bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aphid Feeding Induces Phytohormonal Cross-Talk without Affecting Silicon Defense against Subsequent Chewing Herbivores
Authors: Johnson Scott N. , Rowe Rhiannon C. , Hall Casey R.
Published: August 2020

Prior feeding by insect herbivores frequently affects plant quality for herbivores that subsequently feed on the plant. Facilitation occurs when one herbivore improves plant quality for other herbivores, including when the former compromises plant defenses. Silicon (Si) is an important defense in grasses that increases following activation of the jasmonic acid (JA) pathway. Given that aphids often stimulate the salicylic acid (SA) pathway, we hypothesized that this could reduce Si defense because of the well documented antagonistic cross-talk between SA and JA. We tested this in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon with and without Si (+Si and −Si, respectively); half of the plants were exposed to aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) and half remained aphid-free. Aphid-free and aphid-exposed plants were then fed to chewing herbivores (Helicoverpa armigera). Aphids triggered higher SA concentrations which suppressed JA concentrations but this did not affect foliar Si. Chewing herbivores triggered higher JA concentrations and induced Si uptake, regardless of previous feeding by aphids. Chewer growth rates were not impacted by prior aphid herbivory but were reduced by 75% when feeding on +Si plants. We concluded that aphids caused phytohormonal cross-talk but this was overridden by chewing herbivory that also induced Si uptake.
Novel Low-Temperature Chemical Vapor Deposition of Hydrothermal Delignified Wood for Hydrophobic Property
Authors: Yang Rui , Liang Yunyi , Hong Shu , Zuo Shida , Wu Yingji , Shi Jiangtao , Cai Liping , Li Jianzhang , Mao Haiyan , Ge Shengbo , Xia Changlei
Published: August 2020

As a hydrophilic material, wood is difficult to utilize for external applications due to the variable weather conditions. In this study, an efficient, facile, and low-cost method was developed to enhance the hydrophobicity of wood. By applying the low-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology, the polydimethylsiloxane-coated wood (PDMS@wood) with hydrophobic surface was fabricated employing dichlorodimethylsilane as the CVD chemical resource. The result of water contact angle (i.e., 157.3°) revealed the hydrophobic behavior of the PDMS@wood. The microstructures of the wood samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis verified PDMS successfully coated on wood surfaces. The chemical functional groups of the PDMS@wood were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectra. The thermogravimetric results indicated the enhanced thermal stability of the wood after PDMS coating. In addition, the stability test of PDMS@wood indicated that the hydrophobicity properties of the PDMS@wood samples were preserved after long-time storage (e.g., 30 days). The scratch test was carried out to examine the abrasion resistance of the hydrophobic coatings on PDMS@wood surface. It was suggested that low-temperature CVD process could be a successful approach for fabricating hydrophobic wood.
Poly(ε-caprolactone) Titanium Dioxide and Cefuroxime Antimicrobial Scaffolds for Cultivation of Human Limbal Stem Cells
Authors: Tominac Trcin Mirna , Zdraveva Emilija , Dolenec Tamara , Vrgoč Zimić Ivana , Bujić Mihica Marina , Batarilo Ivanka , Dekaris Iva , Blažević Valentina , Slivac Igor , Holjevac Grgurić Tamara , Bajsić Emi Govorčin , Markov Ksenija , Čanak Iva , Kuzmić Sunčica , Tarbuk Anita , Tomljenović Antoneta , Mrkonjić Nikolina , Mijović Budimir
Published: August 2020

Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) is a very serious and painful disease that often results in impaired vision. Cultivation of limbal stem cells for clinical application is usually performed on carriers such as amniotic membrane or surgical fibrin gel. Transplantation of these grafts is associated with the risk of local postoperative infection that can destroy the graft and devoid therapeutic benefit. For this reason, electrospun scaffolds are good alternatives, as proven to mimic the natural cells surroundings, while their fabrication technique is versatile with regard to polymer functionalization and scaffolds architecture. This study considers the development of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) immune-compatible and biodegradable electrospun scaffolds, comprising cefuroxime (CF) or titanium dioxide (TiO2) active components, that provide both bactericidal activity against eye infections and support of limbal stem cells growth in vitro. The PCL/CF scaffolds were prepared by blend electrospinning, while functionalization with the TiO2 particles was performed by ultrasonic post-processing treatment. The fabricated scaffolds were evaluated in regard to their physical structure, wetting ability, static and dynamic mechanical behaviour, antimicrobial efficiency and drug release, through scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle measurement, tensile testing and dynamic mechanical analysis, antimicrobial tests and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. Human limbal stem cells, isolated from surgical remains of human cadaveric cornea, were cultured on the PCL/CF and PCL/TiO2 scaffolds and further identified through immunocytochemistry in terms of cell type thus were stained against p63 marker for limbal stem cells, a nuclear transcription factor and cytokeratin 3 (CK3), a corneal epithelial differentiation marker. The electrospun PCL/CF and PCL/TiO2 successfully supported the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of the cultivated limbal cells and provided the antimicrobial effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.
A Review on Plant Cellulose Nanofibre-Based Aerogels for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Abdul Khalil H.P.S. , Adnan A.S. , Yahya Esam Bashir , Olaiya N.G. , Safrida Safrida , Hossain Md. Sohrab , Balakrishnan Venugopal , Gopakumar Deepu A. , Abdullah C.K. , Oyekanmi A.A. , Pasquini Daniel
Published: August 2020

