bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lower Strength Alcohol Products—A Realist Review-Based Road Map for European Policy Making
Authors: Anderson Peter , Kokole Daša , Jané Llopis Eva , Burton Robyn , Lachenmeier Dirk W.
Published: September 2022

This paper reports the result of a realist review based on a theory of change that substitution of higher strength alcohol products with lower strength alcohol products leads to decreases in overall levels of alcohol consumption in populations and consumer groups. The paper summarizes the results of 128 publications across twelve different themes. European consumers are increasingly buying and drinking lower strength alcohol products over time, with some two fifths doing so to drink less alcohol. It tends to be younger more socially advantaged men, and existing heavier buyers and drinkers of alcohol, who take up lower strength alcohol products. Substitution leads to a lower number of grams of alcohol bought and drunk. Although based on limited studies, buying and drinking lower strength products do not appear to act as gateways to buying and drinking higher strength products. Producer companies are increasing the availability of lower strength alcohol products, particularly for beer, with extra costs of production offset by income from sales. Lower strength alcohol products tend to be marketed as compliments to, rather than substitutes of, existing alcohol consumption, with, to date, the impact of such marketing not evaluated. Production of lower strength alcohol products could impair the impact of existing alcohol policy through alibi marketing (using the brand of lower strength products to promote higher strength products), broadened normalization of drinking cultures, and pressure to weaken policies. In addition to increasing the availability of lower strength products and improved labelling, the key policy that favours substitution of higher strength alcohol products with lower strength products is an alcohol tax based on the dose of alcohol across all products.
Fabrication of Mucoadhesive Films Containing Pharmaceutical Ionic Liquid and Eudragit Polymer Using Pressure-Assisted Microsyringe-Type 3D Printer for Treating Oral Mucositis
Authors: Tagami Tatsuaki , Okamura Maya , Ogawa Koki , Ozeki Tetsuya
Published: September 2022

Oral mucositis in the oral cavity, caused by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, requires personalized care and therapy due to variations in the lesions of patients. In the present study, we fabricated a model of personalized oral film containing an ibuprofen/lidocaine ionic liquid (IL) for patients with oral mucositis using a pressure-assisted microsyringe-type 3D printer at room temperature. The film contained a Eudragit polymer (L100, EPO, or RSPO) to make the film solid, and the printer ink was composed of organo ink (organic solvent to dissolve both drugs and the Eudragit polymer). The viscosity of the printer ink was assessed to investigate its extrudability. The contact angle and the surface tension at the interface between each liquid printer ink and a solid polypropylene sheet were measured to determine the retention of the ink in 3D printing. The physical properties of IL-loaded Eudragit-based dry films were examined by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Dissolution tests indicated that IL-loaded films containing a Eudragit polymer exhibited different drug release rates in phosphate buffer (pH 6.8; Eudragit L100 > IL alone > Eudragit EPO > Eudragit RSPO). These results provide useful information for the specific fabrication of IL-loaded polymer-based films using organo inks and pressure-assisted microsyringe-type 3D printers.
Genotyping-by-Sequencing Defines Genetic Structure within the “Acquaviva” Red Onion Landrace
Authors: Delvento Chiara , Pavan Stefano , Miazzi Monica Marilena , Marcotrigiano Angelo Raffaele , Ricciardi Francesca , Ricciardi Luigi , Lotti Concetta
Published: September 2022

Genetic structure and distinctive features of landraces, such as adaptability to local agro-ecosystems and specific qualitative profiles, can be substantially altered by the massive introduction of allochthonous germplasm. The landrace known as “Cipolla rossa di Acquaviva” (Acquaviva red onion, further referred to as ARO) is traditionally cultivated and propagated in a small area of the Apulia region (southern Italy). However, the recent rise of its market value and cultivation area is possibly causing genetic contamination with foreign propagating material. In this work, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used to characterize genetic variation of seven onion populations commercialized as ARO, as well as one population of the landrace “Montoro” (M), which is phenotypically similar, but originates from another cultivation area and displays different qualitative features. A panel of 5011 SNP markers was used to perform parametric and non-parametric genetic structure analyses, which supported the hypothesis of genetic contamination of germplasm commercialized as ARO with a gene pool including the M landrace. Four ARO populations formed a core genetic group, homogeneous and clearly distinct from the other ARO and M populations. Conversely, the remaining three ARO populations did not display significant differences with the M population. A set of private alleles for the ARO core genetic group was identified, indicating the possibility to trace the ARO landrace by means of a SNP-based molecular barcode. Overall, the results of this study provide a framework for further breeding activities and the traceability of the ARO landrace.
Optimizing the Composition of Silicone Enamel to Ensure Maximum Aggregative Stability of Its Suspensions Using Surfactant Obtained from Oil Refining Waste
Authors: Tyukanko Vitaliy , Demyanenko Alexandr , Dyuryagina Antonina , Ostrovnoy Kirill , Aubakirova Gulsim
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study was to optimize the composition of enamel consisting of aluminum pigment and polyphenylsiloxane polymer, in order to achieve the maximum aggregative stability of suspensions. Sedimentation rate (SR) was used as a criterion for assessing the aggregative stability of the suspensions. An original product, AS-1, and industrial additives PEPA and Telaz, were tested as surfactants. AS-1 was obtained from oil refining waste at M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University. All the studied surfactants improved the stability of the suspensions. The AS-1 additive significantly improved the stability of the suspensions, but exhibited a lower stabilizing ability by 10–20% than PEPA. The maximum overall stability of the suspensions was recorded at a PEPA level of 0.25–0.375 g/dm3 in the enamel. The Taguchi method was used to optimize the composition of the enamel, using AS-1 as the surfactant. It is recommended to use AS-1 in silicone enamels. Optimum compositions can reduce the petrol absorption of coatings by 1.5 times, their roughness by 2.5 times and increase their gloss.
Attapulgite Structure Reset to Accelerate the Crystal Transformation of Isotactic Polybutene
Authors: Mao Shuang-Dan , Zhang Mi , Lin Fu-Hua , Li Xiang-Yang , Zhao Yu-Ying , Zhang Yan-Li , Gao Yi-Fan , Luo Jun , Chen Xin-De , Wang Bo
Published: September 2022

