the profit results of each manufacturing environment were judged. The results show that, opportunities for profit improvement were 11% for adopting an agile environment when demand was stable with low variation and large batches of production. However, profit improvement was non-existent when the same demand attributes apply but with high variation. The opportunities for profit improvement were 12% when an agile environment or lean environment was adopted when demand was stable with low variation and small batches of production. However, opportunities for profit improvements of 15% existed for adopting an agile environment when demand was unstable with high variation and small batches of production.
Effects of Dietary Fibre from the Traditional Indonesian Food, Green Cincau (Premna oblongifolia Merr.) on Preneoplastic Lesions and Short Chain Fatty Acid Production in an Azoxymethane Rat Model of Colon Cancer
Authors: Nurdin Samsu U. , Le Leu Richard K. , Aburto-Medina Arturo , Young Graeme P. , Stangoulis James C. R. , Ball Andy S. , Abbott Catherine A.
Published: August 2018

Green cincau (Premna oblongifolia Merr.) is a traditional food of Indonesia and provides a natural source of dietary fibre and antioxidants. This study evaluated the ability of green cincau, and other dietary fibres with or without the addition of anti-oxidant, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), to prevent colorectal cancer in a 12 week azoxymethane (AOM) rat model. While all dietary treatments stimulated short chain fatty acid production (SCFA) in the digesta and faeces, no one treatment was able to significantly protect against aberrant crypt formation (ACF), when compared to the control diet. However, feeding green cincau leaves or extracts did not result in an increase in ACF compared to the control diet. Unexpectedly, when the dietary fibre source was pectin, 0.1% EGCG increased proliferative activity and liver lipid peroxidation when compared to the control diet containing cellulose. Examination of faecal microbial communities identified the presence of short chain acid producing bacteria, but a distinct community profile was not observed from any individual diet group. Overall, this research implies that combining dietary fibre with an antioxidant does not automatically equate to a beneficial response. Further work is required to investigate the health-promoting properties of green cincau.
Monitoring Steel Bolted Joints during a Monotonic Tensile Test Using Linear and Nonlinear Lamb Wave Methods: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Rucka Magdalena
Published: August 2018

The structural integrity of steel bolted joints may be compromised due to excessive loading. Therefore, condition assessment and the detection of potential defects before they cause a failure have become a major issue. The paper is focused on the condition monitoring of a bolted lap joint subjected to progressive degradation in a tensile test. The inspection used Lamb waves propagated through the overlap area. Wave propagation signals were registered automatically by means of piezoelectric transducers. Two damage indices were defined based on linear and nonlinear features of Lamb waves. The use of a network of piezoelectric transducers and the analysis of multiple signals instead of single ones was proved to effectively monitor the state of the bolted joint. The obtained results showed that the method enabled to detect selected stages of the degradation process and to characterize the reduction of the contact area between the plates in the overlap area.
Metallic Glass Structures for Mechanical-Energy-Dissipation Purpose: A Review
Authors: Chen S. H. , Cheng H. Y. , Chan K. C. , Wang G.
Published: August 2018

Metallic glasses (MGs), a new class of advanced structural materials with extraordinary mechanical properties, such as high strength approaching the theoretical value and an elastic limit several times larger than the conventional metals, are being used to develop cellular structures with excellent mechanical-energy-dissipation performance. In this paper, the research progress on the development of MG structures for energy-dissipation applications is reviewed, including MG foams, MG honeycombs, cellular MGs with macroscopic cellular structures, microscopic MG lattice structures and kirigami MG structures. MG structures not only have high plastic energy absorption capacity superior to conventional cellular metals, but also demonstrate great potential for storing the elastic energy during cyclic loading. The deformation behavior as well as the mechanisms for the excellent energy-dissipation performance of varying kinds MG structures is compared and discussed. Suggestions on the future development/optimization of MG structures for enhanced energy-dissipation performance are proposed, which can be helpful for exploring the widespread structural-application of MGs.
Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Caffeic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Sidoryk Katarzyna , Jaromin Anna , Filipczak Nina , Cmoch Piotr , Cybulski Marcin
Published: August 2018