Cellulose nanomaterials from plant fibre provide various potential applications (i.e., biomedical, automotive, packaging, etc.). The biomedical application of nanocellulose isolated from plant fibre, which is a carbohydrate-based source, is very viable in the 21st century. The essential characteristics of plant fibre-based nanocellulose, which include its molecular, tensile and mechanical properties, as well as its biodegradability potential, have been widely explored for functional materials in the preparation of aerogel. Plant cellulose nano fibre (CNF)-based aerogels are novel functional materials that have attracted remarkable interest. In recent years, CNF aerogel has been extensively used in the biomedical field due to its biocompatibility, renewability and biodegradability. The effective surface area of CNFs influences broad applications in biological and medical studies such as sustainable antibiotic delivery for wound healing, the preparation of scaffolds for tissue cultures, the development of drug delivery systems, biosensing and an antimicrobial film for wound healing. Many researchers have a growing interest in using CNF-based aerogels in the mentioned applications. The application of cellulose-based materials is widely reported in the literature. However, only a few studies discuss the potential of cellulose nanofibre aerogel in detail. The potential applications of CNF aerogel include composites, organic–inorganic hybrids, gels, foams, aerogels/xerogels, coatings and nano-paper, bioactive and wound dressing materials and bioconversion. The potential applications of CNF have rarely been a subject of extensive review. Thus, extensive studies to develop materials with cheaper and better properties, high prospects and effectiveness for many applications are the focus of the present work. The present review focuses on the evolution of aerogels via characterisation studies on the isolation of CNF-based aerogels. The study concludes with a description of the potential and challenges of developing sustainable materials for biomedical applications.
Water-Soluble and Cytocompatible Phospholipid Polymers for Molecular Complexation to Enhance Biomolecule Transportation to Cells In Vitro
Authors: Ishihara Kazuhiko , Hachiya Shohei , Inoue Yuuki , Fukazawa Kyoko , Konno Tomohiro
Published: August 2020

Water-soluble and cytocompatible polymers were investigated to enhance a transporting efficiency of biomolecules into cells in vitro. The polymers composed of a 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) unit, a hydrophobic monomer unit, and a cationic monomer unit bearing an amino group were synthesized for complexation with model biomolecules, siRNA. The cationic MPC polymer was shown to interact with both siRNA and the cell membrane and was successively transported siRNA into cells. When introducing 20–50 mol% hydrophobic units into the cationic MPC polymer, transport of siRNA into cells. The MPC units (10–20 mol%) in the cationic MPC polymer were able to impart cytocompatibility, while maintaining interaction with siRNA and the cell membrane. The level of gene suppression of the siRNA/MPC polymer complex was evaluated in vitro and it was as the same level as that of a conventional siRNA transfection reagent, whereas its cytotoxicity was significantly lower. We concluded that these cytocompatible MPC polymers may be promising complexation reagent for introducing biomolecules into cells, with the potential to contribute to future fields of biotechnology, such as in vitro evaluation of gene functionality, and the production of engineered cells with biological functions.
In Situ Polymerization of Polypyrrole @ Aluminum Fumarate Metal–Organic Framework Hybrid Nanocomposites for the Application of Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Zayan Sarah , Elshazly Ahmed , Elkady Marwa
Published: August 2020

Composite metal–organic frameworks combine large and accessible surface areas with low density and high stability. Herein, we present novel nanocomposites of polypyrrole/aluminum fumarate metal–organic framework (PPy/AlFu MOF), which were synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization with the aim of MOF functionalization to enhance its thermal stability and increase the specific surface area so that these nanocomposites may be used as potential adsorbents. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized by various techniques, such as powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The successful functionalization of aluminum fumarate MOF was confirmed by FTIR, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the PPy/MOF nanocomposite slightly increased from 795 to 809 m2/g. Thermogravimetric analysis data also show that the weight loss of the composite is up to 30% at temperatures up to 500 ℃. Remarkably, lead (50 ppm) sequestration using the composite was tested, and the atomic absorption spectrometry data demonstrate that PPy/MOF is a super-adsorbent for heavy metal ions. This work shows that the novel polymer–MOF composites are promising materials for the selective removal of lead from wastewater streams.
Thiol-Substituted Poly(2-oxazoline)s with Photolabile Protecting Groups—Tandem Network Formation by Light
Authors: Jung Niklas , Diehl Fiona , Jonas Ulrich
Published: August 2020

