Gait recognition using active shape model and motion prediction

This study presents a novel, robust gait recognition algorithm for human identification from a sequence of segmented noisy silhouettes in a low-resolution video. The proposed recognition algorithm enables automatic human recognition from model-based gait cycle extraction based on the prediction-based hierarchical active shape model (ASM). The proposed algorithm overcomes drawbacks of existing works by extracting a set of relative model parameters instead of directly analysing the gait pattern. The feature extraction function in the proposed algorithm consists of motion detection, object region detection and ASM, which alleviate problems in the baseline algorithm such as background generation, shadow removal and higher recognition rate. Performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated by using the HumanID Gait Challenge data set, which is the largest gait benchmarking data set with 122 objects with different realistic parameters including viewpoint, shoe, surface, carrying condition and time.     

Antioxidant and antigenotoxic effect of dairy products supplemented with red ginseng extract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effect of dairy products milk (M) and yogurt (Y) after the addition of 2% red ginseng extract to milk (RM) and to yogurt (RY). Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and total radical trapping antioxidant potential were determined in the samples. Furthermore, antigenotoxic effect of samples was measured, using comet assay in human leukocytes. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of RM [38.3 ± 0.8 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g, 23.6 ± 0.1 mg of quercetin equivalents (QE)/100 g] and RY (41.1 ± 0.9 mg of GAE/100 g, 18.7 ± 0.1 mg of QE/100 g), respectively, were higher than those of M (6.31 ± 0.2 mg of GAE/100 g, 10.4 ± 0.1 mg of QE/100 g) and Y (8.1 ± 0.9 mg of GAE/100 g, 8.4 ± 0.2 mg of QE/100 g), respectively. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity values increased significantly after the addition of 2% red ginseng in both. Additionally, the total radical trapping antioxidant potential in RM (787.7 ± 7.0 μg/mL) was lower than in M (2074.0 ± 28.4 μg/mL). The H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in RY (0.1 ± 0.0 mg/mL) was less than the damage in Y (0.4 ± 0.0 mg/mL), but we found no significant difference between M and RM. This study indicates that supplementation with red ginseng can fortify the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of dairy products effectively.     

Short communication: Antioxidative and antibacterial activities on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H4 in milk with added ginseng marc extract fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P

Ginseng marc, a by-product of the extraction of fresh ginseng, is known to have bioactive compounds, but is frequently discarded as agriculture waste. The objectives of our study were to assess the antioxidative activity of fermented ginseng marc extract using Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P and to evaluate antibacterial activity of fermented milk with added ginseng marc extract during fermentation. After 24 h of fermentation of ginseng marc extract, the viable cell number was increased to 7.7 ± 0.1 log cfu/mL, and the pH and total titratable acidity were 4.2 ± 0.4 and 0.6% lactic acid, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of fermented ginseng marc extract increased by 32.4 and 23.3%, respectively. Higher antioxidative activity of fermented ginseng marc extract was obtained in the β-carotene bleaching, ferric-reducing ability of plasma, and ferric thiocyanate assays than the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy assay. However, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy scavenging effect decreased due to lowered pH. During production of fermented milk with ginseng, inhibition rate of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were 9.7 and 2.3%, respectively. The present study shows the possibilities of Lactobacillus plantarum KCCM 11613P used as a fermentation strain and ginseng marc used as a functional supplement in milk.     

Piezoelectric and dielectric properties of low temperature sintering Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3–Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–Pb(Zr0.48Ti0.52)O3 ceramics with variation of sintering time

Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–Pb(Zn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–Pb(Zr_0.48Ti_0.52)O₃ (abbreviated as PMN–PZN–PZT) ceramics containing Li₂CO₃, Bi₂O₃ and CuO as sintering aids were fabricated using two-stage calcinations method in order to develop low temperature sintering ceramics for multilayer piezoelectric actuators. Their dielectric and piezoelectric properties were investigated according to the variation of sintering time. All the specimens sintered at 930°C for 60~150 min showed tetragonal phases without secondary phases. Electromechanical coupling factor (kp), dielectric constant (ε _r) and piezoelectric constant (d ₃₃) increased with the increase of the sintering time. The mechanical quality factor (Qm) exhibited maximum of 1,815 with the increase of sintering time for 120 min and then slightly decreased. At the sintering temperature of 930°C and the sintering time of 120 min, the optimal values such as the density of 7.69 g/cm³, kp of 0.516, ε _r of 1158, Qm of 1815, and d ₃₃ of 287 pC/N were found for multilayer piezoelectric actuators.     

Post-Catch-Up Strategy for Medium-Sized South Korean Firms: Improving Technological Capabilities by Balancing R&D Intensity and Open Innovation

Abstract

This study examines how R&D intensity and open innovation affect the technological capabilities of firms in newly-developed countries, such as South Korea. East Asian latecomers are transitioning from a catch-up phase toward becoming leaders, and they are engaging in open innovation activities to drive this transition. This research quantitatively analyzes three kinds of open innovation activities—outside-in, inside-out, and coupled—to investigate their influence upon technological capabilities, while also considering the effect of R&D intensity. Data from 75 South Korean medium-sized firms were analyzed, and two major findings are reported. First, technological capabilities are enhanced by some open innovation activities and by R&D intensity. Second, R&D intensity negatively moderates the impact of open innovation activities on technological capabilities. Therefore, it may be concluded that firms with relatively low R&D intensity will gain the most benefit from increasing their open innovation activities.     

