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.     

Study of operating variables in the transformation of aqueous ethanol into hydrocarbons on an HZSM‐5 zeolite

With the aim of determining the possibilities of directly upgrading the liquid obtained from carbohydrate fermentation, the effect of operating conditions (temperature, space time, water content in the feed) has been studied in the catalytic transformation of aqueous ethanol into hydrocarbons on an HZSM‐5 zeolite in an isothermal fixed bed reactor. Special attention has been paid to the effect of water content on the yield, product distribution and catalyst deactivation. Although deactivation by coke decreases as the water content is increased, this content must be limited at 450 °C and higher temperatures in order to avoid irreversible deactivation of the catalyst by dealumination. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

On Hypotheses Testing for the Selection of Spatio‐Temporal Models

Abstract. Several models have been proposed in recent years for analysing spatial data and also, to some extent, spatio‐temporal data. One of the important problems, namely the choice of an appropriate model for describing real data sets, remains unsolved. Here we consider the analysis of spatio‐temporal processes from which observations over space and time are available. We propose statistical tests for discriminating between space–time autoregressive processes and multivariate autoregressive processes. The sampling properties of the proposed tests are considered. We illustrate the methods with a real example. We use the above tests to find the best model to describe spatio‐temporal variations of hourly carbon monoxide measurements at four locations in London in January 2004.     

Incorporation and distribution of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into nuclear lipids of hepatic cells

Liver nuclear incorporation of stearic (18∶0), linoleic (18∶2n−6), and arachidonic (20∶4n−6) acids was studied by incubation in vitro of the [1-¹⁴C] fatty acids with nuclei, with or without the cytosol fraction at different times. The [1-¹⁴C] fatty acids were incorporated into the nuclei as free fatty acids in the following order: 18∶0>20∶4n−6≫18∶2n−6, and esterified into nuclear lipids by an acyl-CoA pathway. All [1-¹⁴C] fatty acids were esterified mainly to phospholipids and triacylglycerols and in a minor proportion to diacylglycerols. Only [1-¹⁴C] 18∶2n−6-CoA was incorporated into cholesterol esters. The incorporation was not modified by cytosol addition. The incorporation of 20∶4n−6 into nuclear phosphatidylcholine (PC) pools was also studied by incubation of liver nuclei in vitro with [1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−6-CoA, and nuclear labeled PC molecular species were determined. From the 15 PC nuclear molecular species determined, five were labeled with [1-¹⁴C]20∶4n−6-CoA: 18∶0–20∶4, 16∶0–20∶4, 18∶1–20∶4, 18∶2–20∶4, and 20∶4–20∶4. The highest specific radioactivity was found in 20∶4–20∶4 PC, which is a minor species. In conclusion, liver cell nuclei possess the necessary enzymes to incorporate exogenous saturated and unsaturated fatty acids into lipids by an acyl-CoA pathway, showing specificity for each fatty acid. Liver cell nuclei also utilize exogenous 20∶4n−6-CoA to synthesize the major molecular species of PC with 20∶4n−6 at the sn-2 position. However, the most actively synthesized is 20∶4–20∶4 PC, which is a quantitatively minor component. The labeling pattern of 20∶4–20∶4 PC would indicate that this molecular species is synthesized mainly by the de novo pathway.     

Comparison of solar thermal technologies for applications in seawater desalination

This paper deals with a global analysis of the use of solar energy in seawater distillation under Spanish climatic conditions. Static solar technologies as well as one-axis sun tracking were compared. Different temperature ranges of the thermal energy supply required for a desalination process were considered. At each temperature range, suitable solar collectors were compared in some aspects as: (1) fresh water production from a given desalination plant; (2) attainable fresh water production if a heat pump is coupled to the solar desalination system; (3) area of solar collector required for equivalent energy production. Results showed that direct steam generation (DSG) parabolic troughs are a promising technology for solar-assisted seawater desalination.     