Herein, we present a novel polymer architecture based on poly(2-oxazoline)s bearing protected thiol functionalities, which can be selectively liberated by irradiation with UV light. Whereas free thiol groups can suffer from oxidation or other spontaneous reactions that degrade polymer performance, this strategy with masked thiol groups offers the possibility of photodeprotection on demand with spatio-temporal control while maintaining polymer integrity. Here, we exploit this potential for a tandem network formation upon irradiation with UV light by thiol deprotection and concurrent crosslinking via thiol-ene coupling. The synthesis of the novel oxazoline monomer 2-{2-[(2-nitrobenzyl)thio]ethyl}-4,5-dihydrooxazole (NbMEtOxa) carrying 2-nitrobenzyl-shielded thiol groups and its cationic ring-opening copolymerization at varying ratios with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline (EtOxa) is described. The tandem network formation was exemplarily demonstrated with the photoinitator 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone (HMPP) and pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETA), a commercially available, tetrafunctional vinyl crosslinker. The key findings of the conducted experiments indicate that a ratio of ~10% NbMEtOxa repeat units in the polymer backbone is sufficient for network formation and in-situ gelation in N,N-dimethylformamide.
An Improved Physical-Stochastic Model for Simulating Electrical Tree Propagation in Solid Polymeric Dielectrics
Authors: Rodríguez-Serna Johnatan M. , Albarracín-Sánchez Ricardo , Carrillo Isabel
Published: August 2020

The dielectric breakdown of solid polymeric materials is due to the inception and propagation of electrical trees inside them. The remaining useful life of the solid dielectrics could be determined using propagation simulations correlated with non-intrusive measurements such as partial discharges (PD). This paper presents a brief review of the different models for simulating electrical tree propagation in solid dielectrics. A novel improved physical-stochastic model is proposed, which allows quantitatively and qualitatively analyzing the electrical tree propagation process in polymeric dielectrics. Simulation results exhibit good agreement with measurements presented in the literature. It is concluded that the model allows adequately predicting the tree propagation behavior and additional experimental analyses are required in order to improve the model accuracy.
Superhydrophobic, Elastic, and Conducting Polyurethane-Carbon Nanotube–Silane–Aerogel Composite Microfiber
Authors: Hong Taekuk , Jeong Sang-Mi , Choi Yong Kyu , Lim Taekyung , Ju Sanghyun
Published: August 2020

Flexible fibers composed of a conductive material mixed with a polymer matrix are useful in wearable electronic devices. However, the presence of the conductive material often reduces the flexibility of the fiber, while the conductivity may be affected by environmental factors such as water and moisture. To address these issues, we developed a new conductive fiber by mixing carbon nanotubes (CNT) with a polyurethane (PU) matrix. A silane ((heptadecafluoro–1,1,2,2–tetra–hydrodecyl)trichlorosilane) was added to improve the strain value of the fiber from 155% to 228%. Moreover, silica aerogel particles were embedded on the fiber surface to increase the water contact angle (WCA) and minimize the effect of water on the conductivity of the fiber. As a result, the fabricated PU-CNT-silane-aerogel composite microfiber maintained a WCA of ~140° even after heating at 250 °C for 30 min. We expect this method of incorporating silane and aerogel to help the development of conductive fibers with high flexibility that are capable of stable operation in wet or humid environments.
Hemicellulose-Based Film: Potential Green Films for Food Packaging
Authors: Zhao Yuelong , Sun Hui , Yang Biao , Weng Yunxuan
Published: August 2020

Globally increasing environmental awareness and the possibility of increasing price and dwindling supply of traditional petroleum-based plastics have led to a breadth of research currently addressing environmentally friendly bioplastics as an alternative solution. In this context, hemicellulose, as the second richest polysaccharide, has attracted extensive attention due to its combination of such advantages as abundance, biodegradability, and renewability. Herein, in this review, the latest research progress in development of hemicellulose film with regard to application in the field of food packaging is presented with particular emphasis on various physical and chemical modification approaches aimed at performance improvement, primarily for enhancement of mechanical, barrier properties, and hydrophobicity that are essential to food packing materials. The development highlights of hemicellulose film substrate are outlined and research prospects in the field are described.
Xylan-Derived Light Conversion Nanocomposite Film
Authors: Yang Yunyi , Zhao Yushuang , Hu Yijie , Peng Xinwen , Zhong Linxin
Published: August 2020

A new type of sustainable light conversion nanocomposite film was fabricated by using carboxymethyl xylan as matrix and xylan-derived carbon dots (CDs) as both light conversion regents and nano reinforcements. The results demonstrate that CDs can not only significantly enhance the mechanical strength of the nanocomposite film because of chemical reaction between CDs and carboxymethyl xylan, but also impart the film with excellent optical properties. With 1.92 wt% CDs, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the film are increased by 114.3% and 90.7%, respectively. Moreover, the film has typical excitation and emission spectra, enabling the efficient absorption of UV and the conversion of UV to blue light. This xylan-derived light conversion nanocomposite film is expected to be used in agricultural planting and food packaging.
Characterization of Polyamide 6/Multilayer Graphene Nanoplatelet Composite Textile Filaments Obtained Via In Situ Polymerization and Melt Spinning
Authors: Vasiljević Jelena , Demšar Andrej , Leskovšek Mirjam , Simončič Barbara , Čelan Korošin Nataša , Jerman Ivan , Šobak Matic , Žitko Gregor , Van de Velde Nigel , Čolović Marija
Published: August 2020