Shrinkage behavior and interfacial diffusion in Ni-based internal electrodes with BaTiO3 additive

The effects of particle size of starting materials and amount of a BaTiO₃ additive on the shrinkage behavior and elemental diffusion in Ni-based internal electrodes have been investigated in order to control the shrinkage of the internal electrode in multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs). Two kinds of Ni and BaTiO₃ powders were used with different particle sizes. Volume shrinkage over the range of 700–1300 °C at 150 °C intervals and linear shrinkage during sintering were measured for starting materials and composites in a reducing atmosphere. The interfaces of Ni/BaTiO₃ composites with 90:10 and 70:30 volume ratios, respectively, were investigated using TEM. Composites with bimodal Ni powder show less shrinkage than those with monomodal Ni powder, showing less shrinkage in monolith Ni of bimodal particle size. The shrinkage behavior is changed during sintering with increasing amounts of BaTiO₃ additives in both Ni-based composites. The particle size of the BaTiO₃ additive affects the shrinkage behavior of composites, without the additional amount affecting the final shrinkage. A reaction layer of about 300 nm wide is observed at the interface between the Ni and BaTiO₃ powders in composites, in which elemental Ni diffuses into the BaTiO₃ without counterdiffusion.     

Phase transformation and oxidation behavior of Pt-modified MCrAlY coatings

The effects of platinum (Pt) layer on phase transformation and oxidation behavior of MCrAlY (M = Co, Ni) coatings were investigated by isothermal and cyclic oxidation tests at temperature of 1100 °C. Pt layer of about 5 μm thickness was deposited on MAR M247-DS superalloy by an electroplating method, and then the MCrAlY layers were coated with air plasma spray (APS) and vacuum plasma spray (VPS) methods. APS process creates internal oxides and interface voids, whereas the VPS process shows fewer voids in the interface between the MCrAlY layer and the superalloy used as substrate. The oxides and voids formed in the APS process deteriorate the oxidation resistance, indicating that the oxides and voids are transferred to Al₂O₃ compounds during the oxidation tests. The Pt layer shows a strong affinity with Ni element and a weak affinity with Co and Cr elements, resulting in the formation of β-(Ni,Pt)Al phase. The Pt pre-coated layer forces down for the diffusion of soluble elements to get the reduced deplete zone in the superalloy. The VPS process enhances the oxidation resistance of the MCrAlY coating and shows better bonding strength, owing to the generation of homogenous microstructure in the coating and less processing defects.     

Powder preparation for a shell mold using a new coating process

A new coating process in the powder preparation for a shell mold has been developed to increase the fracture strength of the shell mold. It is due to the homogeneous formation of a glass phase on the starting particles and the increase in the glassification efficiency by the reduction in the loss of inorganic precursors. The inorganic binder system used for the new coating process is composed of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and sodium methoxide (NaOMe) as the silica (SiO₂) and sodium oxide (Na₂O) precursors, respectively. Three different coating processes are employed for the powder preparation with a high glassification efficiency. In process I, the starting particles are coated with NaOMe, and then TEOS are coated on the particles treated with NaOMe. Process II is the reverse sequence of process I. Process III involves coating of the particles with a mixture of TEOS and NaOMe. The particles coated with an individual or mixture precursor were fixed with an organic binder and then heated at 1000 °C for 1 h. Molds prepared through the new coating processes, especially process III, show a higher fracture strength value compared with that of the conventional convert mold process, which may be caused by the increase in the glassification efficiency of the precursors. Powder prepared by process III shows a more uniform coating of the glass phase than those by other processes, resulting from an enhancement in the phase mixing between SiO₂ and NaOH molecules.     

Purification and Characterization of a Ginsenoside Rb1-Hydrolyzing ��-Glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239

Rb₁-hydrolyzing β-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger KCCM 11239 was studied to develop a bioconversion process for minor ginsenosides. The specific activity of the purified enzyme was 46.5 times greater than that of the crude enzyme. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be approximately 123 kDa. The optimal pH of the purified enzyme was pH 4.0, and the enzyme proved highly stable over a pH range of 5.0–10.0. The optimal temperature was 70 °C, and the enzyme became unstable at temperatures above 60 °C. The enzyme was inhibited by Cu²⁺, Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, and acetic acid (10 mM). In the specificity tests, the enzyme was found to be active against ginsenoside Rb₁, but showed very low levels of activity against Rb₂, Rc, Rd, Re, and Rg₁. The enzyme hydrolyzed the 20-C,β-(1→6)-glucoside of ginsenoside Rb₁ to generate ginsenoside Rd and Rg₃, and hydrolyzed 3-C,β-(1→2)-glucoside to generate F₂. The properties of the enzyme indicate that it could be a useful tool in biotransformation applications in the ginseng industry, as well as in the development of novel drug compounds.