bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relevance-based channel selection in motor imagery brain–computer interface
Authors: Nagarajan Aarthy , Robinson Neethu , Guan Cuntai 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Objective. Channel selection in the electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain–computer interface (BCI) has been extensively studied for over two decades, with the goal being to select optimal subject-specific channels that can enhance the overall decoding efficacy of the BCI. With the emergence of deep learning (DL)-based BCI models, there arises a need for fresh perspectives and novel techniques to conduct channel selection. In this regard, subject-independent channel selection is relevant, since DL models trained using cross-subject data offer superior performance, and the impact of inherent inter-subject variability of EEG characteristics on subject-independent DL training is not yet fully understood. Approach. Here, we propose a novel methodology for implementing subject-independent channel selection in DL-based motor imagery (MI)-BCI, using layer-wise relevance propagation (LRP) and neural network pruning. Experiments were conducted using Deep ConvNet and 62-channel MI data from the Korea University EEG dataset. Main Results. Using our proposed methodology, we achieved a 61% reduction in the number of channels without any significant drop (p = 0.09) in subject-independent classification accuracy, due to the selection of highly relevant channels by LRP. LRP relevance-based channel selections provide significantly better accuracies compared to conventional weight-based selections while using less than 40% of the total number of channels, with differences in accuracies ranging from 5.96% to 1.72%. The performance of the adapted sparse-LRP model using only 16% of the total number of channels is similar to that of the adapted baseline model (p = 0.13). Furthermore, the accuracy of the adapted sparse-LRP model using only 35% of the total number of channels exceeded that of the adapted baseline model by 0.53% (p = 0.81). Analyses of channels chosen by LRP confirm the neurophysiological plausibility of selection, and emphasize the influence of motor, parietal, and occipital channels in MI-EEG classification. Significance. The proposed method addresses a traditional issue in EEG-BCI decoding, while being relevant and applicable to the latest developments in the field of BCI. We believe that our work brings forth an interesting and important application of model interpretability as a problem-solving technique.
Fully desktop fabricated flexible graphene electrocorticography (ECoG) arrays
Authors: Hu Jia , Hossain Ridwan Fayaz , Navabi Zahra S , Tillery Alana , Laroque Michael , Donaldson Preston D , Swisher Sarah L , Kodandaramaiah Suhasa B 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Objective: Flexible Electrocorticography (ECoG) electrode arrays that conform to the cortical surface and record surface field potentials from multiple brain regions provide unique insights into how computations occurring in distributed brain regions mediate behavior. Specialized microfabrication methods are required to produce flexible ECoG devices with high-density electrode arrays. However, these fabrication methods are challenging for scientists without access to cleanroom fabrication equipment. Results: Here we present a fully desktop fabricated flexible graphene ECoG array. First, we synthesized a stable, conductive ink via liquid exfoliation of Graphene in Cyrene. Next, we established a stencil-printing process for patterning the graphene ink via laser-cut stencils on flexible polyimide substrates. Benchtop tests indicate that the graphene electrodes have good conductivity of ∼1.1 × 103 S cm−1, flexibility to maintain their electrical connection under static bending, and electrochemical stability in a 15 d accelerated corrosion test. Chronically implanted graphene ECoG devices remain fully functional for up to 180 d, with average in vivo impedances of 24.72 ± 95.23 kΩ at 1 kHz. The ECoG device can measure spontaneous surface field potentials from mice under awake and anesthetized states and sensory stimulus-evoked responses. Significance: The stencil-printing fabrication process can be used to create Graphene ECoG devices with customized electrode layouts within 24 h using commonly available laboratory equipment.
Toward a generalizable deep CNN for neural drive estimation across muscles and participants
Authors: Wen Yue , Kim Sangjoon J , Avrillon Simon , Levine Jackson T , Hug François , Pons José L 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Objective. High-density electromyography (HD-EMG) decomposition algorithms are used to identify individual motor unit (MU) spike trains, which collectively constitute the neural code of movements, to predict motor intent. This approach has advanced from offline to online decomposition, from isometric to dynamic contractions, leading to a wide range of neural-machine interface applications. However, current online methods need offline retraining when applied to the same muscle on a different day or to a different person, which limits their applications in a real-time neural-machine interface. We proposed a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) framework for neural drive estimation, which takes in frames of HD-EMG signals as input, extracts general spatiotemporal properties of MU action potentials, and outputs the number of spikes in each frame. The deep CNN can generalize its application without retraining to HD-EMG data recorded in separate sessions, muscles, or participants. Approach. We recorded HD-EMG signals from the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles from five participants while they performed isometric contractions during two sessions separated by ∼20 months. We identified MU spike trains from HD-EMG signals using a convolutive blind source separation (BSS) method, and then used the cumulative spike train (CST) of these MUs and the HD-EMG signals to train and validate the deep CNN. Main results. On average, the correlation coefficients between CST from the BSS and that from deep CNN were

0.983
±
0.006

for leave-one-out across-sessions-and-muscles validation and

0.989
±
0.002

for leave-one-out across-participants validation. When trained with more than four datasets, the performance of deep CNN saturated at

0.984
±
0.001

for cross validations across muscles, sessions, and participants. Significance. We can conclude that the deep CNN is generalizable across the aforementioned conditions without retraining. We could potentially generate a robust deep CNN to estimate neural drive to muscles for neural-machine interfaces.