Studies of the production of fiber-forming polyamide 6 (PA6)/graphene composite material and melt-spun textile fibers are scarce, but research to date reveals that achieving the high dispersion state of graphene is the main challenge to nanocomposite production. Considering the significant progress made in the industrial mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs), this study explored the feasibility of production of PA6/GnPs composite fibers using the commercially available few-layer GnPs. To this aim, the GnPs were pre-dispersed in molten ε-caprolactam at concentrations equal to 1 and 2 wt %, and incorporated into the PA6 matrix by the in situ water-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactam, which was followed by melt spinning. The results showed that the incorporated GnPs did not markedly influence the melting temperature of PA6 but affected the crystallization temperature, fiber bulk structure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, GnPs increased the PA6 complex viscosity, which resulted in the need to adjust the parameters of melt spinning to enable continuous filament production. Although the incorporation of GnPs did not provide a reinforcing effect of PA6 fibers and reduced fiber tensile properties, the thermal stability of the PA6 fiber increased. The increased melt viscosity and graphene anti-dripping properties postponed melt dripping in the vertical flame spread test, which consequently prolonged burning within the samples.
A Refined Theory for Characterizing Adhesion of Elastic Coatings on Rigid Substrates Based on Pressurized Blister Test Methods: Closed-Form Solution and Energy Release Rate
Authors: Lian Yong-Sheng , Sun Jun-Yi , Zhao Zhi-Hang , Li Shou-Zhen , Zheng Zhou-Lian
Published: August 2020

Adhesion between coatings and substrates is an important parameter determining the integrity and reliability of film/substrate systems. In this paper, a new and more refined theory for characterizing adhesion between elastic coatings and rigid substrates is developed based on a previously proposed pressurized blister method. A compressed air driven by liquid potential energy is applied to the suspended circular coating film through a circular hole in the substrate, forcing the suspended film to bulge, and then to debond slowly from the edge of the hole as the air pressure intensifies, and finally to form a blister with a certain circular delamination area. The problem from the initially flat coating to the stable blistering film under a prescribed pressure is simplified as a problem of axisymmetric deformation of peripherally fixed and transversely uniformly loaded circular membranes. The adhesion strength depends on the delamination area and is quantified in terms of the energy released on per unit delamination area, the so-called energy release rate. In the present work, the problem of axisymmetric deformation is reformulated with out-of-plane and in-plane equilibrium equations and geometric equations, simultaneously improved, and a new closed-form solution is presented, resulting in the new and more refined adhesion characterization theory.
Physical and Morphological Properties of Tough and Transparent PMMA-Based Blends Modified with Polyrotaxane
Authors: Ishigami Akira , Watanabe Kazuki , Kurose Takashi , Ito Hiroshi
Published: August 2020

We prepared several novel, tough, and transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends modified with polyrotaxane (PR) and evaluated their physical properties and morphologies. A styrene/methyl methacrylate/maleic anhydride (SMM) copolymer that was miscible with PMMA was used as a reactive compatibilizer to enhance interfacial adhesion between the matrix resin and PR. A twin-screw melt-kneading extruder was used to prepare the polymer blends, and their thermal, morphological, optical, and mechanical properties were characterized. The effect of PR was evaluated by analyzing the deformation behavior of the blends in notched three-point bending tests. A PMMA/PR blend was immiscible and appeared to be a phase-separated system. However, when SMM was added as a compatibilizer, PR was partially miscible and did not form observable PR domains. Viscosity increased, and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the matrix resin decreased. The surface hardness of a PMMA/SMM/PR blend was only 15% lower than that of PMMA. A 2.5-fold increase in elongation at breakage was observed, and the tensile strength and Young’s modulus decreased by 16%. The PMMA/SMM/PR blend had 60% higher impact strength than PMMA in notched Charpy impact test, which indicated that the balance between stiffness and ductility was excellent. PR served as a starting point for plastic deformation in the PMMA/SMM/PR blend. We found that PR could initiate void and craze formation, even when it was finely dispersed at the nanoscale. The stress-relieving effect of PR was effective when it was tightly bound at the interfaces. The materials obtained in this study are expected to make a significant contribution to reducing the weight of the products by applying them as a replacement for glass.
Integrated Control Policy for a Multiple Machines and Multiple Product Types Manufacturing System Production Process with Uncertain Fault
Authors: You Jia , Li Ming , Guo Kai , Li Hao
Published: August 2020

The optimization of production cost has always been a key issue in manufacturing systems; for the single product type manufacturing systems, lots of research studies have proved the validity of the hedging point control policy in production cost control. However, due to the complexity of the multiple machines and multiple product types manufacturing systems with uncertain fault, it is difficult to achieve a good control effect only by using the hedging point control policy. To optimize the total production cost under constantly changing demands, an integrated control policy that combines the prioritized hedging point (PHP) control policy with the production capacity planning during production is proposed, and the decision variables are obtained by a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The simulation experiments show the effectiveness of the proposed integrated control policy in production cost control for the multiple machines and multiple product types manufacturing system.
Online High Performance Genetic Algorithm Based Sliding Mode Control for Controllable Pitch Propeller
Authors: Wang Yuchao , Wang Qiusu , Fu Huixuan
Published: August 2020