Isotactic polybutene (iPB) has a wide application in the water pipe field. However, the most valuable form I, needs 7 days to complete the transformation. In this study, the attapulgite (ATP), which produces lattice matching of the iPB form I, was selected to prepare an iPB/ATP composite. The Fischer–Tropsch wax (FTW) was grafted with maleic anhydride to obtain MAFT, and the ATP structure was reset by reactions with MAFT to the prepared FATP, which improved the interface compatibility of the ATP and iPB. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and the water contact angle test confirmed the successful synthesis of FATP. X-ray diffraction (XRD) verified that the graft of MAFT did not affect the crystal structure of ATP. The iPB + 5% FATP had the maximum flexural strength, which was 12.45 Mpa, and the flexural strength of the iPB + 5% FATP annealing for 1 day was much higher than others. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs verified that FATP and iPB had good interface compatibility. The crystal transformation behavior indicated that the iPB + 5% FATP had the fastest crystal transformation rate, which proved that the reset structure, ATP, greatly accelerated the crystal transformation of iPB. This was a detailed study on the effect of lattice matching, interfacial compatibility and internal lubrication of the reset structure, ATP, in the nucleation and growth stages of iPB form I. The result was verified by XRD, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Avrami kinetics and polarizing microscope (POM) analysis.
Failure Locus of an ABS-Based Compound Manufactured through Photopolymerization
Authors: Șerban Dan-Andrei , Coșa Alexandru Viorel , Belgiu George , Negru Radu
Published: September 2022

This work investigates the critical plastic strain variation with stress triaxiality and the Lode angle parameter for an Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)-based proprietary blend compound (commercial name VeroWhitePlus™ RGD835) manufactured through photopolymerization. Various triaxial states of stress and Lode angles were obtained with the help of notched flat specimens used in tensile loadings, notched round specimens used in compression (upsetting) tests and butterfly specimens used in Arcan tests. The tests were replicated using finite element analyses in order to evaluate the aforementioned parameters.
Effect of the Particle Size and Layer Thickness of GNP Fillers on the Dielectric Properties and Actuated Strain of GNP–PDMS Composites
Authors: Seo Jin-Sung , Kim Do-Hyeon , Jung Heon-Seob , Kim Ho-Dong , Choi Jaewon , Kim Minjae , Baeck Sung-Hyeon , Shim Sang-Eun
Published: September 2022

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs), a type of electroactive polymers (EAPs), are smart materials that are used in various fields such as artificial muscles and biomimetic robots. In this study, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), which are conductive carbon fillers, were added to a widely used DEA, namely, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to improve its low actuated strain. Four grades of GNPs were used: H5, H25, M5, and M25 (here, the number following the letter indicates the average particle size of the GNPs in μm). The average layer thickness of the H grade is 13–14 nm and that of the M grade is 5–7 nm. PDMS composites were prepared by adding 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt% of each GNP, following which the mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and actuated strain of the composites were measured. The mechanical properties were found to increase as the particle size increased. Regarding the dielectric characteristics, it was found that the higher the aspect ratio of the filler, the easier the formation of a micro-capacitor network in the composite—this led to an increase in the dielectric constant. In addition, the higher amounts of GNPs in the composites also led to an increase in the dielectric constant. For the actuated strain analysis, the electromechanical sensitivity was calculated using the ratio of the dielectric constant to the Young’s modulus, which is proportional to the strain. However, it was found that when the loss tangent was high, the performance of the actuated strain decreased owing to the conversion of electric energy into thermal energy and leakage current loss. As a result, the highest actuated strain was exhibited by the M25 composite, with an actuated strain value of 3.01% measured at a low electric field (<4 kV/mm). In conclusion, we proved that the GNP–PDMS composites with a thin layer and large particle size exhibited high deformation.
Crystal Violet Adsorption on Eco-Friendly Lignocellulosic Material Obtained from Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) Biomass
Authors: Mosoarca Giannin , Vancea Cosmin , Popa Simona , Dan Mircea , Boran Sorina
Published: September 2022