A series of caffeic acid derivatives were synthesized via a modified Wittig reaction which is a very important tool in organic chemistry for the construction of unsaturated carbon–carbon bonds. All reactions were performed in water medium at 90 °C. The aqueous Wittig reaction worked best when one unprotected hydroxyl group was present in the phenyl ring. The olefinations in the aqueous conditions were also conducted with good yields in the presence of two unprotected hydroxyl groups. When the number of the hydroxyl groups was increased to three, the reaction yields were worse, and the derivatives 12, 13, and 18 were obtained with 74%, 37%, and 70% yields, respectively. Nevertheless, the Wittig reaction using water as the essential medium is an elegant one-pot synthesis and a greener method, which can be a safe alternative for implementation in organic chemistry. The obtained compounds were tested for their antioxidant activity, and 12, 13, and 18 showed the highest activities. Moreover, all synthesized compounds displayed no cytotoxicity, and can therefore be used in the pharmaceutical or cosmetic industry.
Chemical Constituents and Antidepressant-Like Effects in Ovariectomized Mice of the Ethanol Extract of Alternanthera philoxeroides
Authors: Khamphukdee Charinya , Monthakantirat Orawan , Chulikhit Yaowared , Buttachon Suradet , Lee Michael , Silva Artur M. S. , Sekeroglu Nazim , Kijjoa Anake
Published: August 2018

The previously unreported flavone glycoside, demethyltorosaflavone B (2) and the E-propenoic acid substituted flavone, torosaflavone E (3a), were isolated together with nine previously reported metabolites, including indole-3-carbaldehyde, oleanonic acid, vanillic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, altheranthin (1a), alternanthin B (1b), demethyltorosaflavone D (3b), luteolin 8-C-E-propenoic acid (4) and chrysoeriol 7-O-rhamnoside (5), from the ethanol extract of the aerial part of Althernanthera philoxeroides. The crude ethanol extract was evaluated for its in vitro estrogenic activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The crude ethanol extract was also investigated in vivo for its antidepressant-like effects on ovariectomized mice using tail suspension and forced swimming tests, while its effect on the locomotor activity was evaluated by a Y-maze test. The effect of the crude extract on the serum corticosterone level, size and volume of uterus of the ovariectomized mice were also investigated. The expression of the mouse cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and β-actin mRNAs in hippocampus and frontal cortex was also evaluated, using semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The crude extract and the isolated compounds 1a, 1b, 3a, 3b and 5, were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on monoamine oxidases (MAOs)-A and -B.
Five-Golden-Flowers Tea: Green Extraction and Hepatoprotective Effect against Oxidative Damage
Authors: Zhao Cai-Ning , Tang Guo-Yi , Liu Qing , Xu Xiao-Yu , Cao Shi-Yu , Gan Ren-You , Zhang Ke-Yi , Meng Shuang-Li , Li Hua-Bin
Published: August 2018

The consumption of herbal teas has become popular in recent years due to their attractive flavors and outstanding antioxidant properties. The Five-Golden-Flowers tea is a herbal tea consisting of five famous edible flowers. The effects of microwave-assisted extraction parameters on the antioxidant activity of Five-Golden-Flowers tea were studied by single-factor experiments, and further investigated using response surface methodology. Under the optimal parameters (53.04 mL/g of solvent/material ratio, 65.52 °C, 30.89 min, and 500 W), the ferric-reducing antioxidant power, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, and total phenolic content of the herbal tea were 862.90 ± 2.44 µmol Fe2+/g dry weight (DW), 474.37 ± 1.92 µmol Trolox/g DW, and 65.50 ± 1.26 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g DW, respectively. The in vivo antioxidant activity of the herbal tea was evaluated on alcohol-induced acute liver injury in mice. The herbal tea significantly decreased the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and malonaldehyde at different doses (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg); improved the levels of liver index, serum triacylglycerol, and catalase at dose of 800 mg/kg. These results indicated its role in alleviating hepatic oxidative injury. Besides, rutin, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, and p-coumaric acid were identified and quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), which could contribute to the antioxidant activity of the herbal tea.
Surface Sizing Treated MWCNTs and Its Effect on the Wettability, Interfacial Interaction and Flexural Properties of MWCNT/Epoxy Nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Qingjie , Zhao Xinfu , Sui Gang , Yang Xiaoping
Published: August 2018