During the voyage of a ship, the performance of a controllable pitch propeller (CPP) is severely affected by the changing load demand and ever-present disturbance from ocean waves, which will also result in model uncertainty. In order to improve the performance of the CPP system, an online high-performance genetic algorithm (HPGA)-based sliding mode control (SMC) strategy is proposed. Firstly, the model of the CPP system is obtained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then, a chattering-free sliding mode controller (CF-SMC) is designed for the CPP system, after which the parameters in the CF-SMC are optimized with the HPGA method. Finally, the optimized CF-SMC is applied to an experimental setup of a prototype CPP system. In order to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it is compared with a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, which is typically applied on real CPP-systems, with results indicating the superiority of the proposed method.
Optimization of CCUS Supply Chains for Some European Countries under the Uncertainty
Authors: Leonzio Grazia , Foscolo Pier Ugo , Zondervan Edwin
Published: August 2020

This paper develops a two-stage stochastic mixed integer linear programming model to optimize Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) supply chains in Italy, Germany and the UK. Few works are present in the literature about this topic, thus this paper overcomes this limitation considering carbon supply chains producing different products. The objective of the numerical models is to minimize expected total costs, under the uncertainties of the production costs of carbon-dioxide-based compounds. Once carbon dioxide emissions that should be avoided are fixed, according to environmental protection requirements for each country, the optimal design of these supply chains is obtained finding the distribution of carbon dioxide captured between utilization and storage sections, the amount of different carbon-based products and the best connection between each element inside the system. The expected total costs for the CCUS supply chain of Italy, Germany and the UK are, respectively, 77.3, 98.0 and 1.05 billion€/year (1004, 613 and 164 €/ton CO2 captured). A comparison with the respective deterministic model, analyzed elsewhere, is considered through the evaluation of the Expected Value of Perfect Information (EVPI) and the Value of Stochastic Solution (VSS). The former is 1.29 billion€/year, 0.18 million€/year and 8.31 billion€/year, respectively, for the CCUS of Italy, the UK and Germany. VSS on the other hand is equal to 1.56 billion€/year, 0 €/year and 0.1 billion€/year, respectively, for the frameworks of Italy, the UK and Germany. The results show that the uncertain production cost in the stochastic model does not have a significant effect on the results; thus, in this case, there are few advantages in solving a stochastic model instead of the deterministic one.
Knowledge and Learning of Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding in an Indonesian Islamic College Sample: An Epistemological Belief Approach
Authors: Ghufron M. Nur , Suminta Rini Risnawita , Kusuma Jamaludin Hadi
Published: August 2020

Epistemological beliefs are the basis of how someone acquires knowledge and are used as a guide for behavior in everyday life. For religious fundamentalists, however, their belief in religious knowledge is very strong, causing them to negate different opinions and ideas. Since the radicalization process is closely related to the education process, two important epistemological concepts of belief about knowledge and belief about learning need to be tested to analyze the extent to which these two factors might be predictors of an individual’s tendency towards religious fundamentalism. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of epistemological beliefs on the religious fundamentalism of Muslim millennial youth. By using a simple random sampling method, data collection was conducted by distributing Likert-scale questionnaires to 195 Muslim undergraduate students at an Islamic institute in Kudus, Central Java. Data were analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results showed that the proposed model was appropriate and eligible for hypothesis testing (p = 138, goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.965, adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) = 0.934, Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) = 0.978 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.040). Furthermore, statistical analysis shows that epistemological beliefs in the form of beliefs about knowledge (critical ratio (C.R) = 4585 and p = 0.000) and beliefs about learning (C.R = 3202 and p = 0.001) have significant and positive effects on religious fundamentalism. These results highlight the importance of developing the concept of critical thinking in learning and inclusiveness-oriented education to eradicate religious fundamentalism among millennials.
The Design a TDCP-Smoothed GNSS/Odometer Integration Scheme with Vehicular-Motion Constraint and Robust Regression
Authors: Chiang Kai-Wei , Li Yu-Hua , Hsu Li-Ta , Chu Feng-Yu
Published: August 2020