The performance of a new eco-friendly adsorbent, obtained from motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca L.) biomass after minimum processing, in crystal violet dye removal from aqueous solutions was studied. Firstly, the adsorbent material was characterized using several technics, such as FTIR, pHPZC determination, SEM and color analysis. The next step was to determine the influence of initial dye concentration, contact time, temperature, pH, adsorbent dose and ionic strength on adsorbent adsorption capacity. Equilibrium, kinetic, thermodynamic, optimization and desorption studies were performed in a batch system for studying all aspects related to the adsorption process. The sips isotherm best fit the experimental data with a predicted maximum adsorption capacity of 125.6 (mg g−1). The kinetic data indicate that equilibrium is reached at 50 min and that general order is the best kinetic model to describe the dye retention. The process is endothermic, spontaneous, favorable and supposed to be a physical adsorption. In addition to establishing the optimal adsorption conditions, Taguchi methods and ANOVA analysis showed that the pH is the most influencing parameter of the adsorption process, having a contribution of 61.64%. All the presented data show that the motherwort biomass powder is very suitable to be used as at low-cost, easy available and effective adsorbent for the crystal violet dye removal from aqueous solutions.
Effects of Acid Modulators on the Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Cr/Sn Metal-Organic Frameworks
Authors: Mao Wei , Huang Renting , Xu Hao , Wang Hao , Huang Yi , Huang Shurong , Zhou Jinghong
Published: September 2022

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted remarkable attention for their distinguished structural designability. Precisely controlling the particle size and improving the structural stability of MOF nanoparticles influence their catalytic activity significantly. In this study, six acids (nitric, hydrochloric, formic, acetic, succinic, and citric acids) were used as modulators to prepare bimetallic MIL-101 (Cr, Sn) (MIL stands for Materials of Institut Lavoisier) via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Changes in volumetric, structural, stability, and catalytic properties, size, and shape of MIL-101 (Cr, Sn) were examined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. All modulators altered the MOF properties. Compared with other samples, acetic acid as a modulator mildly altered the MOF morphology by narrowing their particle size distribution, enhancing the specific surface area, and significantly improving their water and thermal stabilities. The addition of acetic acid was suitable for the catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), achieving a 43.1% 5-HMF yield with 91.4% glucose conversion in a mixed solution of γ-valerolactone and saturated salt water at 150 °C after 30 min.
The Split Flow Process of CO2 Capture with Aqueous Ammonia Using the eNRTL Model
Authors: Jeong Seung Won , Lee Bomsock , Kim Sung Young
Published: September 2022

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology has attracted increasing attention as global climate change accelerates. Carbon dioxide removal processes under development include pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and chemical absorption using amine solvents. In this paper, an ammonia solvent, which is relatively inexpensive and has good material properties, was used instead of amines in the carbon dioxide removal process simulation as a chemical absorption method. This simulation used the eNRTL thermodynamics model which has the advantage of predicting ions in the liquid phase in Aspen Plus. A case study (Case Study 1) was conducted to verify the validity of the thermodynamic model. The purpose of this research was to find the operating conditions to eliminate more than 90% of the carbon dioxide contained in the flue gas from coal-fired power stations, and to lower heat duty and operating cost conditions. A second case study (Case Study 2) was conducted to find the operating conditions by comparing various process operating conditions. Additionally, this paper determined lower operating cost conditions by manipulating the amount of steam and cooling water. The results showed that the heater’s outlet temperature should be set at under 80 ℃ to lower the operating costs. As a result of changing the flow rate of the side stream of the split flow process, energy consumption was reduced when compared to the conventional flow process. It was shown that the split flow is a superior process with 10.24% less energy use than the conventional flow. In this study, the split flow process achieved an energy saving advantage when compared to the conventional flow process, and a carbon dioxide removal rate of 95% was achieved.
Distributed Economic Dispatch Control Method with Frequency Regulator for Smart Grid under Time-Varying Directed Topology
Authors: Ji Lianghao , Meng Weiqi , Yang Shasha , Li Huaqing
Published: September 2022

