bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SRIFA: Stochastic Ranking with Improved-Firefly-Algorithm for Constrained Optimization Engineering Design Problems
Authors: Balande Umesh , Shrimankar Deepti
Published: March 2019

Firefly-Algorithm (FA) is an eminent nature-inspired swarm-based technique for solving numerous real world global optimization problems. This paper presents an overview of the constraint handling techniques. It also includes a hybrid algorithm, namely the Stochastic Ranking with Improved Firefly Algorithm (SRIFA) for solving constrained real-world engineering optimization problems. The stochastic ranking approach is broadly used to maintain balance between penalty and fitness functions. FA is extensively used due to its faster convergence than other metaheuristic algorithms. The basic FA is modified by incorporating opposite-based learning and random-scale factor to improve the diversity and performance. Furthermore, SRIFA uses feasibility based rules to maintain balance between penalty and objective functions. SRIFA is experimented to optimize 24 CEC 2006 standard functions and five well-known engineering constrained-optimization design problems from the literature to evaluate and analyze the effectiveness of SRIFA. It can be seen that the overall computational results of SRIFA are better than those of the basic FA. Statistical outcomes of the SRIFA are significantly superior compared to the other evolutionary algorithms and engineering design problems in its performance, quality and efficiency.
Surgical Operation Scheduling with Goal Programming and Constraint Programming: A Case Study
Authors: Gür Şeyda , Eren Tamer , Alakaş Hacı Mehmet
Published: March 2019

The achievement of health organizations’ goals is critically important for profitability. For this purpose, their resources, materials, and equipment should be efficiently used in the services they provide. A hospital has sensitive and expensive equipment, and the use of its equipment and resources needs to be balanced. The utilization of these resources should be considered in its operating rooms, as it shares both expense expenditure and revenue generation. This study’s primary aim is the effective and balanced use of equipment and resources in hospital operating rooms. In this context, datasets from a state hospital were used via the goal programming and constraint programming methods. According to the wishes of hospital managers, three scenarios were separately modeled in both methods. According to the obtained results, schedules were compared and analyzed according to the current situation. The hospital-planning approach was positively affected, and goals such as minimization cost, staff and patient satisfaction, prevention over time, and less use were achieved.
Gastroprotective Effect of Zingerone on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats
Authors: Sistani Karampour Neda , Arzi Ardeshir , Rezaie Anahita , Pashmforoosh Marzieh , Kordi Fatemeh
Published: March 2019

Background and objectives: Zingerone is an ingredient of ginger (Zingiber officinale) with different pharmacological activities. Several studies have investigated the effect of zingerone on various gastrointestinal diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of zingerone on ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats. Materials and Methods: Gastric ulcers were induced by ethanol (96%, 5 mL/kg, po) in male wistar rats and zingerone (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) was administrated orally. Normal saline and ranitidine were used as negative and positive control, respectively. In this study, the number and length of ulcers, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in stomach tissues were determined. Results: The findings showed that the mean number and length of gastric ulcers were significantly lower in zingerone-received groups than ethanol group (P < 0.05). The level of malondialdehyde was decreased in the stomach of zingerone groups (P < 0.05) compared to the ethanol group. In addition, zingerone treatment prevented the decrease of nitric oxide level by ethanol in the stomach tissue. Conclusions: The present study showed that zingerone has a protective effect on the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer, which may be due to its free radical scavenging activity.
The Influence of Segregation Bands and Hot Rolling on the Precipitation of Secondary Phases during Aging at 750 °C for Nickel Alloy 625
Authors: Malej Simon , Medved Jožef , Šetina Batič Barbara , Tehovnik Franc , Vode Franci , Burja Jaka , Godec Matjaž
Published: March 2019

For Inconel 625, where the γ” and δ phases precipitate, the influence of prior hot rolling on the process is not well covered. The influence of segregation bands and prior hot rolling on the precipitation of secondary phases during aging at 750 °C for different times was investigated. Prior hot-rolling was conducted on a hot rolling mill at 1050 °C and 1150 °C with three different deformation levels. The hot rolled samples were aged at 750 °C for 1, 5, 25 and 125 h. The γ″ precipitated in both the deformed and recrystallized grains in the segregation bands containing a high concentration of niobium and molybdenum and a lower concentration of nickel, chromium and iron. The opposite was observed between the segregation bands where no γ″ precipitate was found. There was a smooth transition in the density and the size of the γ″ particles in the deformed grains at the border of the segregation bands, while a more complex transition occurred in the recrystallized grains. This occurred in the area where the average niobium concentration decreased from 4.5 to 2.7 wt. %, which influenced the mechanical properties.
The Overmaraat-Gol Alkaline Pluton in Northern Mongolia: U–Pb Age and Preliminary Implications for Magma Sources and Tectonic Setting
Authors: Vrublevskii Vassily V. , Gertner Igor F. , Ernst Richard E. , Izokh Andrey E. , Vishnevskii Andrey V.
Published: March 2019