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is widely regarded as the primary positioning solution for intelligent transport system (ITS) applications. However, its performance could degrade, due to signal outages and faulty-signal contamination, including multipath and non-line-of-sight reception. Considering the limitation of the performance and computation loads in mass-produced automotive products, this research investigates the methods for enhancing GNSS-based solutions without significantly increasing the cost for vehicular navigation system. In this study, the measurement technique of the odometer in modern vehicle designs is selected to integrate the GNSS information, without using an inertial navigation system. Three techniques are implemented to improve positioning accuracy; (a) Time-differenced carrier phase (TDCP) based filter: A state-augmented extended Kalman filter is designed to incorporate TDCP measurements for maximizing the effectiveness of phase-smoothing; (b) odometer-aided constraints: The aiding measurement from odometer utilizing forward speed with the lateral constraint enhances the state estimation; the information based on vehicular motion, comprising the zero-velocity constraint, fault detection and exclusion, and dead reckoning, maintains the stability of the positioning solution; (c) robust regression: A weighted-least-square based robust regression as a measurement-quality assessment is applied to adjust the weightings of the measurements adaptively. Experimental results in a GNSS-challenging environment indicate that, based on the single-point-positioning mode with an automotive-grade receiver, the combination of the proposed methods presented a root-mean-square error of 2.51 m, 3.63 m, 1.63 m, and 1.95 m for the horizontal, vertical, forward, and lateral directions, with improvements of 35.1%, 49.6%, 45.3%, and 21.1%, respectively. The statistical analysis exhibits 97.3% state estimation result in the horizontal direction for the percentage of epochs that had errors of less than 5 m, presenting that after the intervention of proposed methods, the positioning performance can fulfill the requirements for road level applications.
Construction of a Fluxgate Magnetic Gradiometer for Integration with an Unmanned Aircraft System
Authors: Luoma Sierra , Zhou Xiaobing
Published: August 2020

The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs) for geophysical exploration and environmental monitoring allows for flexible, quick, and effective surveys with high-resolution results. Developing and integrating a magnetic gradiometer with a UAS allows for geophysical exploration of magnetic subsurface features such as geologic structures, metal detection, or locating unexploded ordinances (UXOs). This paper presents the development of a magnetic gradiometer for integration with a UAS. The magnetic gradiometer is composed of two fluxgate magnetometers, two GPS receivers, and a microcontroller-based controlling and data-logging system. The components of the magnetic gradiometer system are lightweight and inexpensive, ideal for use with a UAS. Initial field tests for the magnetic gradiometer are discussed. The initial results demonstrate the magnetic gradiometer’s data coherency along with future improvements that will improve the design of the instrument.
Single-Look SAR Tomography of Urban Areas
Authors: Martín-del-Campo-Becerra Gustavo Daniel , Reigber Andreas , Nannini Matteo , Hensley Scott
Published: August 2020

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) tomography (TomoSAR) is a multibaseline interferometric technique that estimates the power spectrum pattern (PSP) along the perpendicular to the line-of-sight (PLOS) direction. TomoSAR achieves the separation of individual scatterers in layover areas, allowing for the 3D representation of urban zones. These scenes are typically characterized by buildings of different heights, with layover between the facades of the higher structures, the rooftop of the smaller edifices and the ground surface. Multilooking, as required by most spectral estimation techniques, reduces the azimuth-range spatial resolution, since it is accomplished through the averaging of adjacent values, e.g., via Boxcar filtering. Consequently, with the aim of avoiding the spatial mixture of sources due to multilooking, this article proposes a novel methodology to perform single-look TomoSAR over urban areas. First, a robust version of Capon is applied to focus the TomoSAR data, being robust against the rank-deficiencies of the data covariance matrices. Afterward, the recovered PSP is refined using statistical regularization, attaining resolution enhancement, suppression of artifacts and reduction of the ambiguity levels. The capabilities of the proposed methodology are demonstrated by means of strip-map airborne data of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), acquired by the uninhabited aerial vehicle SAR (UAVSAR) system over the urban area of Munich, Germany in 2015. Making use of multipolarization data [horizontal/horizontal (HH), horizontal/vertical (HV) and vertical/vertical (VV)], a comparative analysis against popular focusing techniques for urban monitoring (i.e., matched filtering, Capon and compressive sensing (CS)) is addressed.
Optical System Design of a Wide Field-of-View Camera for the Characterization of Earth’s Reflected Solar Radiation
Authors: Schifano Luca , Smeesters Lien , Berghmans Francis , Dewitte Steven
Published: August 2020

We report on the conceptual design of a new wide field-of-view shortwave camera, for measuring Earth’s reflected solar radiation. The camera comprises a commercial-off-the-shelf CMOS sensor, and a custom-designed wide field-of-view lens system with an opening angle of 140°. The estimated effective nadir resolution is 2.2 km. The simulated stand-alone random error of the broadband albedo is 3%. The camera is suited for integration within 1U of a CubeSat.
An FPGA Accelerator for Real-Time Lossy Compression of Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Báscones Daniel , González Carlos , Mozos Daniel
Published: August 2020

Hyperspectral images offer great possibilities for remote studies, but can be difficult to manage due to their size. Compression helps with storage and transmission, and many efforts have been made towards standardizing compression algorithms, especially in the lossless and near-lossless domains. For long term storage, lossy compression is also of interest, but its complexity has kept it away from real-time performance. In this paper, JYPEC, a lossy hyperspectral compression algorithm that combines PCA and JPEG2000, is accelerated using an FPGA. A tier 1 coder (a key step and the most time-consuming in JPEG2000 compression) was implemented in a heavily pipelined fashion. Results showed a performance comparable to that of existing 0.18 μm CMOS implementations, all while keeping a small footprint on FPGA resources. This enabled the acceleration of the most complex step of JYPEC, bringing the total execution time below the real-time constraint.
Wildfire Trend Analysis over the Contiguous United States Using Remote Sensing Observations
Authors: Salguero John , Li Jingjing , Farahmand Alireza , Reager John T.
Published: August 2020