Investigation of the effects of purge gas recycling for increasing methanol production and carbon dioxide reduction on the environment using dynamic simulation
Authors: Sarvestani Maryam Ebrahimzadeh , Maria Francesco Di 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Nowadays, not only development but also survival requires energy. In today’s world, this energy is supplied through various carriers such as oil, gas, electricity, and renewable energy. Due to the increasing expansion of urban communities and the expansion of industry and industrial life, the issue of environmental pollution and excessive increase in greenhouse gases has become one of the major problems of communities. Half of all carbon dioxide emissions are generated by fossil fuel and power plants. Synthesis gas, which includes carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and nitrogen, is obtained by reforming natural gas. This gas is used to produce valuable products such as methanol. In general, methanol is produced from the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide separately in the presence of zinc oxide and copper catalysts by a complex mechanism. In this study, to increase methanol production in the unit, the effect of recycling different gas components in the industrial unit has been investigated using dynamic simulation. Also, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction and its effects on the environment are examined. These studies showed that by considering these changes, the rate of methanol production current can be increased by about two percent.
The pyrolysis and gasification pathways of automotive shredder residue targeting the production of fuels and chemicals
Authors: Manente Giovanni , Martignano Sebastiano , Ficarella Antonio , Cavaliere Pasquale 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Automotive shredder residue (ASR), also referred to as car fluff, is the 15-25% of end-of-life vehicle’s mass remaining after de-pollution, dismantling, shredding of the hulk and removal of metals from the shredded fraction. ASR typically consists of metals, plastics, rubber, textile, wood and glass, and is commonly landfilled. The use of ASR as a fuel in incineration processes is controversial since toxic pollutants can be generated as by-products if operational conditions and gas cleaning systems are not carefully controlled. Thermochemical treatment of ASR consists of advanced technology processes that convert ASR components liable to decomposition under the application of heat into liquids and/or gases and a solid residue containing metals. Within the thermochemical treatment options for ASR, pyrolysis and gasification are generally considered as the emerging technologies. The pyrolysis process uses medium temperatures (400-600°C) and an oxygen-free environment to decompose ASR chemically, thus producing minimum emissions and allowing metals to be recovered. Gasification is operated at higher temperatures (>700-800°C) and typically uses air as a gasification agent, which raises some issues in terms of emissions. Lab and pilot-scale plants fed with ASR have been built using both technologies, also considering a combination of them. The aim of this paper is the identification of the best conversion pathway for the production of transportation fuels, aviation fuels or chemicals (hydrogen, methanol, etc.) from ASR. The intermediate products from gasification and pyrolysis are used as feedstock in secondary processes for the production of the final products. The heterogeneous and complex composition of ASR raises several challenges upon its thermochemical treatment, so that the second step of the conversion process is typically not even addressed. Instead, this further step is fundamental to obtain some valuable products that can directly replace fossil derived fuels or chemicals. The updated picture presented in this work should help identify the main advantages and drawbacks of the pyrolysis and gasification processes when considered part of an overall ASR to fuels or chemicals plant.