A new Wenlockian zircon U–Pb age (~426 Ma) of the Overmaraat-Gol nepheline syenite (foyaite, juvite) pluton in the SW Lake Hovsgol area (Northern Mongolia) prompts a long history of alkaline magmatism in the western Central Asian Orogenic Belt, exceeding the duration of the Devonian and Permian–Triassic events. The LILE and HFSE patterns of pluton samples analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) methods indicate intrusion in a complex tectonic setting during interaction of a mantle plume with accretionary-collisional complexes that previously formed on the active continental margin. As a result, the parent magma had a heterogeneous source with mixed mantle (PREMA and EM) and crustal components. This source composition is consistent with Nd–Sr isotope ratios of the Overmaraat-Gol alkaline rocks, from −0.1 to −1.2 εNd(t) and from ~0.706 to 0.707 87Sr/86Sr(t).
Measuring Copper, Lead and Zinc Concentrations and Oral Bioaccessibility as Part of the Soils in Scottish Schools Project
Authors: Davidson Christine M. , Duncan Craig , MacNab Cameron , Pringle Bethany , Stables Stuart J. , Willison Debbie
Published: March 2019

Determination of potentially toxic elements in soils with which children have regular contact can provide valuable information to support health risk assessment. It is also important to engage schoolchildren with soil science so that they become well-informed citizens. The Soils in Scottish Schools project involved pupils across Scotland in the collection of soil from school grounds for determination of copper, lead and zinc. Samples were subjected to microwave-assisted aqua-regia digestion to determine pseudototal analyte concentrations. The simplified bioaccessibility extraction test was applied to estimate bioaccessibility. Analysis was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Pseudototal analyte concentrations varied widely: Cu 15.6–220 mg∙kg−1; Pb 24.6–479 mg∙kg−1 and Zn 52.5–860 mg∙kg−1. Higher concentrations were measured in urban areas, which were historically home to heavy manufacturing industries, with lower concentrations in soils from more rural schools. Bioaccessible analyte concentrations also varied widely (Cu 3.94–126 mg∙kg−1; Pb 6.29–216 mg∙kg−1 and Zn 4.38–549 mg∙kg−1) and followed similar trends to pseudototal concentrations. None of the elements studied posed a significant health risk to children through accidental soil ingestion whilst at play during breaks in the school day, although the relatively high bioaccessible levels of lead at some locations are worthy of further investigation.
Quantitative Characterization of Olaparib in Nanodelivery System and Target Cell Compartments by LC-MS/MS
Authors: Ottria Roberta , Ravelli Alessandro , Miceli Matteo , Casati Sara , Orioli Marica , Ciuffreda Pierangela
Published: March 2019

Olaparib, an orally active inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP), is the drug of choice in the treatment of gBRCA1/2+ metastatic breast cancers. Unfortunately, Olaparib is poorly soluble with low bioavailability and tumor accumulation; nano-delivery could be a good choice to overcome these disadvantages. Here, a rapid and robust HPLC-ESI–MS/MS method for the quantification of Olaparib in ferritin nano-carriers led to the development of cells compartments, different tissues, plasma and urines and were validated to assess the effects of nano-delivery on cell compartment distribution of the drug. This method allows the quantification of Olaparib within the linear range of 0.1–10ng/mL in cells culture medium and cell cytoplasm, of 0.5–10ng/mL in nuclei, of 0.5–100ng/mL in plasma and urine and of 10–500ng/mL in tissue samples (kidney and liver). The limit of quantification was found to be 1.54 ng/mL for liver, 2.87 ng/mL for kidney, and lower than 0.48 ng/mL for all matrices. The method has been applied to quantify Ola encapsulated in ferritin-nano-carriers during the nano-drug development. The application of the method to human BRCA-mutated cell model to quantify the Olaparib distribution after incubation of free or ferritin-encapsulated Olaparib is also reported. This sensitive method allows the quantification of low concentrations of Olaparib released from nano-carriers in different cell compartments, leading to the determination of the drug release and kinetic profile of an essential parameter to validate nano-carriers.
Fast and Simple Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Coating by Polymer Induced Phase Separation
Authors: Zhang Yu-Ping , Li Pan-Pan , Liu Peng-Fei , Zhang Wan-Qing , Wang Ji-Chao , Cui Cheng-Xing , Li Xiang-Jun , Qu Ling-Bo
Published: March 2019

Polymerization-induced phase separation is comparatively applied to fabricating a superhydrophobic micro/nano surface by microwave and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The monolithic coatings can be tailored easily on different substrates with excellent chemical and mechanical stability in rigid conditions. Importantly, the patterned filter paper is successfully used for the colorimetric detection of nitrite handily.
Chiral Effect at Nano-Bio Interface: A Model of Chiral Gold Nanoparticle on Amylin Fibrillation
Authors: Li Jing , Chen Rui , Zhang Shasha , Ma Zhongjie , Luo Zhuoying , Gao Guanbin
Published: March 2019