Understanding the evolution of wildfire regimes throughout the United States (US) is crucial in the preparation, mitigation, and planning for national wildfires. Recent wildfire trajectories demonstrating an increase in both frequency and size across the US have made documenting the changes in wildfire regimes a topic of growing importance. While previous studies have examined wildfire regimes using ecoregions, this study analyzes wildfire regimes through the Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) regions across the Contiguous US over 34 years, 1984–2017. GACCs are geopolitical boundaries designed by wildfire agencies to promote an efficient way to distribute resources during emergencies such as wildfires. Wildfire observations originate from the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) database which records large fire events that are 1000(500) acres or greater in the Western (Eastern) US. Using GACCs and MTBS data, this study examines wildfire regimes across the Contiguous US through the following three parameters: total burned area, frequency, and average burned area. This study characterizes the trend direction of the wildfire parameters and which are statistically significant. Results demonstrate that most GACC regions display statistically significant trends, including wildfire regimes that are beyond the Western US (e.g., Southern GACC). The Northwest and Southwest GACCs demonstrate statistically significant positive trends in every parameter observed. The California and Great Basin GACCs demonstrate statistically significant positive trends in the average burned area. The Eastern GACC is the only region to not display any significant trends. Determining significant wildfire regimes and their trend direction can help wildfire agencies to minimize the negative impacts on the environment, society, and economy.
Performance Evaluation of Spaceborne Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar for Carbon Dioxide Detection at 1572 nm
Authors: Wang Shuaibo , Ke Ju , Chen Sijie , Zheng Zhuofan , Cheng Chonghui , Tong Bowen , Liu Jiqiao , Liu Dong , Chen Weibiao
Published: August 2020

As one of the most influential greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) has a profound impact on the global climate. The spaceborne integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar will be a great sensor to obtain the columnar concentration of CO2 with high precision. This paper analyzes the performance of a spaceborne IPDA lidar, which is part of the Aerosol and Carbon Detection Lidar (ACDL) developed in China. The line-by-bine radiative transfer model was used to calculate the absorption spectra of CO2 and H2O. The laser transmission process was simulated and analyzed. The sources of random and systematic errors of IPDA lidar were quantitatively analyzed. The total systematic errors are 0.589 ppm. Monthly mean global distribution of relative random errors (RREs) was mapped based on the dataset in September 2016. Afterwards, the seasonal variations of the global distribution of RREs were studied. The global distribution of pseudo satellite measurements for a 16-day orbit repeat cycle showed relatively uniform distribution over the land of the northern hemisphere. The results demonstrated that 61.24% of the global RREs were smaller than 0.25%, or about 1 ppm, while 2.76% of the results were larger than 0.75%. The statistics reveal the future performance of the spaceborne IPDA lidar.
Evaluation of the Validity, Reliability, and Kinematic Characteristics of Multi-Segment Foot Models in Motion Capture
Authors: Sekiguchi Yuka , Kokubun Takanori , Hanawa Hiroki , Shono Hitomi , Tsuruta Ayumi , Kanemura Naohiko
Published: August 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of our new multi-segment foot model by measuring a dummy foot, and examine the kinematic characteristics of our new multi-segment foot model by measuring the living body. Using our new model and the Rizzoli model, we conducted two experiments with a dummy foot that was moved within a range from −90 to 90 degrees in all planes; for the living body, 24 participants performed calf raises, gait, and drop jumps. Most three-dimensional (3D) rotation angles calculated according to our new models were strongly positively correlated with true values (r > 0.8, p < 0.01). Most 3D rotation angles had fixed biases; however, most of them were in the range of the limits of agreement. Temporal patterns of foot motion, such as those in the Rizzoli model, were observed in our new model during all dynamic tasks. We concluded that our new multi-segment foot model was valid for motion analysis and was useful for analyzing the foot motion using 3D motion capture during dynamic tasks.
Preliminary Experiment Using Sensors for Cow Health Monitoring after Surgical Treatment for the Left Displacement of the Abomasum
Authors: Antanaitis Ramūnas , Juozaitienė Vida , Televičius Mindaugas , Malašauskienė Dovilė , Merkis Mantvydas , Merkis Eitvydas , Baumgartner Walter
Published: August 2020