A surface-sizing technique was offered to take full advantage of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and epoxy resins. Two surface-sizing treated MWCNTs were obtained through a ball-milling treatment of amino-functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNT-NH2) with n-butyl glycidylether (BuGE) and benzyl glycidylether (BeGE). These were referred to as MWCNT-BuGE and MWCNT-BeGE. The results indicated that the surface sizing effectively enhanced wettability, dispersibility of MWCNTs in the epoxy resin. These ameliorating effects, along with improved interfacial interaction between MWCNT-BeGE containing benzene rings and the epoxy matrix, which can offer a more efficient local load-transfer from matrix to MWCNTs, as observed by a higher G-band shift in Raman spectrum under bending loads than that of MWCNT-BuGE reinforced ones. Correspondingly, MWCNT-BeGE/epoxy nanocomposites exhibited increasing flexural strength and modulus of 22.9% and 37.8% respectively compared with the neat epoxy, and 7.3% and 7.7% respectively compared with MWCNT-BuGE/epoxy nanocomposites with the same MWCNT content.
Genome-Wide Investigation of the Role of MicroRNAs in Desiccation Tolerance in the Resurrection Grass Tripogon loliiformis
Authors: Njaci Isaac , Williams Brett , Castillo-González Claudia , Dickman Martin B. , Zhang Xiuren , Mundree Sagadevan
Published: August 2018

Drought causes approximately two-thirds of crop and yield loss worldwide. To sustain future generations, there is a need to develop robust crops with enhanced water use efficiency. Resurrection plants are naturally resilient and tolerate up to 95% water loss with the ability to revive upon watering. Stress is genetically encoded and resilient species may garner tolerance by tightly regulating the expression of stress-related genes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) post-transcriptionally regulate development and other stress response processes in eukaryotes. However, their role in resurrection plant desiccation tolerance is poorly understood. In this study, small RNA sequencing and miRNA expression profiling was conducted using Tripogon loliiformis plants subjected to extreme water deficit conditions. Differentially expressed miRNA profiles, target mRNAs, and their regulatory processes were elucidated. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that development, stress response, and regulation of programmed cell death biological processes; Oxidoreductase and hydrolyase molecular activities; and SPL, MYB, and WRKY transcription factors were targeted by miRNAs during dehydration stress, indicating the indispensable regulatory role of miRNAs in desiccation tolerance. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant T. loliiformis. This information will be useful in devising strategies for crop improvement on enhanced drought tolerance and water use efficiency.
An Impedimetric Biosensor Based on Ionic Liquid-Modified Graphite Electrodes Developed for microRNA-34a Detection
Authors: Kesici Ece , Eksin Ece , Erdem Arzum
Published: August 2018

In the present work, an impedimetric nucleic acid biosensor has been designed for the purpose of detection of microRNA (miRNA). Ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (IL))-modified chemically activated pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) were used for the sensitive and selective detection of miRNA-34a. After covalent activation of the PGE surface using covalent agents (CAs), the ionic liquid (IL) was immobilized onto the surface of the chemically activated PGE by passive adsorption. The electrochemical and microscopic characterization of the IL/CA/PGEs was performed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). DNA probe concentration, miRNA target concentration, and also the hybridization time and wet adsorption time were optimized by using the EIS technique. Then, the hybridization occurred between specific DNA probes and miRNA-34a was immobilized onto the surface of the IL/CA/PGEs. The impedimetric detection of miRNA-DNA hybrid was performed by EIS. The detection limit (DL) was calculated in a linear concentration range of 2–10 µg/mL miRNA-34a target, and it was found to be 0.772 µg/mL (109 nM) in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and 0.826 µg/mL (117 nM) in diluted fetal bovine serum (FBS). The selectivity of impedimetric biosensor for miRNA-34a was also tested against to other non-complementary miRNA sequences both in buffer media, or diluted FBS.
Feasibility of Telecom-Wavelength Photonic Integrated Circuits for Gas Sensors
Authors: Hänsel Andreas , Heck Martijn J. R.
Published: August 2018