Protein/Peptide amyloidosis is the main cause of several diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases. It has been widely acknowledged that the unnatural fibrillation of protein/peptides in vivo is significantly affected by the physical and chemical properties of multiscale biological membranes. For example, previous studies have proved that molecule chirality could greatly influence the misfolding, fibrillation and assembly of β-Amyloid peptides at the flat liquid-solid surface. However, how the nanoscale chirality influences this process remains unclear. Here we used gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, d = 4 ± 1 nm)—modified with N-isobutyl-L(D)-cysteine (L(D)-NIBC) enantiomers—as a model to illustrate the chiral effect on the amylin fibrillation at nano-bio interface. We reported that both two chiral AuNPs could inhibit amylin fibrillation in a dosage-dependent manner but the inhibitory effect of L-NIBC-AuNPs was more effective than that of D-NIBC-AuNPs. In-situ real time circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that L-NIBC-AuNPs could inhibit the conformation transition process of amylin from random coils to α-helix, while D-NIBC-AuNPs could only delay but not prevent the formation of α-helix; however, they could inhibit the further conformation transition process of amylin from α-helix to β-sheet. These results not only provide interesting insight for reconsidering the mechanism of peptides amyloidosis at the chiral interfaces provided by biological nanostructures in vivo but also would help us design therapeutic inhibitors for anti-amyloidosis targeting diverse neurodegenerative diseases.
Pretreatment Fasting Glucose and Insulin as Determinants of Weight Loss on Diets Varying in Macronutrients and Dietary Fibers—The POUNDS LOST Study
Authors: Hjorth Mads F. , Bray George A. , Zohar Yishai , Urban Lorien , Miketinas Derek C. , Williamson Donald A. , Ryan Donna H. , Rood Jennifer , Champagne Catherine M. , Sacks Frank M. , Astrup Arne
Published: March 2019

Efforts to identify a preferable diet for weight management based on macronutrient composition have largely failed, but recent evidence suggests that satiety effects of carbohydrates may depend on the individual’s insulin-mediated cellular glucose uptake. Therefore, using data from the POUNDS LOST trial, pre-treatment fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FI), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were studied as prognostic markers of long-term weight loss in four diets differing in carbohydrate, fat, and protein content, while assessing the role of dietary fiber intake. Subjects with FPG <100 mg/dL lost 2.6 (95% CI 0.9;4.4, p = 0.003) kg more on the low-fat/high-protein (n = 132) compared to the low-fat/average-protein diet (n = 136). Subjects with HOMA-IR ≥4 lost 3.6 (95% CI 0.2;7.1, p = 0.038) kg more body weight on the high-fat/high-protein (n = 35) compared to high-fat/average-protein diet (n = 33). Regardless of the randomized diet, subjects with prediabetes and FI below the median lost 5.6 kg (95% CI 0.6;10.6, p = 0.030) more when consuming ≥35 g (n = 15) compared to <35 g dietary fiber/10 MJ (n = 16). Overall, subjects with normal glycemia lost most on the low-fat/high-protein diet, subjects with high HOMA-IR lost most on the high-fat/high protein diet, and subjects with prediabetes and low FI had particular benefit from dietary fiber in the diet.
The Arabidopsis altered in stress response2 is Impaired in Resistance to Root and Leaf Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Thatcher Louise F. , Singh Karam B.
Published: March 2019

The Arabidopsis thaliana Glutathione S-transferase Phi8 (GSTF8) gene is recognised as a marker for early defence and stress responses. To identify regulators of these responses, a forward genetic screen for Arabidopsis mutants with up-regulated GSTF8 promoter activity was conducted by screening a mutagenized population containing a GSTF8 promoter fragment fused to the luciferase reporter gene (GSTF8:LUC). We previously identified several enhanced stress response (esr) mutants from this screen that conferred constitutive GSTF8:LUC activity and increased resistance to several pathogens and/or insects pests. Here we identified a further mutant constitutively expressing GSTF8:LUC and termed altered in stress response2 (asr2). Unlike the esr mutants, asr2 was more susceptible to disease symptom development induced by two necrotrophic fungal pathogens; the root pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, and the leaf pathogen Alternaria brassicicola. The asr2 allele was mapped to a 2.1 Mbp region of chromosome 2 and narrowed to four candidate loci.
Arabidopsis Natural Accessions Display Adaptations in Inflorescence Growth and Vascular Anatomy to Withstand High Salinity during Reproductive Growth
Authors: Sellami Sahar , Le Hir Rozenn , Thorpe Michael R. , Aubry Emilie , Wolff Nelly , Vilaine Françoise , Brini Faiçal , Dinant Sylvie
Published: March 2019