The paper studies a new distributed control method to solve the economic dispatch problem (EDP) under directed topology based on consensus protocol. Electrical equipment is closely related to frequency, and the frequency of each generator varies independently during operation. Therefore, it hinders the realization of economic dispatch. To solve the problem, we combine a frequency regulator with a consensus protocol, which eliminates the effect of frequency variation on the designed consensus algorithm. Meanwhile, considering the problem of excessive communication cost and low computational efficiency in large-scale power systems, an event-triggered mechanism is introduced into the designed algorithm. Furthermore, in order to overcome the unexpected loss of communication links, the time-varying topology mechanism is employed to develop the distributed economic dispatch (DED) algorithm to improve the robustness. Then, the stability of the above algorithm is proved by graph theory and convergence analysis. Finally, several simulations illustrate that our proposed methods are effective.
The Meaning of ‘Spiritual’ as Integral Health: From Hippocrates of Kos to the Potamius of Lisbon
Authors: Villas Boas Alex , Lamelas Isidro
Published: September 2022

This article aims to analyze how the category ‘spiritual’ used by Hippocrates of Kos can help with a better understanding of the influence and reception of Hippocratic medicine the Christian self-understanding as a religion of healing, especially from the Hippocratic influence in Potamius of Lisbon, and at the same time this Christian understanding contributes to the desacralization of medicine as a medical art. For this purpose, it will be analyzed the category pneuma in the Hippocratic naturalism, and within the debate between the medical schools, Pneumatics and Empirics, around the various methods of treatment to maintain the dynamization of pneuma. With this, it is intended, then, to identify different forms of reception of Hippocrates in Christianity associated with the different perceptions that one has of the writings of the physician of Kos. Such contextualization aims to help understand the process of spiritualization of pneuma that paved the way for the radicalization of the Pauline duality between body and soul, as well as to identify another understanding of pneuma linked to the conception of stoic sympatheia and the reading of the empiricists of Hippocratic Naturalism, both present in the Christian reading of the Corpus Hippocraticum. In this sense, this article will take as an example the work of Potamius of Lisbon (4th century), in order to identify an epistemological model of spirituality and health that could works as a kind of antidote to the tendency towards spiritualization of the pneuma, to accentuate its aspect of integrating, vitalizing and unifying body and soul in a pneuma dynamism, connecting the notion of restoring the health of nature with the notion of Christian redemption.
From Timothy Tingfang Lew to Bing Xin: The Bible and Poetic Innovation at Yenching University
Authors: Yang Yi
Published: September 2022

The sweeping spread of Christianity in China since the late Qing Dynasty contributed to the construction of modern Chinese literature. Among scholars, this view is widely recognized. However, how the Bible as literature crossed the linguistic boundary and specifically influenced modern Chinese literature, especially the study of Chinese vernacular poetry, has not been thoroughly researched. Yenching University (1919–1952), a legendary ecclesiastical university in Peking, is famous for producing many famous modern writers. In the 1920s, at this university, the Bible deeply inspired and influenced several key writers in the history of modern Chinese literature and culture. This paper will review the poetry of these writers and analyze the following three questions: (1) How did biblical poetry take root in a historically non-Biblical cultural context through Christian higher education? (2) How was biblical poetry inherited and recreated in early twentieth century China in the circumstances of Yenching University? (3) How did Bible-inspired poetry contribute to and change the creation of modern Chinese literature?
Performance and Aesthesis in Malay-World Musics, Religious and Secular
Authors: Benjamin Geoffrey
Published: September 2022

The Malay World has been home to a range of social formations, from nomadic hunter-gatherers on land and sea, through (semi-)sedentary swiddeners and forest traders, to state-incorporated peasants and aristocrats. In their religious and secular musics, these populations display differing performance manners and organisation that reflect their distinctive socio-cultural and religious orientations. The musics serve to embed those orientations as aesthetically felt rather than conceptually talked about. The differences are encoded mainly onto contrasts between, on the one hand, highly heterophonic and/or starkly non-melismatic performance and, on the other, more homophonic and/or melismatic styles.
BACA: Superpixel Segmentation with Boundary Awareness and Content Adaptation
Authors: Liao Nannan , Guo Baolong , Li Cheng , Liu Hui , Zhang Chaoyan
Published: September 2022

Superpixels could aggregate pixels with similar properties, thus reducing the number of image primitives for subsequent advanced computer vision tasks. Nevertheless, existing algorithms are not effective enough to tackle computing redundancy and inaccurate segmentation. To this end, an optimized superpixel generation framework termed Boundary Awareness and Content Adaptation (BACA) is presented. Firstly, an adaptive seed sampling method based on content complexity is proposed in the initialization stage. Different from the conventional uniform mesh initialization, it takes content differentiation into consideration to incipiently eliminate the redundancy of seed distribution. In addition to the efficient initialization strategy, this work also leverages contour prior information to strengthen the boundary adherence from whole to part. During the similarity calculation of inspecting the unlabeled pixels in the non-iterative clustering framework, a multi-feature associated measurement is put forward to ameliorate the misclassification of boundary pixels. Experimental results indicate that the two optimizations could generate a synergistic effect. The integrated BACA achieves an outstanding under-segmentation error (3.34%) on the BSD dataset over the state-of-the-art performances with a minimum number of superpixels (345). Furthermore, it is not limited to image segmentation and can be facilitated by remote sensing imaging analysis.
Spatiotemporal Variation, Driving Mechanism and Predictive Study of Total Column Ozone: A Case Study in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomerations
Authors: Zhou Peng , Wen Youyue , Yang Jian , Yang Leiku , Liang Minxuan , Wen Tingting , Cai Shaoman
Published: September 2022