To be of commercial interest, gas sensors must optimise, among others, sensitivity, selectivity, longevity, cost and measurement speed. Using the example of ammonia, we establish that integrated optical sensors provide means to maintain the benefits of optical detection set-ups at, in principle, a lower cost and smaller footprint than currently available commercial products. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can be used in environmental and agricultural monitoring. The small footprint and great cost scaling of PICs allow for sensor networks with multiple devices. We show, that Indium Phosphide based commercial foundries reached the technological maturity to enable ammonia detection levels at less than 100 ppb. The current unavailability of portable, low cost ammonia sensors with such detection levels prevents emission monitoring, for example, in pig farms. The feasibility of these sensors is investigated by applying the common noise figures of the multiproject wafer platforms operating around 1550 nm to a model for an absorption measurement. The analysis is extended to other relevant gas species with absorption features near telecom-wavelengths.
A Robust Predicted Performance Analysis Approach for Data-Driven Product Development in the Industrial Internet of Things
Authors: Zheng Hao , Feng Yixiong , Gao Yicong , Tan Jianrong
Published: August 2018

Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) is a ubiquitous network integrating various sensing technologies and communication technologies to provide intelligent information processing and smart control abilities for the manufacturing enterprises. The aim of applying industrial IoT is to assist manufacturers manage and optimize the entire product manufacturing process to improve product quality and production efficiency. Data-driven product development is considered as one of the critical application scenarios of industrial IoT, which is used to acquire the satisfied and robust design solution according to customer demands. Performance analysis is an effective tool to identify whether the key performance have reached the requirements in data-driven product development. The existing performance analysis approaches mainly focus on the metamodel construction, however, the uncertainty and complexity in product development process are rarely considered. In response, this paper investigates a robust performance analysis approach in industrial IoT environment to help product developers forecast the performance parameters accurately. The service-oriented layered architecture of industrial IoT for product development is first described. Then a dimension reduction approach based on mutual information (MI) and outlier detection is proposed. A metamodel based on least squares support vector regression (LSSVR) is established to conduct performance prediction process. Furthermore, the predicted performance analysis method based on confidence interval estimation is developed to deal with the uncertainty to improve the robustness of the forecasting results. Finally, a case study is given to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Extraction of High-Precision Urban Impervious Surfaces from Sentinel-2 Multispectral Imagery via Modified Linear Spectral Mixture Analysis
Authors: Xu Rudong , Liu Jin , Xu Jianhui
Published: August 2018

This study explores the performance of Sentinel-2A Multispectral Instrument (MSI) imagery for extracting urban impervious surface using a modified linear spectral mixture analysis (MLSMA) method. Sentinel-2A MSI provided 10 m red, green, blue, and near-infrared spectral bands, and 20 m shortwave infrared spectral bands, which were used to extract impervious surfaces. We aimed to extract urban impervious surfaces at a spatial resolution of 10 m in the main urban area of Guangzhou, China. In MLSMA, a built-up image was first extracted from the normalized difference built-up index (NDBI) using the Otsu’s method; the high-albedo, low-albedo, vegetation, and soil fractions were then estimated using conventional linear spectral mixture analysis (LSMA). The LSMA results were post-processed to extract high-precision impervious surface, vegetation, and soil fractions by integrating the built-up image and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). The performance of MLSMA was evaluated using Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) imagery. Experimental results revealed that MLSMA can extract the high-precision impervious surface fraction at 10 m with Sentinel-2A imagery. The 10 m impervious surface map of Sentinel-2A is capable of recovering more detail than the 30 m map of Landsat 8. In the Sentinel-2A impervious surface map, continuous roads and the boundaries of buildings in urban environments were clearly identified.
Practical Use of Robot Manipulators as Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Alhama Blanco Pablo J. , Abu-Dakka Fares J. , Abderrahim Mohamed
Published: August 2018

This paper presents features and advanced settings for a robot manipulator controller in a fully interconnected intelligent manufacturing system. Every system is made up of different agents. As also occurs in the Internet of Things and smart cities, the big issue here is to ensure not only that implementation is key, but also that there is better common understanding among the main players. The commitment of all agents is still required to translate that understanding into practice in Industry 4.0. Mutual interactions such as machine-to-machine and man-to-machine are solved in real time with cyber physical capabilities. This paper explores intelligent manufacturing through the context of industrial robot manipulators within a Smart Factory. An online communication algorithm with proven intelligent manufacturing abilities is proposed to solve real-time interactions. The algorithm is developed to manage and control all robot parameters in real-time. The proposed tool in conjunction with the intelligent manufacturing core incorporates data from the robot manipulators into the industrial big data to manage the factory. The novelty is a communication tool that implements the Industry 4.0 standards to allow communications among the required entities in the complete system. It is achieved by the developed tool and implemented in a real robot and simulation
Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
Authors: Zhang Pengfei , Tu Rui , Gao Yuping , Zhang Rui , Liu Na
Published: August 2018