Plant responses to abiotic stresses entail adaptive processes that integrate both physiological and developmental cues. However, the adaptive traits that are involved in the responses to a high soil salinity during reproductive growth are still poorly studied. To identify new clues, we studied the halophyte, Thellungiella salsuginea, and three Arabidopsis accessions, known as tolerant or salt-sensitive. We focused on the quantitative traits associated with the stem growth, sugar content, and anatomy of the plants subjected to the salt treatment, with and without a three-day acclimation, applied during the reproductive stage. The stem growth of Thellungiella salsuginea was not affected by the salt stress. By contrast, salt affected all of the Arabidopsis accessions, with a natural variation in the effect of the salt on growth, sugar content, and stem anatomy. In response to the high salinity, irregular xylem vessels were observed, independently of the accession’s tolerance to salt treatment, while the diameter of the largest xylem vessels was reduced in the tolerant accessions. The stem height, growth rate, hexoses-to-sucrose ratio, and phloem-to-xylem ratio also varied, in association with both the genotype and its tolerance to salt stress. Our findings indicate that several quantitative traits for salt tolerance are associated with the control of inflorescence growth and the adjustment of the phloem-to-xylem ratio.
Cyclodextrin-Polypyrrole Coatings of Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Lukášek Jan , Hauzerová Šárka , Havlíčková Kristýna , Strnadová Kateřina , Mašek Karel , Stuchlík Martin , Stibor Ivan , Jenčová Věra , Řezanka Michal
Published: March 2019

Polypyrrole is one of the most investigated conductive polymers used for tissue engineering applications because of its advantageous properties and the ability to promote different cell types’ adhesion and proliferation. Together with β-cyclodextrin, which is capable of accommodating helpful biomolecules in its cavity, it would make a perfect couple for use as a scaffold for tissue engineering. Such scaffolds were prepared by the polymerisation of 6-(pyrrol-3-yl)hexanoic acid on polycaprolactone microfibres with subsequent attachment of β-cyclodextrin on the polypyrrole layer. The materials were deeply characterised by several physical and spectroscopic techniques. Testing of the cyclodextrin enriched composite scaffold revealed its better performance in in vitro experiments compared with pristine polycaprolactone or polypyrrole covered polycaprolactone scaffolds.
Lineage Construction of the Southern School from Zhongli Quan to Liu Haichan and Zhang Boduan
Authors: Zhang Weiwen
Published: March 2019

Examining relevant Daoist scriptures and records, this article traces the lineage relationship of Zhang Boduan (d. 1082) to his predecessors. His immediate teacher supposedly was Liu Haichan, based on whose teachings he compiled his main work, the Wuzhen pian (Awakening to Perfection). First outlined by the Song scholar Lu Sicheng, the story was later expanded in various collections of immortals’ biographies. It is well known that the Southern School of internal alchemy (Golden Elixir) was constructed by Bai Yuchan and his disciples in the early 13th century. I show that this centers on the claim that Zhang Boduan, as Bai’s forerunner, received his teachings from Liu Haichan, a line that was then expanded to include the immortals Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin. I also suggest that the alchemical teaching of the Zhong-Lü tradition is particularly characterized by its emphasis on the dual cultivation of inner nature and life-destiny, focusing on the key concepts of clarity and stillness as well as nonaction, while centering on the reverted elixir of the golden fluid. The teaching matches the Daode jing (Book of the Dao and Its Virtue) instructions to “empty the mind, fill the belly, weaken the will, and strengthen the bones” (ch. 3). This emphasis may well be the reason the Zhong-Lü tradition superseded the Twofold Mystery school flourishing in the Tang and rose to the fore.
Damage Detection and Analysis of Urban Bridges Using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Ground-Based Microwave Interferometry, and Permanent Scatterer Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR)
Authors: Liu Xianglei , Wang Peipei , Lu Zhao , Gao Kai , Wang Hui , Jiao Chiyu , Zhang Xuedong
Published: March 2019

This paper presents a practical framework for urban bridge damage detection and analysis by using three key techniques: terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), ground-based microwave interferometry, and permanent scatterer interferometry synthetic aperture radar (PS-InSAR). The proposed framework was tested on the Beishatan Bridge in Beijing, China. Firstly, a Digital Surface Model (DSM) of the lower surface of the bridge was constructed based on the point cloud generated by using TLS to obtain the potential damage area. Secondly, the dynamic time-series displacement of the potential damage area was acquired by ground-based microwave interferometry, and the Extreme-Point Symmetric Mode Decomposition (ESMD) method was applied to detect damages by the use of signal decomposition and instantaneous frequency calculation. Lastly, the PS-InSAR technique was applied to obtain the surface deformation around Beishatan Bridge by using COSMO-SkyMed images with a ground resolution of 3 m × 3 m, and finally, we analyzed the causes of bridge damage. The experimental results showed that the proposed framework can effectively obtain the potential damage area of the bridge by the DSM from the point cloud by TLS and further judge whether the bridge was damaged by the ESMD method, based on the time-series displacement data. The results also showed that the subway shield construction may be the reason for damage to Beishatan Bridge.
A Workflow to Estimate Topographic and Volumetric Changes and Errors in Channel Sedimentation after Disturbance
Authors: Nourbakhshbeidokhti Samira , Kinoshita Alicia M. , Chin Anne , Florsheim Joan L.
Published: March 2019

Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) methods, such as ground-based Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), have enabled collection of high-resolution point clouds of elevation data to calculate changes in fluvial systems after disturbance, but are often accompanied by uncertainty and errors. This paper reviews and compares TLS analysis methods and develops a workflow to estimate topographic and volumetric changes in channel sedimentation after disturbance. Four analytic methods to estimate topographic and volumetric changes were compared by quantifying the uncertainty in TLS-derived products: Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of difference (DOD), Cloud to Cloud (C2C), Cloud to Mesh (C2M), and Multiple Model to Model Cloud Comparison (M3C2). Mean errors across surfaces within each dataset contributed to a propagation error of 0.015–0.016 m and 0.017–0.018 m for the point clouds and derived DEMs, respectively. The estimated error of the total volumetric change implied increased errors in the conversion of point clouds into a surface by C2M and DOD; whereas C2C and M3C2 were generally simpler, efficient, and accurate techniques for evaluating topographic changes. The comparison of methods to analyze TLS data will contribute to applications of remote sensing of hydro-geomorphic processes in stream channels after disturbance. The workflow presented also aids in estimating uncertainties inherent in data collection and analytic methods for topographic and volumetric change analysis.
Calculation Method for Phenotypic Traits Based on the 3D Reconstruction of Maize Canopies
Authors: Ma Xiaodan , Zhu Kexin , Guan Haiou , Feng Jiarui , Yu Song , Liu Gang
Published: March 2019

A reasonable plant type is an essential factor for improving canopy structure, ensuring a reasonable expansion of the leaf area index and obtaining a high-quality spatial distribution of light. It is of great significance in promoting effective selection of the ecological breeding index and production practices for maize. In this study, a method for calculating the phenotypic traits of the maize canopy in three-dimensional (3D) space was proposed, focusing on the problems existing in traditional measurement methods in maize morphological structure research, such as their complex procedures and relatively large error margins. Specifically, the whole maize plant was first scanned with a FastSCAN hand-held scanner to obtain 3D point cloud data for maize. Subsequently, the raw point clouds were simplified by the grid method, and the effect of noise on the quality of the point clouds in maize canopies was further denoised by bilateral filtering. In the last step, the 3D structure of the maize canopy was reconstructed. In accordance with the 3D reconstruction of the maize canopy, the phenotypic traits of the maize canopy, such as plant height, stem diameter and canopy breadth, were calculated by means of a fitting sphere and a fitting cylinder. Thereafter, multiple regression analysis was carried out, focusing on the calculated data and the actual measured data to verify the accuracy of the calculation method proposed in this study. The corresponding results showed that the calculated values of plant height, stem diameter and plant width based on 3D scanning were highly correlated with the actual measured data, and the determinant coefficients R2 were 0.9807, 0.8907 and 0.9562, respectively. In summary, the method proposed in this study can accurately measure the phenotypic traits of maize. Significantly, these research findings provide technical support for further research on the phenotypic traits of other crops and on variety breeding.
Optical Fiber Cladding SPR Sensor Based on Core-Shift Welding Technology
Authors: Wei Yong , Hu Jiangxi , Wu Ping , Su Yudong , Liu Chunlan , Wang Shifa , Nie Xiangfei , Liu Lu
Published: March 2019

The typical structure of an optical fiber surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, which has been widely investigated, is to produce the SPR phenomenon by the transmission of light in a fiber core. The traditional method is to peel off the fiber cladding by complex methods such as corrosion, polishing, and grinding. In this paper, the transmitted light of a single-mode fiber is injected into three kinds of fiber cladding by core-shift welding technology to obtain the evanescent field directly between the cladding and the air interface and to build the Kretschmann structure by plating with a 50-nm gold film. The SPR sensing phenomenon is realized in three kinds of fiber cladding of a single-mode fiber, a graded-index multimode fiber, and a step-index multimode fiber. For the step-index multimode fiber cladding SPR sensor, all the light field energy is coupled to the cladding, leading to no light field in the fiber core, the deepest resonance valley, and the narrowest full width at half maximum. The single-mode fiber cladding SPR sensor has the highest sensitivity, and the mean sensitivity of the probe reaches 2538 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) after parameter optimization.
Highly Responsive and Ultrasensitive Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Glucose Sensor Based on Au Foam
Authors: Shen Nannan , Xu Haijun , Zhao Weichen , Zhao Yongmei , Zhang Xin
Published: March 2019

Glucose concentration is an important physiological index, therefore methods for sensitive detection of glucose are important. In this study, Au foam was prepared by electrodeposition with a dynamic gas template on an Au nanoparticle/Si substrate. The Au foam showed ultrasensitivity, high selectivity, and long-term stability in the quantitative detection of glucose. The foam was used as an electrode, and the amperometric response indicated excellent catalytic activity in glucose oxidation, with a linear response across the concentration range 0.5 μM to 12 mM, and a limit of detection of 0.14 μM. High selectivity for interfering molecules at six times the normal level and long-term stability for 30 days were obtained. The results for electrochemical detection with Au foam of glucose in human serum were consistent with those obtained with a sensor based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and a commercial sensor. This proves that this method can be used with real samples. These results show that Au foam has great potential for use as a non-enzymatic glucose sensor.
Recent Advances in Electrosynthesized Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensing Platforms for Bioanalyte Detection
Authors: Crapnell Robert D. , Hudson Alexander , Foster Christopher W. , Eersels Kasper , Grinsven Bart van , Cleij Thomas J. , Banks Craig E. , Peeters Marloes
Published: March 2019