Total column ozone (TCO) describes the amount of ozone in the entire atmosphere. Many scholars have used the lower resolution data to study TCO in different regions, but new phenomena can be discovered using high-precision and high-resolution TCO data. This paper used the long time, high accuracy, and high-resolution MSR2 dataset (2000–2019) to analyze the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of TCO over the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration to explore the relationship between the TCO and meteorological and socio-economic factors. The correlations between the TCO and climatic factors and the driving forces of meteorological and socio-economic factors on the spatial and temporal variability of TCO were also analyzed, and different mathematical models were constructed to fit the TCO for the past 20 years and predict the future trend of the TCO. The results show the following. (1) The TCO over the study area exhibited a quasi-latitudinal distribution, following a slight downtrend during 2000–2019 (0.01 ± 0.18 DU per year) and achieved its maximum in 2010 and minimum in 2019; throughout the year, an inverted V-shaped cycle characterizes the monthly variability of TCO; TCO was significantly higher in spring than in summer and autumn than winter. (2) Precipitation and the absorbed aerosol index (AAI) had critical effects on the spatial distribution of TCO, but meteorological factors were weakly correlated with the annual variation of TCO subject to the game interactions between different external driving factors. The monthly changes in the TCO were not in synergy with that of other meteorological factors, but with a significant hysteresis effect by 3–5 months. Socio-economic factors had a significant influence on TCO over the study area. (3) The Fourier function model can well describe the history and future trend of the annual TCO over the study area. The TCO over the study area shows a fluctuating upward trend (0.27 ± 1.35 DU per year) over the next 11 years. This study enriches the theoretical and technical system of ozone research, and its results can provide the necessary theoretical basis for ozone simulation and forecasting.
A Robust Nonlinear Filter Strategy Based on Maximum Correntropy Criterion for Multi-GNSS and Dual-Frequency RTK
Authors: Liu Jian , Liu Tong , Ji Yuanfa , Sun Mengfei , Lyu Mingyang , Xu Bing , Lu Zhiping , Xu Guochang
Published: September 2022

The multi-constellation, multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has the potential to empower precise real-time kinematics (RTK) with higher accuracy, availability, continuity, and integrity. However, to enhance the robustness of the nonlinear filter, both the measurement quality and efficiency of parameter estimation need consideration, especially for GNSS challenging or denied environments where outliers and non-Gaussian noise exist. This study proposes a nonlinear Kalman filter with adaptive kernel bandwidth (KBW) based on the maximum correntropy criterion (AMC-KF). The proposed method excavates data features of higher order moments to enhance the robustness against noise. With the wide-lane and ionosphere-free combination, a dual frequency (DF) data-aided ambiguity resolution (AR) method is also derived to improve the measurement quality. The filtering strategy based on the DF data-aided AR method and AMC-KF is applied for multi-GNSS and DF RTK. To evaluate the proposed method, the short baseline test, long baseline test, and triangle network closure test are conducted with DF data from GPS and Galileo. For the short baseline test, the proposed filter strategy could improve the positioning accuracy by more than 30% on E and N components, and 60% on U. The superiority of the proposed adaptive KBW is validated both in efficiency and accuracy. The triangle network closure test shows that the proposed DF data-aided AR method could achieve a success rate of more than 93%. For the long baseline test, the integration of the above methods gains more than 40% positioning accuracy improvement on ENU components. This study shows that the proposed nonlinear strategy could enhance both robustness and accuracy without the assistance of external sensors and is applicable for multi-GNSS and dual-frequency RTK.
Land Use Land Cover Labeling of GLOBE Images Using a Deep Learning Fusion Model
Authors: Manzanarez Sergio , Manian Vidya , Santos Marvin
Published: September 2022