The aim of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of two surgical techniques regarding cow respiratory rates, heart rates, and rumination time using two sensors: an experimental device created by the Institute of Biomedical Engineering of Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania) and the Hi-Tag rumination monitoring system (SCR) produced by SCR Engineers Ltd., Netanya, Israel. The cows were divided into two groups: the PA1 group, containing cows treated by percutaneous abomasopexy (n = 10), and the RSO2 group, containing cows treated by right side omentopexy (n = 8). For the control group (KH), according to the principle of analogs (number of lactations, breed, and days in milk), we selected clinically healthy cows (n = 9). After the surgical treatment for the abomasal displacement, the experimental device was applied for the recording of the heart and breathing rates, 12 h tracking of the rumination time was implemented using the SCR, and the body temperature was measured. After 12 h, the blood was taken for biochemical and morphological tests. With the help of experimental sensors, we found that the more efficient abomasal displacement surgical method was the right side omentopexy: During the first 12 h after right side omentopexy, we found a 5.19 beats/min lower (1.10 times lower) average value of the respiratory rate, a 1.13 times higher level of the heart rate, a 0.15 °C higher temperature, and a 3.29 times lower rumination time compared to the clinically healthy cows. During the first 12 h after percutaneous abomasopexy, we found a 5.19 beats/min higher (1.07 times) average value of heart rate, a 0.02 °C higher temperature, a 6.21 times lower rumination time, and a 0.12 beats/min lower (1.01 times lower) average value of respiratory rate compared to the clinically healthy cows.
3D-Printed Flow Cells for Aptamer-Based Impedimetric Detection of E. coli Crooks Strain
Authors: Siller Ina G. , Preuss John-Alexander , Urmann Katharina , Hoffmann Michael R. , Scheper Thomas , Bahnemann Janina
Published: August 2020

Electrochemical spectroscopy enables rapid, sensitive, and label-free analyte detection without the need of extensive and laborious labeling procedures and sample preparation. In addition, with the emergence of commercially available screen-printed electrodes (SPEs), a valuable, disposable alternative to costly bulk electrodes for electrochemical (bio-)sensor applications was established in recent years. However, applications with bare SPEs are limited and many applications demand additional/supporting structures or flow cells. Here, high-resolution 3D printing technology presents an ideal tool for the rapid and flexible fabrication of tailor-made, experiment-specific systems. In this work, flow cells for SPE-based electrochemical (bio-)sensor applications were designed and 3D printed. The successful implementation was demonstrated in an aptamer-based impedimetric biosensor approach for the detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) Crooks strain as a proof of concept. Moreover, further developments towards a 3D-printed microfluidic flow cell with an integrated micromixer also illustrate the great potential of high-resolution 3D printing technology to enable homogeneous mixing of reagents or sample solutions in (bio-)sensor applications.
Mind Mapping Training’s Effects on Reading Ability: Detection Based on Eye Tracking Sensors
Authors: Liu Ting , Yuizono Takaya
Published: August 2020

As a reading comprehension strategy, mind mapping has a positive influence on the development of students’ reading ability. However, how mind mapping affects reading ability has not been well documented. In this study, we used eye tracking sensors to explore mind mapping’s effects on reading ability. The participants were foreign language learning university students in Dalian city, China. One group received foreign language reading teaching integrated with mind mapping training (experimental group), and the other group received regular foreign language reading teaching (control group). We analyzed eye movement indicators, including fixation-related indicators (number of fixations, fixation frequency, and mean fixation duration), regression count, saccade amplitude, and pupil diameter. In addition, the analysis of heat maps and fixation trajectory maps, which are specific tool for visualization of eye movement data and intuitive analysis of reading process, were explained. The results show that the number of fixations, fixation frequency, mean fixation duration, and regression count in the experimental group were all lower than in the control group, and the pupil diameter was larger than in the control group. The heat map and fixation trajectory map show convergence, mostly focusing on the position of keywords and key sentences, with relatively large saccade amplitude and more information obtained by one gaze. Moreover, they had a higher skipping reading rate, which enhanced reading speed to obtain information accurately and quickly. These empirical results indicate that mind mapping training was an effective method for improving students’ reading ability.
Multiple Object Detection Based on Clustering and Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Nguyen Huu Thu , Lee Eon-Ho , Bae Chul Hee , Lee Sejin
Published: August 2020

Multiple object detection is challenging yet crucial in computer vision. In This study, owing to the negative effect of noise on multiple object detection, two clustering algorithms are used on both underwater sonar images and three-dimensional point cloud LiDAR data to study and improve the performance result. The outputs from using deep learning methods on both types of data are treated with K-Means clustering and density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithms to remove outliers, detect and cluster meaningful data, and improve the result of multiple object detections. Results indicate the potential application of the proposed method in the fields of object detection, autonomous driving system, and so forth.
Analysis of Behavior Trajectory Based on Deep Learning in Ammonia Environment for Fish
Authors: Xu Wenkai , Zhu Zhaohu , Ge Fengli , Han Zhongzhi , Li Juan
Published: August 2020

Ammonia can be produced by the respiration and excretion of fish during the farming process, which can affect the life of fish. In this paper, to research the behavior of fish under different ammonia concentration and make the corresponding judgment and early warning for the abnormal behavior of fish, the different ammonia environments are simulated by adding the ammonium chloride into the water. Different from the existing methods of directly artificial observation or artificial marking, this paper proposed a recognition and analysis of behavior trajectory approach based on deep learning. Firstly, the three-dimensional spatial trajectories of fish are drawn by three-dimensional reconstruction. Then, the influence of different concentrations of ammonia on fish is analyzed according to the behavior trajectory of fish in different concentrations of ammonia. The results of comparative experiments show that the movement of fish and vitality decrease significantly, and the fish often stagnates in the water of containing ammonium chloride. The proposed approach can provide a new idea for the behavior analysis of animal.