The combination of multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) may improve the performance of time and frequency transfers by increasing the number of available satellites and improving the time dilution of precision. However, the receiver clock estimation is easily affected by the inappropriate weight of multi-GNSSs due to the different characteristics of individual GNSS signals as well as the outliers from observations. Thus, we utilised a robust Helmert variance component estimation (RVCE) approach to determine the appropriate weights of different GNSS observations, and to control for the influence of outliers in these observation in multi-GNSS time and frequency transfer. In order to validate the effectiveness of this approach, four time links were employed. Compared to traditional solutions, the mean improvement of smoothed residuals is 3.43% using the RVCE approach. With respect to the frequency stability of the time links, the RVCE solution outperforms the traditional solution, particularly in the short-term, and the mean improvement is markedly high at 14.89%.
A Novel Metamaterial Inspired High-Temperature Microwave Sensor in Harsh Environments
Authors: Lu Fengxiang , Tan Qiulin , Ji Yaohui , Guo Qianqian , Guo Yanjie , Xiong Jijun
Published: August 2018

A high-temperature sensor based on a metamaterial unit cell is proposed in this paper. The wireless passive temperature sensing method is based on the electromagnetic backscatter principle, and thus has the advantages of higher quality, lower environmental interference, and anti-low frequency interference. We developed a finite-element method-based model for the sensor via high-frequency simulation software (HFSS). A double split-ring resonator (SRR) with an outer ring length of 13 mm was designed on alumina ceramic substrate. The sensor was fabricated at 2.42 GHz using micromechanical technology and screen printing technology. When the temperature increased from 28 to 1100 °C, the resonant frequency decreased from 2.417 to 2.320 GHz with an average sensitivity of 95.63 kHz/°C. As the sensor is easily designed and fabricated, it can be used for chipless radio frequency identification (RFID) tags by simply changing the size of rings. Furthermore, emerging 3D printing technology and commercial desktop inkjet printers will be used to realize the rapid low-cost preparation of the sensor, enabling its wide range of applications in aerospace, military, manufacturing, transportation, and other fields.
Ni-Doped ZnS Nanospheres Decorated with Au Nanoparticles for Highly Improved Gas Sensor Performance
Authors: Zhong Furu , Wu Zhaofeng , Guo Jixi , Jia Dianzeng
Published: August 2018

Novel Ni-doped wurtzite ZnS nanospheres decorated with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs–ZnS NSs) have been successfully fabricated using a simple method involving vacuum evaporation followed by an annealing process. This transition metal-doped gas sensor had high responsivity, extremely fast response and recovery time, and excellent selectivity to formaldehyde at room temperature. The response and recovery time are only 29 s and 2 s, respectively. Since ZnS is transformed into ZnO at a high temperature, superior room temperature-sensing performance can improve the stability and service life of the sensor. The improvement in sensing performance could be attributed to the reduced charge-transfer distance resulting from the creation of a local charge reservoir layer, and the catalytic and spillover effect of Au nanoparticles. The rough and porous spherical structure can also facilitate the detection and diffusion of gases. The as-prepared Au NPs–ZnS NSs are considered to be an extremely promising candidate material for gas sensors, and are expected to have other potential applications in the future.
A Three-Stage Accelerometer Self-Calibration Technique for Space-Stable Inertial Navigation Systems
Authors: Wu Qiuping , Wu Ruonan , Han Fengtian , Zhang Rong
Published: August 2018