Most of the land use land cover classification methods presented in the literature have been conducted using satellite remote sensing images. High-resolution aerial imagery is now being used for land cover classification. The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit, the Environment land cover image database, is created by citizen scientists worldwide who use their handheld cameras to take a set of six images per land cover site. These images have clutter due to man-made objects, and the pixel uncertainties result in incorrect labels. The problem of accurate labeling of these land cover images is addressed. An integrated architecture that combines Unet and DeepLabV3 for initial segmentation, followed by a weighted fusion model that combines the segmentation labels, is presented. The land cover images with labels are used for training the deep learning models. The fusion model combines the labels of five images taken from the north, south, east, west, and down directions to assign a unique label to the image sets. 2916 GLOBE images have been labeled with land cover classes using the integrated model with minimal human-in-the-loop annotation. The validation step shows that our architecture of labeling the images results in 90.97% label accuracy. Our fusion model can be used for labeling large databases of land cover classes from RGB images.
Design and Testing of a Computer Security Layer for the LIN Bus
Authors: Páez Felipe , Kaschel Héctor
Published: September 2022

Most modern vehicles are connected to the internet via cellular networks for navigation, assistance, etc. via their onboard computer, which can also provide onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth services. The main in-vehicle communication buses (CAN, LIN, FlexRay) converge at the vehicle’s onboard computer and offer no computer security features to protect the communication between nodes, thus being highly vulnerable to local and remote cyberattacks which target the onboard computer and/or the vehicle’s electronic control units through the aforementioned buses. To date, several computer security proposals for CAN and FlexRay buses have been published; a formal computer security proposal for the LIN bus communications has not been presented. So, we researched possible security mechanisms suitable for this bus’s particularities, tested those mechanisms in microcontroller and PSoC hardware, and developed a prototype LIN network using PSoC nodes programmed with computer security features. This work presents a novel combination of encryption and a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) scheme with replay attack rejection for the LIN communications. The obtained results are promising and show the feasibility of the implementation of an LIN network with real-time computer security protection.
Rapid Identification of Beached Marine Plastics Pellets Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: A Promising Tool for the Quantification of Coastal Pollution
Authors: Giugliano Roberta , Cocciaro Bruno , Poggialini Francesco , Legnaioli Stefano , Palleschi Vincenzo , Locritani Marina , Merlino Silvia
Published: September 2022

The rapid identification of beached marine micro-plastics is essential for the determination of the source of pollution and for planning the most effective strategies for remediation. In this paper, we present the results obtained by applying the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique on a large sample of different kinds of plastics that can be found in a marine environment. The use of chemometric analytical tools allowed a rapid classification of the pellets with an accuracy greater than 80%. The LIBS spectrum and statistical tests proved their worth to quickly identify polymers, and in particular, to distinguish C-O from C-C backbone pellets, and PE from PP ones. In addition, the PCA analysis revealed a correlation between appearance (surface pellets roughness) and color (yellowing), as reported by other recent studies. The preliminary results on the analysis of metals accumulated on the surface of the pellets are also reported. The implication of these results is discussed in view of the possibility of frequent monitoring of the marine plastic pollution on the seacoast.
(Near) Real-Time Snow Water Equivalent Observation Using GNSS Refractometry and RTKLIB
Authors: Steiner Ladina , Studemann Géraldine , Grimm David Eugen , Marty Christoph , Leinss Silvan
Published: September 2022

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) refractometry enables automated and continuous in situ snow water equivalent (SWE) observations. Such accurate and reliable in situ data are needed for calibration and validation of remote sensing data and could enhance snow hydrological monitoring and modeling. In contrast to previous studies which relied on post-processing with the highly sophisticated Bernese GNSS processing software, the feasibility of in situ SWE determination in post-processing and (near) real time using the open-source GNSS processing software RTKLIB and GNSS refractometry based on the biased coordinate Up component is investigated here. Available GNSS observations from a fixed, high-end GNSS refractometry snow monitoring setup in the Swiss Alps are reprocessed for the season 2016/17 to investigate the applicability of RTKLIB in post-processing. A fixed, low-cost setup provides continuous SWE estimates in near real time at a low cost for the complete 2021/22 season. Additionally, a mobile, (near) real-time and low-cost setup was designed and evaluated in March 2020. The fixed and mobile multi-frequency GNSS setups demonstrate the feasibility of (near) real-time SWE estimation using GNSS refractometry. Compared to state-of-the-art manual SWE observations, a mean relative bias below 5% is achieved for (near) real-time and post-processed SWE estimation using RTKLIB.
Using Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Sensing and Wearable Technology in Sports Medicine and Performance Optimisation
Authors: Chidambaram Swathikan , Maheswaran Yathukulan , Patel Kian , Sounderajah Viknesh , Hashimoto Daniel A. , Seastedt Kenneth Patrick , McGregor Alison H. , Markar Sheraz R. , Darzi Ara
Published: September 2022