The accurate detection of biological materials has remained at the forefront of scientific research for decades. This includes the detection of molecules, proteins, and bacteria. Biomimetic sensors look to replicate the sensitive and selective mechanisms that are found in biological systems and incorporate these properties into functional sensing platforms. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic receptors that can form high affinity binding sites complementary to the specific analyte of interest. They utilise the shape, size, and functionality to produce sensitive and selective recognition of target analytes. One route of synthesizing MIPs is through electropolymerization, utilising predominantly constant potential methods or cyclic voltammetry. This methodology allows for the formation of a polymer directly onto the surface of a transducer. The thickness, morphology, and topography of the films can be manipulated specifically for each template. Recently, numerous reviews have been published in the production and sensing applications of MIPs; however, there are few reports on the use of electrosynthesized MIPs (eMIPs). The number of publications and citations utilising eMIPs is increasing each year, with a review produced on the topic in 2012. This review will primarily focus on advancements from 2012 in the use of eMIPs in sensing platforms for the detection of biologically relevant materials, including the development of increased polymer layer dimensions for whole bacteria detection and the use of mixed monomer compositions to increase selectivity toward analytes.
Estimating PM2.5 Concentrations Based on MODIS AOD and NAQPMS Data over Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei
Authors: Wang Qingxin , Zeng Qiaolin , Tao Jinhua , Sun Lin , Zhang Liang , Gu Tianyu , Wang Zifeng , Chen Liangfu
Published: March 2019

Accurately estimating fine ambient particulate matter (PM2.5) is important to assess air quality and to support epidemiological studies. To analyze the spatiotemporal variation of PM2.5 concentrations, previous studies used different methodologies, such as statistical models or neural networks, to estimate PM2.5. However, there is little research on full-coverage PM2.5 estimation using a combination of ground-measured, satellite-estimated, and atmospheric chemical model data. In this study, the linear mixed effect (LME) model, which used the aerosol optical depth (AOD) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), meteorological data, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and elevation data as predictors, was fitted for 2017 over Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH). The LME model was used to calibrate the PM2.5 concentration using the nested air-quality prediction modeling system (NAQPMS) simulated with ground measurements. The inverse variance weighting (IVW) method was used to fuse satellite-estimated and model-calibrated PM2.5. The results showed a strong agreement with ground measurements, with an overall coefficient (R2) of 0.78 and a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 26.44 μg/m3 in cross-validation (CV). The seasonal R2 values were 0.75, 0.62, 0.80, and 0.78 in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The fusion results supplement the lack of satellite estimates and can capture more detailed information than the NAQPMS model. Therefore, the results will be helpful for pollution process analyses and health-related studies.
Thermal-Feature System Identification for a Machine Tool Spindle
Authors: Hu Yuh-Chung , Chen Ping-Jung , Chang Pei-Zen
Published: March 2019

The internal temperature is an important index for the prevention and maintenance of a spindle. However, the temperature inside the spindle is undetectable directly because there is no space to embed a temperature sensor, and drilling holes will reduce its mechanical stiffness. Therefore, it is worthwhile understanding the thermal-feature of a spindle. This article presents a methodology to identify the thermal-feature model of an externally driven spindle. The methodology contains self-made hardware of the temperature sensing and wireless transmission module (TSWTM) and software for the system identification (SID); the TSWTM acquires the temperature training data, while the SID identifies the parameters of the thermal-feature model of the spindle. Then the resulting thermal-feature model is written into the firmware of the TSWTM to give it the capability of accurately calculating the internal temperature of the spindle from its surface temperature during the operation, or predicting its temperature at various speeds. The thermal-feature of the externally driven spindle is modeled by a linearly time-invariant state-space model whose parameters are identified by the SID, which integrates the command “n4sid” provided by the System ID Toolbox of MATLAB and the k-fold cross-validation that is common in machine learning. The present SID can effectively strike a balance between the bias and variance of the model, such that both under-fitting and over-fitting can be avoided. The resulting thermal-feature model can not only predict the temperature of the spindle rotating at various speeds but can also calculate the internal temperature of the spindle from its surface temperature. Its validation accuracy is higher than 98.5%. This article illustrates the feasibility of accurately calculating the internal temperature (undetectable directly) of the spindle from its surface temperature (detectable directly).
Correction Strategy of Mortars with Trajectory Correction Fuze Based on Image Sensor
Authors: Li Rupeng , Li Dongguang , Fan Jieru
Published: March 2019