Transformation of a historical building into a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB)
Authors: Romano G , Mancini F 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The European Commission strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy by 2050 outlines main strategic blocks to maximise the benefits of energy efficiency, including zero emission buildings and to maximise the deployment of renewables and the use of electricity to fully decarbonise Europe’s energy supply. The following EU Climate Target Plan 2030 underlines, once again and even more urgently than in 2050, the strong need to build a modern, sustainable and resilient Europe, and this high objective means cleaner air, more energy security and more energy-efficient buildings. Looking at these European directives, Italy has signed the PNIEC, with whom intends to pursue an indicative target of reducing consumption by 2030 equal to 43% of primary energy and 39.7% of final energy compared to the PRIMES 2007 reference scenario. To achieve this goal, particular attention is paid to the existing buildings such as Palazzo De Simone. This historical building, built in the eighteenth century on a project by the architect Raguzzini, located in Benevento (BN), is now home to four different uses: the De Simone Theatre, the De Simone Chapel, a faculty of the University of Sannio and the Conservatory of Benevento. Starting from an extensive historical research, as well as from a series of non-destructive in-situ surveys and environmental measurements, it has been possible to create a satisfactory analysis framework. Later, the design objectives have been identified and, starting from these, design strategies and solutions have been formulated. It has been decided to act at a global level with a conservative restoration in compliance with the constraints imposed by the Superintendence, and at a specific level first on the building envelope, leaving the systems unchanged, then on the systems, leaving the envelope unchanged. Finally, crossing the results, the transformation of the historical building in a nZEB has been obtained, in compliance with the legislative constraints imposed by the national regulations.
Energy and Environmental Refurbishment of the Hygiene Institute within the Sapienza University of Rome campus
Authors: Romano G , Martellucci G , Mancini F , Battisti A 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Starting from the definition of sustainable development introduced by the 2030 Agenda, and the most recent European implementation tools such as above all the New Green Deal, three goals have been highlighted as pilot objectives of this research: Goal 13 “Climate Action” to strengthen the resilience and adaptability of our building stock to climate-related risks, Goal 7 “Affordable and Clean Energy” by increasing the share of renewable energy and improving the energy efficiency of the existing building stock and Goal 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”, aimed, in this specific case, at a sustainable management of water resources and technologies for recycling and reuse. In particular, the research work focused on the energy and environmental redevelopment, from a green perspective, of the “Sanarelli” Institute of Hygiene within the “Sapienza” University of Rome campus. The building was built in 1935 and, following a series of changes over the years, currently has a total volume of 37,700 m3 and an area of 9,475 m2. After an in-depth study of the status quo thanks to inspections, surveys, non-invasive investigations and environmental analyses, the work has focused on the definition of specific objectives with the ultimate aim of the energy and environmental refurbishment intervention by tracing 7 strategies thanks to which it has been possible to identify 9 technical solutions to be applied to the Institute. The design choices highlight a close synergy between active and passive devices which together contribute to achieving a circular use of water resources on site, with systems for capturing and collecting rainwater and treating wastewater, as well as achieving a significant improvement in the energy behaviour of the building. This improvement has been possible not only thanks to the updating, with respect to nowadays uses and standards, of the characteristics of the building envelope and of the active systems, but also thanks to the close collaboration between the active and passive technological solutions that have led to satisfactory results with a view to reducing CO2 emissions.
Thermal and acoustic performance of additive aerogel-clay bricks.
Authors: Buratti C , Merli F , Belloni E , Spaccini F 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Aerogel is a nano-porous material with significant thermal insulation properties and a good candidate for improving the performance of traditional materials for energy efficiency in buildings. It is therefore gaining more and more interest in the construction industry and researchers are carrying out investigations for incorporating granular aerogel into bricks. The aim of the present paper is the experimental investigation of the influence on both thermal and acoustic properties of granular aerogel in mixed clay-aerogel bricks. Samples with 5% of granular aerogel were tested and compared with the pure clay. For each type of brick, the thermal conductivity (λ) was evaluated in a Small Hot Box apparatus. The acoustic performance (absorption coefficient α and Transmission Loss TL) was measured at normal incidence in a traditional impedance tube. The results reveal that the thermal conductivity of clay sample with 5% of aerogel in the initial mixture decrease to 0.212 W/(mK) at 10°C, in comparison with 0.310 W/(mK). Also α-values better than the ones without aerogel were achieved (α = 0.29 at about 1600 Hz instead of 0.11) whereas TL values, despite good (24 - 34 dB depending on the frequency), are lower than the ones obtained for the pure clay samples, due to the lower density, according to the Mass Law.
Numerical analysis of the thermal energy storage in cellular structures filled with phase-change material
Authors: Nonino Carlo , Diani Andrea , Rossetto Luisa 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This paper reports the results of a numerical study on the thermal performance of metal cellular structures that can be obtained by additive manufacturing (selective laser melting) when they are impregnated with phase change material (PCM) for possible applications in electronic cooling. Two body-centered cubic (BCC) periodic structures with cell sizes of 5 mm and 10 mm and a porosity of 87%, made of two solid materials (aluminum alloy and copper), and two paraffins with characteristic melting temperatures of 55 and 64 °C were considered. The numerical simulations are carried out using the commercial code ANSYS Fluent and are based on a previously validated purely conductive heat transfer model. The computational domains include just small repetitive portions of the considered composite structures, thus allowing substantial savings of computational time. Computed results show that, with both paraffins, the copper made finer BCC structure (5 mm) yields the best thermal performances, i.e, the shortest PCM melting time and the highest rate of thermal energy storage during transients.