As a specific force sensor, the tri-axis accelerometer is one of the core instruments in an inertial navigation system (INS). During navigation, its measurement error directly induces constant or alternating navigation errors of the same order of magnitude. Moreover, it also affects the estimation accuracy of gyro drift coefficients during the initial alignment and calibration, which will indirectly result in navigation errors accumulating over time. Calibration can effectively improve measurement accuracy of the accelerometer. Device-level calibration can identify all of the parameters in the error model, and the system-level calibration can accurately estimate part of these parameters. Combining the advantages of both the methods and making full use of the precise angulation of the space-stabilized platform, this paper proposes a three-stage accelerometer self-calibration technique that can be implemented directly in the space-stable INS. The device-level calibration is divided into two steps considering the large amount of parameters. The first step is coarse calibration, which identifies parameters except for the nonlinear terms, and the second step is fine calibration, which not only identifies the nonlinear parameters, but also improves the accuracy of the parameters identified in the first step. The follow-on system-level calibration is carried out on part of the parameters using specific force error and attitude error to further improve the calibration accuracy. Simulation result shows that by using the proposed three-stage calibration technique in the space-stable INS, the estimation accuracy of accelerometer error can reach 1 × 10 − 6   g order of magnitude. Experiment results show that after the three-stage calibration, the accuracy of latitude, longitude, and attitude angles has increased by over 45% and the accuracy of velocity has increased by over 22% during navigation.
Integrating Gaze Tracking and Head-Motion Prediction for Mobile Device Authentication: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Ma Zhuo , Wang Xinglong , Ma Ruijie , Wang Zhuzhu , Ma Jianfeng
Published: August 2018

We introduce a two-stream model to use reflexive eye movements for smart mobile device authentication. Our model is based on two pre-trained neural networks, iTracker and PredNet, targeting two independent tasks: (i) gaze tracking and (ii) future frame prediction. We design a procedure to randomly generate the visual stimulus on the screen of mobile device, and the frontal camera will simultaneously capture head motions of the user as one watches it. Then, iTracker calculates the gaze-coordinates error which is treated as a static feature. To solve the imprecise gaze-coordinates caused by the low resolution of the frontal camera, we further take advantage of PredNet to extract the dynamic features between consecutive frames. In order to resist traditional attacks (shoulder surfing and impersonation attacks) during the procedure of mobile device authentication, we innovatively combine static features and dynamic features to train a 2-class support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The experiment results show that the classifier achieves accuracy of 98.6% to authenticate the user identity of mobile devices.
Labor Market Insiders or Outsiders? A Cross-National Examination of Redistributive Preferences of the Working Poor
Authors: Levanon Asaf
Published: August 2018

Prior research on attitudes toward redistribution documents an association between one’s policy preferences and socioeconomic position, as well as an impact of welfare policy on the mean level of support for redistribution. Building on both traditions, the current paper aims to expand our understanding of the sources of public support for welfare policies by examining the role that social policy plays in shaping the policy preferences of the working poor. Building on the distinction between labor market insiders and outsiders, this paper examines whether preferences by the working poor more closely resemble those of non-poor workers or those of non-working poor individuals. Results from this study show that the degree of support for redistribution among the working poor is notably closer to the average degree reported by non-working poor individuals than the mean level reported by non-poor workers. Moreover, utilizing cross-national data from 31 countries in 13 different time-points between 1985 and 2010, the paper documents a much smaller preference gap between non-poor workers and the working poor and a higher overall level of support for redistribution in countries providing a greater degree of employment protection.
The Effect of Set Up Position on EMG Amplitude, Lumbar Spine Kinetics, and Total Force Output During Maximal Isometric Conventional-Stance Deadlifts
Authors: Edington Corey , Greening Cassandra , Kmet Nick , Philipenko Nadia , Purves Lindsay , Stevens Jared , Lanovaz Joel , Butcher Scotty
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the biomechanical differences between two set up variations during the isometric initiation of conventional barbell deadlifts (DL): Close-bar DL (CBDL), where the bar is positioned above the navicular, and far-bar DL (FBDL), where the bar is placed above the 3rd metatarsophalangeal joint. A cross-sectional, randomized, within-participant pilot study was used. Experienced powerlifters and weightlifters (n = 10) performed three individual isometric pulls of the initiation of both conditions. The CBDL resulted in lower tibia and knee angles and greater pelvis and torso angles than the FBDL (p < 0.05), as well as greater electromyography (EMG) activity in the biceps femoris and upper lumbar erector spinae, but lower activity in the vastus lateralis, and a lower knee extensor moment (p < 0.05). There were no statistical differences for ground reaction force, joint reaction lumbar shear and compression forces between the two conditions. Despite the differences in pelvis and torso angles between lifting conditions, the internal joint net moment, internal shear forces, and internal compressive forces were not different between the two lifting styles. The CBDL set up also resulted in greater posterior chain (hamstrings and erector spine) EMG amplitude, whereas the FBDL set up resulted in more anterior chain (quadriceps) amplitude. Lifters and coaches may choose either deadlift style, according to preferences or training goals, without concern for differences in lumbar spinal loading.
Why Do Firms in Emerging Markets Report? A Stakeholder Theory Approach to Study the Determinants of Non-Financial Disclosure in Latin America
Authors: Duran Ignacio J. , Rodrigo Pablo
Published: August 2018