For a higher accuracy of projectiles, a novel trajectory correction fuze is proposed. In this design, the sensor and actuator were reduced to achieve a balance between performance and affordability. Following introduction of the fuze concept, the flight model was presented and the crossrange and downrange components of trajectory response under control were investigated. The relationship between the inertial coordinate system and the detector coordinate system was studied so that the imager feedback could be used to derive the actual miss distance. The deployment time of canards and roll angle of the forward fuze were derived and used as the inputs of the control system in this strategy. Example closed-loop simulations were implemented to verify the effectiveness of the strategy. The results illustrate that the accuracy increase is evident and the proposed correction concept is applicable for terminal correction of mortars.
Linear Tapered Slot Antenna for Ultra-Wideband Radar Sensor: Design Consideration and Recommendation
Authors: Tseng Vincent , Chang Cheng-Yuan
Published: March 2019

Radar is a type of wireless, noncontact sensor that does not need to be placed on or near a test object for detection. A key component of any radar sensor is the antenna. Among different types of antennas, the linear tapered slot antenna (LTSA) is a wideband antenna that has the advantages of small size, design simplicity, and easy adaptation to an array. This study examined and analyzed the 10 primary parameters that define the LTSA design when operated in the ultra-wideband (UWB) frequency range. The study method involved varying each of the 10 parameters to discern how the variations impact the three critical characteristics of an antenna, namely, (1) return loss, (2) the far field radiation pattern on the E-plane, and (3) the far field radiation pattern on the H-plane. By analyzing the changes in these critical characteristics, a set of design recommendations for the 10 parameters was developed for the LTSA.
Optimization of the Maritime Signaling System in the Lagoon of Venice
Authors: Di Ciaccio Fabiana , Menegazzo Paolo , Troisi Salvatore
Published: March 2019

Aids to Navigation (AtoN) are auxiliary devices intended to support maritime navigation. They include both traditional signals (e.g., buoys and lights) and electronic aids, as for example those transmitted to ships through automatic tracking systems. In both cases, international organizations together with local authorities define technical specifications and standards on their use. Work still being finalized in the Venetian Lagoon made it necessary an assessment of the existing signaling system to guarantee the maximum level of safety in the waterways. Considering the severe atmospheric conditions to which the Lagoon is frequently subjected and the bathymetry restrictions affecting the navigation, an alternative aid system has been formalized for the first time in Italy. It is based on electronic and identification devices employed to virtualize the AtoN that will not be located at sea but only remotely identified by their coded messages, thus guaranteeing the continuity of port operations in any visibility conditions. This paper presents the procedures followed to reach a solution in line with the safety and efficiency standards given for the AtoN systems, considering position and luminous characteristics of physical signals in the first case, theoretical and statistical studies on Virtual AIS AtoN placement in the second case.
Analysis of Fish-Eye Lens Camera Self-Calibration
Authors: Choi Kang Hyeok , Kim Yongil , Kim Changjae
Published: March 2019

The fish-eye lens camera offers the advantage of efficient acquisition of image data through a wide field of view. However, unlike the popular perspective projection camera, a strong distortion effect appears as the periphery of the image is compressed. Such characteristics must be precisely analyzed through camera self-calibration. In this study, we carried out a fish-eye lens camera self-calibration while considering different types of test objects and projection models. Self-calibration was performed using the V-, A-, Plane-, and Room-type test objects. In the fish-eye lens camera, the V-type test object was the most advantageous for ensuring the accuracy of the principal point coordinates and focal length, because the correlations between parameters were relatively low. On the other hand, the other test objects were advantageous for ensuring the accuracy of distortion parameters because of the well-distributed image points. Based on the above analysis, we proposed, an accurate fish-eye lens camera self-calibration method that applies the V-type test object. The RMS-residuals of the proposed method were less than 1 pixel.
Efficient Recognition of Informative Measurement in the RF-Based Device-Free Localization
Authors: Tan Jiaju , Guo Xuemei , Zhao Xin , Wang Guoli
Published: March 2019

Device-Free Localization (DFL) based on the Radio Frequency (RF) is an emerging wireless sensing technology to perceive the position information of the target. To realize the real-time DFL with lower power, Back-projection Radio Tomographic Imaging (BRTI) has been used as a lightweight method to achieve the goal. However, the multipath noise in the RF sensing network may interfere with the measurement and the BRTI reconstruction performance. To resist the multipath interference in the observed data, it is necessary to recognize the informative RF link measurements that are truly affected by the target appearance. However, the existing methods based on the RF link state analysis are limited by the complex distribution of the RF link state and the high time complexity. In this paper, to enhance the performance of RF link state analysis, the RF link state analysis is transformed into a decomposition problem of the RF link state matrix, and an efficient RF link recognition method based on the low-rank and sparse decomposition is proposed to sense the spatiotemporal variation of the RF link state and accurately figure out the target-affected RF links. From the experimental results, the RF links recognized by the proposed method effectively reflect the target-induced RSS measurement variation with less time. Besides, the proposed method by recognizing the informative measurement is helpful to improve the accuracy of BRTI and enhance the efficiency in actual DFL applications.
Non-Contact Radiofrequency Inductive Sensor for the Dielectric Characterization of Burn Depth in Organic Tissues
Authors: Dinh Thi Hong Nhung , Serfaty Stéphane , Joubert Pierre-Yves
Published: March 2019

