Detecting invasive species with a bio-inspired semi-supervised neurocomputing approach: the case of Lagocephalus sceleratus

The need to protect the environment and biodiversity and to safeguard public health require the development of timely and reliable methods for the identification of particularly dangerous invasive species, before they become regulators of ecosystems. These species appear to be morphologically similar, despite their strong biological differences, something that complicates their identification process. Additionally, the localization of the broader space of dispersion and the development of invasive species are considered to be of critical importance in the effort to take proper management measures. The aim of this research is to create an advanced computational intelligence system for the automatic recognition, of invasive or another unknown species. The identification is performed based on the analysis of environmental DNA by employing machine learning methods. More specifically, this research effort proposes a hybrid bio-inspired computational intelligence detection approach. It employs extreme learning machines combined with an evolving Izhikevich spiking neuron model for the automated identification of the invasive fish species “Lagocephalus sceleratus” extremely dangerous for human health.

     

Effect of vacuum‐drying,hot air‐drying and freeze‐drying on polyphenols and antioxidant capacity of lemon (Citrus limon) pomace aqueous extracts

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of freeze‐drying, hot air‐drying and vacuum‐drying at 70, 90 and 110 °C, on dried lemon pomace polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity were higher in lemon pomace dried by hot air or under vacuum than those dried by freeze‐drying and increased as the temperature increased. The highest total flavonoid content was recorded in the pomace dried under vacuum at 70 and 90 °C. Lemon pomace dried by freeze‐drying had the highest neohesperidin content, whereas pomace dried under vacuum at 70 °C had the highest rutin and p‐coumaric acid content. The highest gallic acid content was recorded in the pomace dried by hot air at 110 °C. The results of this study indicate that drying technique should be carefully selected according to the bioactive compounds aimed to be extracted.     

全球移动运营商对LTE终端设备的测试方案

正1引言时至今日,移动用户对他们手中终端的性能要求越来越高,特别是那些目前已经广泛使用的智能终端。如果不能满足这些期望和要求,用户很可能感到失望并减少使用手中的终端进行通信业务,甚至考虑更换可以提供更优质终端的移动运营商。这就是移动运营商为何现在如此关注并且投入大量人力物力在终端的品质验证上。     

A low-complexity 3-D geometric model for the description of CCI in cellular systems

In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional geometrically based stochastic model for the study of co-channel interference in cellular mobile systems. Exact analytical expressions for the statistics of the angle-of-arrival (AoA) of the interfering signals at the base station and the outage performance of a cellular network are derived. Simulated results show the merits of our proposal compared to the two-dimensional approach. The uplink AoA distribution statistics are examined in relation to cell size, antennas’ height and frequency reuse factor. Furthermore, the impact of base station antenna radiation pattern, beam tilting and cell sectorization on system performance is investigated.     

Public–private partnership projects in Greece: risk ranking and preferred risk allocation

Project participants, through experience, have an initial perception and predisposition towards risk and the types of risks they are willing and able to undertake. This is equally true for parties interested in public–private partnership (PPP) projects. These initial positions have been registered for the major Greek PPP market stakeholders potentially involved in a PPP arrangement through a survey covering all candidate construction companies, interested financing institutes and a number of public sector entities to be involved in PPPs. Findings revealed that stakeholders were, for the majority of risks identified, in agreement as to preferred risk allocation. Risk allocation preferences for construction companies were compared with similar findings for the UK, a mature PPP market, indicating a possible learning/maturing process based on the particular country background. Conclusions add to other surveys carried out on the subject and should enable public sector clients to establish a more efficient framework for risk allocation, thus reducing negotiations prior to contract award and minimizing the risk of poor risk distribution.     

Structure–properties investigations in hydrophilic nanocomposites based on polyurethane/poly(2–hydroxyethyl methacrylate) semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks and nanofiller densil for biomedical application

Nanocomposites based on sequential semi–interpenetrating polymer networks (semi–IPNs) of crosslinked polyurethane and linear poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) filled with 1–15 wt % of nanofiller densil were prepared and investigated. Nanofiller densil used in an attempt to control the microphase separation of the polymer matrix by polymer–filler interactions. The morphology (SAXS, AFM), mechanical properties (stress–strain), thermal transitions (DSC) and polymer dynamics (DRS, TSDC) of the nanocomposites were investigated. Special attention has been paid to the raising of the hydration properties and the dynamics of water molecules in the nanocomposites in the perspective of biomedical applications. Nanoparticles were found to aggregate partially for higher than 3 and 5 wt % filler loading in semi–IPNs with 17 and 37 wt % PHEMA, respectively. The results show that the good hydration properties of the semi–IPN matrix are preserved in the nanocomposites, which in combination with results of thermal and dielectric techniques revealed also the existence of polymer–polymer and polymer–filler interactions. These interactions results also in the improvement of physical and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites in compare with the neat matrix. The improvement of mechanical properties in combination with hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of nanocomposites are promising for use these materials for biomedical application namely as surgical films for wound treatment and as material for producing the medical devises. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43122.     

Volatile profile of Stilton cheeses: Differences between zones within a cheese and dairies

Penicillium roqueforti grows and sporulates during the ripening period of blue cheeses and it is responsible for the typical blue cheese flavour formation. However, the sporulation (blue veins) is taking place in a fraction of the total mass and the cheese matrix is highly heterogeneous. The aroma profiles regarding the three different sections of Stilton cheese, blue veins outer crust and white core, were studied using solvent extraction GC–MS, a headspace GC–MS technique (SPME GC–MS) and direct headspace analysis (APCI–MS). Cheeses from different dairies were analysed, allowing the question of how similar are different batches of cheese from different dairies.