Range Unit‐Root (RUR) Tests: Robust against Nonlinearities,Error Distributions,Structural Breaks and Outliers

Abstract. Since the seminal paper by Dickey and Fuller in 1979, unit‐root tests have conditioned the standard approaches to analysing time series with strong serial dependence in mean behaviour, the focus being placed on the detection of eventual unit roots in an autoregressive model fitted to the series. In this paper, we propose a completely different method to test for the type of long‐wave patterns observed not only in unit‐root time series but also in series following more complex data‐generating mechanisms. To this end, our testing device analyses the unit‐root persistence exhibited by the data while imposing very few constraints on the generating mechanism. We call our device the range unit‐root (RUR) test since it is constructed from the running ranges of the series from which we derive its limit distribution. These nonparametric statistics endow the test with a number of desirable properties, the invariance to monotonic transformations of the series and the robustness to the presence of important parameter shifts. Moreover, the RUR test outperforms the power of standard unit‐root tests on near‐unit‐root stationary time series; it is invariant with respect to the innovations distribution and asymptotically immune to noise. An extension of the RUR test, called the forward–backward range unit‐root (FB‐RUR) improves the check in the presence of additive outliers. Finally, we illustrate the performances of both range tests and their discrepancies with the Dickey–Fuller unit‐root test on exchange rate series.     

Capture device identification from digital images using Kullback-Leibler divergence

Multimedia Tools and Applications - It is proposed a forensic method for the capture device identification from digital images, which requires two elements: i) a digital image subject to...     

The Utility of Land-Surface Model Simulations to Provide Drought Information in a Water Management Context Using Global and Local Forcing Datasets

Drought diagnosis and forecasting are fundamental issues regarding hydrological management in Spain, where recurrent water scarcity periods are normal. Land-surface models (LSMs) could provide relevant information for water managers on how drought conditions evolve. Here, we explore the usefulness of LSMs driven by atmospheric analyses with different resolutions and accuracies in simulating drought and its propagation to precipitation, soil moisture and streamflow through the system. We perform simulations for the 1980-2014 period with SASER (5 km resolution) and LEAFHYDRO (2.5 km resolution), which are forced by the Spanish SAFRAN dataset (at 5km and 30km resolutions), and the global eartH2Observe datasets at 0.25 degrees (including the MSWEP precipitation dataset). We produce standardized indices for precipitation (SPI), soil moisture (SSMI) and streamflow (SSI). The results show that the model structure uncertainty remains an important issue in current generation large-scale hydrological simulations based on LSMs. This is true for both the SSMI and SSI. The differences between the simulated SSMI and SSI are large, and the propagation scales for drought regarding both soil moisture and streamflow are overly dependent on the model structure. Forcing datasets have an impact on the uncertainty of the results but, in general, this impact is not as large as the uncertainty due to model formulation. Concerning the global products, the precipitation product that includes satellite observations (MSWEP) represents a large improvement compared with the product that does not.

     

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.     

Great enhancement of mechanical features in PLA based composites containing aligned few layer graphene (FLG), the effect of FLG loading,size, and dispersion on mechanical and thermal properties

Four series of polylactide (PLA) based composite films containing horizontally aligned few layer graphene (FLG) flakes of high aspect ratio and adsorbed albumin are prepared. The mechanical and thermal properties varies with percentage, dispersion degree and size of FLG flakes. Great improvement up to 290% and 360% of tensile modulus and strength respectively were obtained for the composite containing high lateral size of FLG at 0.17% wt, and up to 60% and 80% for the composite with very well dispersed 0.02% wt FLG. The composites of PLA and PEG-PLLA containing very well dispersed FLG flakes at 0.07% wt are ductile showing enhancement of elongation at break up to respectively 80% and 88%. Relatively high electrical conductivity, 5 × 10⁻³ S/cm, is measured for PLA film charged with 3% of FLG.