A flat circular transmission line-based 300 MHz resonator was implemented for the non-contact assessment of burn depths in biological tissues. Used as a transmit-and-receive sensor, it was placed at a 2 mm distance from organic material test samples (pork fillet samples) which were previously burned on their surface in various heating conditions involving different temperatures, durations, and procedures. Data extracted from the sensor by means of a distant monitoring coil were found to clearly correlate with the depth of burn observed in the tissue samples (up to 40% sensor output changes for a 7 mm burn depth) and with the heating conditions (around 5% sensor output changes observed in samples burned with identical heating procedures but at two different temperatures—75 °C and 150 °C—and around 40% sensor output changes observed between samples heated at the same temperature but with different heating procedures). These results open the way for the development of easy-to-implement assessment and monitoring techniques for burns, e.g., integrated in wearable medical dressing-like monitoring devices.
P-Ergonomics Platform: Toward Precise, Pervasive, and Personalized Ergonomics using Wearable Sensors and Edge Computing
Authors: Vega-Barbas Mario , Diaz-Olivares Jose A. , Lu Ke , Forsman Mikael , Seoane Fernando , Abtahi Farhad
Published: March 2019

Preventive healthcare has attracted much attention recently. Improving people’s lifestyles and promoting a healthy diet and wellbeing are important, but the importance of work-related diseases should not be undermined. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among the most common work-related health problems. Ergonomists already assess MSD risk factors and suggest changes in workplaces. However, existing methods are mainly based on visual observations, which have a relatively low reliability and cover only part of the workday. These suggestions concern the overall workplace and the organization of work, but rarely includes individuals’ work techniques. In this work, we propose a precise and pervasive ergonomic platform for continuous risk assessment. The system collects data from wearable sensors, which are synchronized and processed by a mobile computing layer, from which exposure statistics and risk assessments may be drawn, and finally, are stored at the server layer for further analyses at both individual and group levels. The platform also enables continuous feedback to the worker to support behavioral changes. The deployed cloud platform in Amazon Web Services instances showed sufficient system flexibility to affordably fulfill requirements of small to medium enterprises, while it is expandable for larger corporations. The system usability scale of 76.6 indicates an acceptable grade of usability.
Estimation of Two-Dimensional Non-Symmetric Incoherently Distributed Source with L-Shape Arrays
Authors: Wu Tao , Deng Zhenghong , Li Yiwen , Li Zhengxin , Huang Yijie
Published: March 2019

In the field of array signal processing, distributed sources can be regarded as an assembly of point sources within a spatial distribution. In this study, a two-dimensional (2D) non-symmetric incoherently distributed (ID) source model is proposed; we explore the estimation of a 2D non-symmetric ID source using L-shape arrays. The 2D non-symmetric ID source is established by modeling the angular power density function (APDF) as a Gaussian mixture model. Estimation of the non-symmetric distributed source is proposed based on the expectation maximization (EM) framework. The proposed EM iterative framework contains three steps in the process of each circle. Firstly, the nominal azimuth and nominal elevation of each Gaussian component are obtained from the phase parts of elements in sample covariance matrices. Then the angular spreads can be solved through a one-dimensional (1D) search by the original generalized Capon estimator. Finally, weights of each Gaussian component are obtained by solving the least-squares estimator. Simulations are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the estimation technique.
Lightweight Cipher for H.264 Videos in the Internet of Multimedia Things with Encryption Space Ratio Diagnostics
Authors: Shifa Amna , Asghar Mamoona Naveed , Noor Salma , Gohar Neelam , Fleury Martin
Published: March 2019

Within an Internet of Multimedia Things, the risk of disclosing streamed video content, such as that arising from video surveillance, is of heightened concern. This leads to the encryption of that content. To reduce the overhead and the lack of flexibility arising from full encryption of the content, a good number of selective-encryption algorithms have been proposed in the last decade. Some of them have limitations, in terms of: significant delay due to computational cost, or excess memory utilization, or, despite being energy efficient, not providing a satisfactory level of confidentiality, due to their simplicity. To address such limitations, this paper presents a lightweight selective encryption scheme, in which encoder syntax elements are encrypted with the innovative EXPer (extended permutation with exclusive OR). The selected syntax elements are taken from the final stage of video encoding that is during the entropy coding stage. As a diagnostic tool, the Encryption Space Ratio measures encoding complexity of the video relative to the level of encryption so as to judge the success of the encryption process, according to entropy coder. A detailed comparative analysis of EXPer with other state-of-the-art encryption algorithms confirms that EXPer provides significant confidentiality with a small computational cost and a negligible encryption bitrate overhead. Thus, the results demonstrate that the proposed security scheme is a suitable choice for constrained devices in an Internet of Multimedia Things environment.