A web-based platform for biosignal visualization and annotation

With the advent of wearable sensing and mobile technologies, biosignals have seen an increasingly growing number of application areas, leading to the collection of large volumes of data. One of the difficulties in dealing with these data sets, and in the development of automated machine learning systems which use them as input, is the lack of reliable ground truth information. In this paper we present a new web-based platform for visualization, retrieval and annotation of biosignals by non-technical users, aimed at improving the process of ground truth collection for biomedical applications. Moreover, a novel extendable and scalable data representation model and persistency framework is presented. The results of the experimental evaluation with possible users has further confirmed the potential of the presented framework.     

HamleDT: Harmonized multi-language dependency treebank

We present HamleDT—a HArmonized Multi-LanguagE Dependency Treebank. HamleDT is a compilation of existing dependency treebanks (or dependency conversions of other treebanks), transformed so that they all conform to the same annotation style. In the present article, we provide a thorough investigation and discussion of a number of phenomena that are comparable across languages, though their annotation in treebanks often differs. We claim that transformation procedures can be designed to automatically identify most such phenomena and convert them to a unified annotation style. This unification is beneficial both to comparative corpus linguistics and to machine learning of syntactic parsing.     

Influence of anionic form on thermooxidation of TMAHP–cellulose

With the help of DTA, DTG elementary analysis of carbonized residues and ESR spectroscopy the influence of anionic form on thermooxidation of trimethylammoniumhydroxyprophyl (TMAHP)–cellulose was studied. At 300°C the percentage of carbon in carbonized residue thermolyzed in oxidative atmosphere is higher than for the sample degraded in inert atmosphere. The percentage of hydrogen decreases simultaneously. The concentration of free radicals in thermolyzed residue also increases due to the presence of oxygen. We propose that oxygen is abstracting the hydrogen atoms from polysaccharide and unpaired electrons on carbon atoms are produced. At 400°C the percentage of carbon in residues prepared at inert atmosphere is higher than for residue formed at oxidative atmosphere. Also the concentration of free radicals in thermolyzed residues obtained in inert atmosphere is greater than for those from oxidative ones. That is why suppose that at this temperature oxygen is bonded to polysaccharide residue and free radicals are terminated. From the semiquantitative DTA we can make the following sequence of samples according to their increasing thermooxidative effect: unmodified cellulose < A–HSO < A–Br^? < A–I^? < A–NO < A–H₂PO < A–CH₃COO^? < A–HCO < A–F^? < A–Cl^?1 < A–OH^p?.     

Characterisation of cut and chip behaviour for NR,SBR and BR compounds with an instrumented laboratory device

ABSTRACT

Understanding the cut and chip (CC) effect in rubber is important for successful product development for tires used in off-road or poor road conditions and for other demanding applications of rubber. This research describes a laboratory testing method for characterising the CC fracture behaviour of rubber using a device that controls and records multiple applied loads and displacements during cyclic impact to the surface of a solid rubber specimen to mimic and quantify the CC damage experienced by tire tread compounds. To study the capabilities of the instrument, three model compounds were studied that are based on carbon black reinforced compounds of common elastomers used in tire treads: natural rubber (NR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and butadiene rubber (BR). These polymers have well-established CC tendencies in field performance of tire treads, with NR exhibiting the best CC resistance followed by SBR and finally BR. The same trend was found with the rubber impact testing approach that allowed the CC behaviour to be quantified using a new physical parameter which is the CC propensity (P). The relative ranking for CC resistance for the three compounds followed the fatigue crack growth resistances of the materials but was exactly opposite to the ranking of DIN abrasion resistance. This provides evidence that CC damage from impact by mm-scale asperities and abrasion of rubber against μm-scale asperities exhibit distinct characteristics in rubber.     

Preparation and characterization of PVA/OMMT composites

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol/organically modified montmorillonite (HDA/MMT; organoclay) composite was prepared for the intercalation processes. Firstly, the rheological behavior of aqueous montmorillonite dispersions was investigated as a function of solid content. Hexadecylamine (HDA) was added to the montmorillonite dispersion (2%, w/w) in different concentrations in the range of 5 × 10^?4 – 9 × 10^?3 mmol/L. The basal spacing of the organoclay (OMMT) was studied by X‐ray diffraction. The FTIR spectra are obtained from the modified montmorillonite products, which revealed the characteristic absorbencies after treatment with HDA. HDA/MMT/PVA composite, which was produced by the reaction of 1 wt % PVA solution with organoclay complex, is characterized by the rheology, electrokinetic, XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:2315–2323, 2006     