Wearable technologies are small electronic and mobile devices with wireless communication capabilities that can be worn on the body as a part of devices, accessories or clothes. Sensors incorporated within wearable devices enable the collection of a broad spectrum of data that can be processed and analysed by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In this narrative review, we performed a literature search of the MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases. We included any original studies that used sensors to collect data for a sporting event and subsequently used an AI-based system to process the data with diagnostic, treatment or monitoring intents. The included studies show the use of AI in various sports including basketball, baseball and motor racing to improve athletic performance. We classified the studies according to the stage of an event, including pre-event training to guide performance and predict the possibility of injuries; during events to optimise performance and inform strategies; and in diagnosing injuries after an event. Based on the included studies, AI techniques to process data from sensors can detect patterns in physiological variables as well as positional and kinematic data to inform how athletes can improve their performance. Although AI has promising applications in sports medicine, there are several challenges that can hinder their adoption. We have also identified avenues for future work that can provide solutions to overcome these challenges.
Three-Dimensional Foot Position Estimation Based on Footprint Shadow Image Processing and Deep Learning for Smart Trampoline Fitness System
Authors: Park Se-Kyung , Park Jun-Kyu , Won Hong-In , Choi Seung-Hwan , Kim Chang-Hyun , Lee Suwoong , Kim Min Young
Published: September 2022

In the wake of COVID-19, the digital fitness market combining health equipment and ICT technologies is experiencing unexpected high growth. A smart trampoline fitness system is a new representative home exercise equipment for muscle strengthening and rehabilitation exercises. Recognizing the motions of the user and evaluating user activity is critical for implementing its self-guided exercising system. This study aimed to estimate the three-dimensional positions of the user’s foot using deep learning-based image processing algorithms for footprint shadow images acquired from the system. The proposed system comprises a jumping fitness trampoline; an upward-looking camera with a wide-angle and fish-eye lens; and an embedded board to process deep learning algorithms. Compared with our previous approach, which suffered from a geometric calibration process, a camera calibration method for highly distorted images, and algorithmic sensitivity to environmental changes such as illumination conditions, the proposed deep learning algorithm utilizes end-to-end learning without calibration. The network is configured with a modified Fast-RCNN based on ResNet-50, where the region proposal network is modified to process location regression different from box regression. To verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm, a series of experiments are performed using a prototype system with a robotic manipulator to handle a foot mockup. The three root mean square errors corresponding to X, Y, and Z directions were revealed to be 8.32, 15.14, and 4.05 mm, respectively. Thus, the system can be utilized for motion recognition and performance evaluation of jumping exercises.
Tracking and Dynamic Tuning of a Wireless Powered Endoscopic Capsule
Authors: Murliky Lucas , Oliveira Gustavo , de Sousa Fernando Rangel , Brusamarello Valner João
Published: September 2022

This work presents an inductive wireless power transfer system for powering an endoscopy capsule supplying energy to power electronic devices allocated inside a capsule of ≈26.1 mm × 9 mm. A receiver with three coils in quadrature with dimensions of ≈9 mm × 9 mm × 10 mm is located inside the capsule, moving freely inside a transmitter coil with 380 mm diameter through translations and revolutions. The proposed system tracks the variations of the equivalent magnetic coupling coefficient compensating misalignments between the transmitter and receiver coils. The power on the load is estimated and optimized from the transmitter, and the tracking control is performed by actuating on a capacitance in the matching network and on the voltage source frequency. The proposed system can prevent load overheating by limiting the power via adjusting of the magnitude of voltage source VS. Experimental results with uncertainties analysis reveal that, even at low magnetic coupling coefficients k ranging from (1.7 × 10−3, 3.5 × 10−3), the power on the load can be held within the range of 100–130 mW. These results are achieved with any position of the capsule in the space, limited by the diameter of the transmitter coil and height of 200 mm when adjusting the series capacitance of the transmitter in the range (17.4, 19.4) pF and the frequency of the power source in the range (802.1, 809.5) kHz.
Structure-Integrated Thin-Film Supercapacitor as a Sensor
Authors: Petersen Jan , Kube Alexander , Geier Sebastian , Wierach Peter
Published: September 2022

Today, aircraft composite structures are generally over-dimensioned to avoid catastrophic failure by unseen damages. This leads to a higher system weight and therefore an unwanted increase in greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce this parasitic mass, load monitoring can play an important role in damage detection. Additionally, the weight and volume of future aircraft structures can also be reduced by energy storing and load carrying structures: so-called power composites. In this study a novel method of combining both approaches for maximum weight reduction is shown. This is achieved by using power composites as load monitoring sensors and energy suppliers. Therefore, supercapacitors are integrated into fiber reinforced polymers and are then used to investigate the mechanical load influence. By using four-point bending experiments and in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, a strong relation between the mechanical load and the electrochemical system is found and analyzed using a model. For the first time, it is possible to detect small strain values down to 0.2% with a power composite. This strain is considerably lower than the conventional system load. The developed model and the impedance data indicate the possibility of using the composite as an energy storage as well as a strain sensor.
Collaborative Learning Based Sybil Attack Detection in Vehicular AD-HOC Networks (VANETS)
Authors: Azam Sofia , Bibi Maryum , Riaz Rabia , Rizvi Sanam Shahla , Kwon Se Jin
Published: September 2022