ACAES systems to enhance the self-consumption rate of renewable electricity in sustainable energy communities
Authors: Cocco Daniele , Licheri Fabio , Micheletto Davide , Tola Vittorio 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This paper aims to evaluate the optimal configuration of an Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (ACAES) system designed to achieve the best matching between power production from non-programmable Renewable Energy Sources (RES) power plants and power demand from final users. The electrical energy demand of a small town, with a maximum power load of about 10 MW, has been considered as case study. The electrical energy can be supplied by both a photovoltaic (PV) power plant and the grid. For the ACAES system, different sizes for compressor, turbine, thermal energy storage (TES) system and air storage reservoir have been evaluated by varying the air mass flow rate of turbomachines and the charging and discharging duration times, to enhance the share of the PV energy supplied to the end user. The best performance is achieved with a PV power plant rated at about 35 MW and an ACAES section characterized by a compressor/turbine rated power of about 25-35% of the maximum power load of the end user, with a charging time of about 10 hours and a discharging time of about 20 hours. The average round-trip efficiency of the ACAES system is around 70%. On the overall, the integrated PV-ACAES system allows to cover 66% of the yearly electrical energy demand.
An Alternative Solution for Microfluidic Chip Fabrication
Authors: Ongaro C , Betti A , Zardin B , Siciliani V , Orazi L , Bertacchini J , Borghi M 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This paper focuses on microfluidic devices, widely used in bioengineering. Their fabrication for research is almost entirely made of PDMS (a silicone), using photolithography and replica molding technologies, which involve many processing steps, sealed with a glass layer by plasma bonding. Our solution fabricates devices in just two steps, laser ablation of a glass layer, technology already extensively tested, and sealing with a commercial silicone layer by plasma bonding, drastically reducing skilled human operations and lead time. The paper describes the technologies with PDMS and with our solution, the design of a microfluidic test chip, the laser ablation and assessment by a confocal microscope of the microfluidic circuit in the glass layer of the chip, the plasma bonding of glass layers with PDMS and two other commercial silicones utilizing a grid of different plasma parameters, the qualitative assessment of the plasma bonding and choosing of a silicone as PDMS substitute, the extensive test on the bonding quality by two different pressure circuits on a batch of microfluidic chips realized with our proposed technology.
Design procedures for hybrid hydromechanical transmissions
Authors: Andretta N , Rossetti A , Macor A 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Hybrid hydromechanical transmissions are particularly suitable for heavy vehicle and have the potential to provide better efficiencies than other hybrid architectures. However, their study must be carried out with care, since there are many possible transmission configurations and there is not one superior to the others for all applications. The particular complexity of these transmissions requires that design be treated as an optimization problem.
In this paper, the optimization procedures of the “non-optimal” type are compared with the “optimal” ones, which are more precise than the former, but much heavier in terms of calculation time. The former consist of two sections. The first one is dedicated to the simultaneous optimization of the layout and components of the non-hybrid hydromechanical transmission; the second one is dedicated to the accumulator only, which can be optimized by means of simple physical laws or by means of a “Design of Experiments “procedure.
The “optimal” procedures, on the other hand, proceed with the sizing of the entire hybrid transmission through a mathematical programming problem that can be single or multi-objective. It will be demonstrated that the DOE “non-optimal” procedure provides results very close to those derived from the “optimal” procedures, with considerable savings in calculation times.
Ammonia as a fuel for internal combustion engines: latest advances and future challenges
Authors: Langella G , de Joannon M , Sabia P , Iodice P , Amoresano A 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The use of ammonia as a fuel still poses a series of challenges to be overcome, both in terms of optimization and energy efficiency of the production process, and with regard to its combustion in internal combustion engines. The two main obstacles along this way are undoubtedly the high ignition temperature and the low propagation speed of the flame front due to the slow chemical kinetics of ammonia combustion process. All these issues lead to the need to use this fuel in blended mode with other more “easy burning” fuels. This need is even more felt in cases of non-stationary combustion, such as for alternative internal combustion engines but, on the other hand, it can determine an increase in engine efficiency. In this work, these ammonia technological constraints are exposed and discussed, outlining the most recent technological solutions and those under development, which will allow an increasingly widespread use of this energy carrier as a fuel in internal combustion engines. Finally, the environmental aspects related to the greater potential emission of NOx and the techniques to limit their occurrence are analyzed.