Even though literature studying the determinants of non-financial disclosure (NFD) is pervasive, Latin America has been overlooked in this tradition. In this sense, scholars have not evidenced which factors compel companies in this context to report this information despite its voluntary nature. Drawing on Stakeholder Theory as a basis, we derive eight possible antecedents of NFD from extant literature and test them in a sample of 643 Latin American firms for a 10 year span (2006–2015). Using a logit panel model, our evidence indicates that firm size, market-to-book ratio, systematic risk, and industry membership are factors that pressure companies to report. However, contrary to our conceptual development we find that profitability and regulatory quality inversely affects NFD. This leads us to posit that Latin America is unique in terms of reporting because agency costs may arise when disclosing data and also that feeble regulations could summon firms to fill this void through NFD. We thus contribute to this strand by revealing that stakeholders in this milieu are essentially different than in developed countries, and therefore the underlying reasons to engage in NFD also differ.
Municipal Waste Management Strategy Review and Waste-to-Energy Potentials in New Zealand
Authors: Perrot Jean-François , Subiantoro Alison
Published: August 2018

Municipal waste management and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) potentials in New Zealand are discussed. The existing main waste management strategy of New Zealand is to reduce, reuse and recycle waste. Most of the remaining waste is currently disposed of in landfills. WtE options were explored in this study as a more sustainable waste treatment alternative in the country, while making use of the annual 30.8 petajoule of available waste energy in New Zealand. Four WtE technology options were discussed and compared, namely incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis. The aspects in comparison were air pollution, cost, side products, capacity, commercial maturity, energy efficiency and type of waste treated. Special emphasis was given to environment-friendliness and cost. From the comparison, it was found that anaerobic digestion seems to be the most attractive solution for the country as it is environment-friendly, economical and the concept is consistent with New Zealand’s existing waste management strategy. The major limitations of anaerobic digestion are its low energy production efficiency and its limited waste treatment capacity. Hence, an effective national waste reduction and recycling strategy is crucial for the success of this waste management option.
Spatial Distributions, Pollution Assessment, and Qualified Source Apportionment of Soil Heavy Metals in a Typical Mineral Mining City in China
Authors: Hua Li , Yang Xue , Liu Yajun , Tan Xiuli , Yang Yong
Published: August 2018

Daye is a city in China known for its rich mineral resources, with a history of metal mining and smelting that dates back more than 3000 years. To analyze the spatial distribution patterns, ecological risk, and sources of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soils, 213 topsoil samples were collected in the main urban area of Daye in September 2016. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were higher than the corresponding background values, with the mean concentration of Cd being almost seven times its background value. Spatially, the high concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn were mainly concentrated in the southeastern part of the region due to nonferrous metal mining and smelting. However, the high concentrations of Co and Cu were concentrated in the central part of the study area, resulted from copper mining and smelting. The data of the geoaccumulation index showed that the contamination levels ranged from no pollution (Co, Cr, Mn, and Ni) to heavy contamination (Cd, Cu, and Pb). Ecological risk assessment showed that Cd posed a high, serious, and even severe ecological risk in 53.78% of the area of Daye. According to the results of the principal component analysis, mineral exploitation and smelting involving a variety of minerals (ES_M), mining exploitation, and smelting of copper ore (ES_C), and natural sources are the three main sources of heavy metals in these soils. Furthermore, the absolute principal component scores showed that 69.21% and 23.17% of the heavy metal concentrations were ascribed to ES_M and ES_C, respectively.