Vehicular Ad-hoc network (VANET) is an imminent technology having both exciting prospects and substantial challenges, especially in terms of security. Due to its distributed network and frequently changing topology, it is extremely prone to security attacks. The researchers have proposed different strategies for detecting various forms of network attacks. However, VANET is still exposed to several attacks, specifically Sybil attack. Sybil Attack is one of the most challenging attacks in VANETS, which forge false identities in the network to undermine communication between network nodes. This attack highly impacts transportation safety services and may create traffic congestion. In this regard, a novel collaborative framework based on majority voting is proposed to detect the Sybil attack in the network. The framework works by ensembling individual classifiers, i.e., K-Nearest Neighbor, Naïve Bayes, Decision Tree, SVM, and Logistic Regression in a parallel manner. The Majority Voting (Hard and Soft) mechanism is adopted for a final prediction. A comparison is made between Majority Voting Hard and soft to choose the best approach. With the proposed approach, 95% accuracy is achieved. The proposed framework is also evaluated using the Receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC-curve).
Synthesis, Characterization, and Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Waste Sludge Biochar for COD and Color Removal from Agro-Industrial Effluent
Authors: Jagaba Ahmad Hussaini , Kutty Shamsul Rahman Mohamed , Abubakar Sule , Birniwa Abdullahi Haruna , Lawal Ibrahim Mohammed , Umaru Ibrahim , Usman Abdullahi Kilaco , Yaro Nura Shehu Aliyu , Al-Zaqri Nabil , Al-Maswari Basheer M. , Ibrahim Mohamad Nasir Mohamad , Hussain Fida
Published: September 2022

Agro-waste management processes are evolving through the development of novel experimental approaches to understand the mechanisms in reducing their pollution levels efficiently and economically from industrial effluents. Agro-industrial effluent (AIE) from biorefineries that contain high concentrations of COD and color are discharged into the ecosystem. Thus, the AIE from these biorefineries requires treatment prior to discharge. Therefore, the effectiveness of a continuous flow bioreactor system (CFBS) in the treatment of AIE using hybrid waste sludge biochar (HWSB) was investigated. The use of a bioreactor with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1–3 days and AIE concentrations of 10–50% was used in experiments based on a statistical design. AIE concentration and HRT were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) as the process variables. The performance of CFBS was analyzed in terms of COD and color removal. Findings indicated 76.52% and 66.97% reduction in COD and color, respectively. During biokinetic studies, the modified Stover models were found to be perfectly suited for the observed measurements with R2 values 0.9741 attained for COD. Maximum contaminants elimination was attained at 30% AIE and 2-day HRT. Thus, this study proves that the HWSB made from biomass waste can potentially help preserve nonrenewable resources and promote zero-waste attainment and principles of circular economy.
Inclusion Capital: How Police Officers Are Included in Their Workplaces
Authors: Linklater Kate
Published: September 2022

Policing organisations are increasingly expected to be representative of the diversity (e.g., gender, sexuality, ethnicity and religion) in the communities they serve. However, inclusion of these officers in the workplace often requires them to fit into prevailing police culture, meaning that the cultural changes expected in association with increased diversity are not achieved as readily in police organisations. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with twenty police detectives, in this article, I assert that there are three core characteristics required of police officers needed to promote inclusion and acceptance in their workplace, regardless of their diversity status. These characteristics are cultural congruence, competence and team-player ability—together known as ‘inclusion capital’. The definitions of these three inclusion capital characteristics are shaped by the prevailing police culture and organisational policy and are subject to change. An individual officer’s understanding and ability to prove these three characteristics are reflected in how well they are included and accepted amongst their colleagues. This paper contributes to previous findings on police culture using Bourdieu’s theories of ‘capital’ in a new way to explain how and why police are included in their workplace. It also describes how these findings might be used by police managers to improve workplace inclusion for all minoritised officers.
Family Resilience and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A South African Study
Authors: Rich Edna G. , Butler-Kruger Letitia , Sonn Inge K. , Kader Zainab , Roman Nicolette V.
Published: September 2022

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created various challenges for individuals and families across the globe. Many countries went into a state of disaster and applied strict lockdown regulations to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Although the sudden changes in livelihoods impacted families globally, this research is limited to understanding how families connected and resolved conflict during the pandemic. The current study therefore aimed at exploring how family dynamics and resilience in South African families were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted qualitatively in the Western Cape, South Africa, with 31 participants. The results indicated that families in the Western Cape had trouble adjusting to the imposed restrictions; however, some of these families used the time they had together to adapt and find new ways of building their relationships and strengthening their bonds. The main themes indicated that the most difficult challenges were the children’s schooling, financial impact from job losses, and separation from extended family members due to restrictions on movement. Furthermore, familial support and connecting as a family through open and honest communication helped the families remain resilient and fostered positive relationships.