Conceptualization,measurement, and application of semantic transparency in visual notations

Numerous visual notations are present in technical and business domains. Notations have to be cognitively effective to ease the planning, documentation, and communication of the domains’ concepts. Semantic transparency (ST) is one of the elementary principles that influence notations’ cognitive effectiveness. However, the principle is criticized for not being well defined and challenges arise in the evaluations and applications of ST. Accordingly, this research’s objectives were to answer how the ST principle is defined, operationalized, and evaluated in present notations as well as applied in the design of new notations in ICT and related areas. To meet these objectives, a systematic literature review was conducted with 94 studies passing the selection process criteria. The results reject one of the three aspects, which define semantic transparency, namely “ST is achieved with the use of icons.” Besides, taxonomies of related concepts and research methods, evaluation metrics, and other findings from this study can help to conduct verifiable ST-related experiments and applications, consequently improving the visual vocabularies of notations and effectiveness of the resulting diagrams.

     

(BaTiO3)1-x + (Co0.5Ni0.5Nb0.06Fe1.94O4)x nanocomposites: Structure,morphology, magnetic and dielectric properties

Two phase-based nanocomposites consisting of dielectric barium titanate (BaTiO₃ or BTO) and magnetic spinel ferrite Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_0.06Fe_1.94O₄ (CNNFO) have been synthesized through solid state route. Series of (BaTiO₃)_1-x + (Co_0.5Ni_0.5Nb_0.06Fe_1.94O₄)_x nanocomposites with x content of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 were considered. The structure has been examined via X-rays diffraction (XRD) and indicated the occurrence of both perovskite BTO and spinel CNNFO phases in various nanocomposites. A phase transition from tetragonal BTO structure to cubic structure occurs with inclusion of CNNFO phase. The average crystallites size of BTO phase decreases, whereas that for the CNNFO phase increases with increasing x in various nanocomposites. The morphological observations revealed that the porosity is highly reduced, and the connectivity between grains is enhanced with increasing x content. The optical properties have been investigated by UV−vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The deduced band gap energy (E_g) value is found to reduce with increasing the content of spinel ferrite phase. The magnetic as well as the dielectric properties were also investigated. The analysis showed that CNNFO ferrite phase greatly affects the magnetic properties and dielectric response of BTO material. The obtained findings can be useful to enhance the performances of magneto-dielectric composite-based systems.     

Evaluation of the removal of n-butanol vapor by the poly(lactic acid)-zeolite-TiO2 composite and formation of by-products

The use of polymeric films incorporated with zeolite-TiO₂ composites associated with UV radiation can be an alternative in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through the adsorption and photodegradation processes. This study produced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films incorporated with 13× zeolite, TiO₂, and 13×-TiO₂ zeolite composite to remove n-butanol and evaluate the by-products generated in the process. The results showed that 13× zeolite and TiO₂ added individually or as a composite to PLA, gave the polymer matrix a significant increase in the removal capacity of n-butanol. The best performance was presented by the zeolite-TiO₂, composite, confirming a synergistic effect. However, the formation of CO and CO₂ exceeded the expected values, with the verification that the polymeric matrix underwent photodegradation action by TiO₂. The polymeric film only containing zeolite is the most suitable for the removal of VOCs, as it did not present degradation of the PLA, generating a lower concentration of by-products.     

Bi-layer gelatin active films with “Pitanga” leaf hydroethanolic extract and/or natamycin in the second layer

Research on biopolymers-based active films produced with natural antioxidants and/or antimicrobials has gained attention over the last few years; however, anti-mold activity has been less studied than those of anti-bacteria. The aim of this work was the development and characterization of bi-layer films based on gelatin with natamycin and/or “Pitanga” leaf hydroethanolic extract in the second thin layer in order to determine the effects of these bioactive compounds on bi-layered film properties. The films were characterized regarding their moisture content and solubility in water, optical properties, microstructure, mechanical and thermal properties, water contact angle, water vapor permeability, UV/visible light transmission, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and antioxidant and anti-mold activities. Active films presented activity against Penicillium spp and Aspergillus niger and demonstrated antioxidant activity, as measured by ABTS ^•+ and DPPH ^• methods. Neither additive used in the films' second layer significantly affected the films' moisture content, thermal properties or the molecular interactions of the polymer matrix, assessed by FTIR, although some mechanical properties were affected, and the water contact angle. In conclusion, bi-layer films have reduced the quantity of additives required to maintain the antioxidant and anti-mold activities, as compared to similar monolayer films of the same thickness.