bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perancangan Standar Penilaian Kinerja Pemeliharaan Lampu Jalan Berdasarkan Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s): Studi Kasus di Kota Padang
Authors: Putri Nilda Tri , Kamil Insannul , Ramadian Demi
Published: May 2017

Sistem transportasi yang baik dan memadai merupakan hal penting yang harus diperhatikan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan pelayanan terhadap keperluan masyarakat dalam menjalankan aktivitasnya setiap hari. Aktivitas transportasi tidak hanya berlangsung pada siang hari, namun juga dilakukan pada malam hari sehingga keberadaan lampu penerangan jalan sangat penting untuk menerangi jalan dan melancarkan kegiatan transportasi tersebut. Saat ini kondisi lampu jalan di Kota Padang banyak yang mengalami kerusakan. Penyebab utama kerusakan lampu jalan adalah tegangan, yaitu beban puncak yang terjadi mulai dari pukul 18.00-23.00 WIB. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, penelitian ini menggunakan Key Performance Indicator (KPI) untuk menghasilkan standar penilaian kinerja dalam melakukan penilaian terhadap pemeliharaan lampu jalan yang ada di kota Padang. Perancangan dimulai dengan mengidentifikasi KPI yang didapatkan dari studi literatur. KPI yang telah didapatkan divalidasi kepada stakeholder untuk mendapatkan KPI yang cocok untuk diterapkan di kota Padang. Setelah itu dilakukan pembobotan KPI melalui perbamdingan berpasangan dengan menggunakan metode AHP.Keywords: penilaian, kinerja, key performance indicators, kinerja pemeliharaan lampu jalan
Analisis Kompetensi Kewirausahaan Industri Kecil Suku Cadang di Kota Padang
Authors: Fithri Prima , Sari Amanda Febria
Published: May 2017

As economic development and current technology, there tends to SMEs have been reversed there is some effort to close down due to lack of existing orders in the business. Therefore, the government made efforts to assist existing SMEs to be able to survive in the face of global crisis is happening right now. These efforts may include providing small loans and may include training services in accordance with its business. One of the materials provided in the training is about entrepreneurship so that SMEs are expected to compete with similar companies. The low ability entrepreneur pointed out as one of the reasons SMEs are not able to compete with large companies, such as SI (Small Industry) Spare Parts in the city of Padang. The failure to penetrate IK Parts of competition to supply spare parts in the PT. Semen Padang because of its low ability entrepreneur is owned by SI. With no indicator of entrepreneur ability, there are some problems for governments about policies that will be taken for judge the SI. Therefore, the entrepreneur ability should be decided to helps government in decisions making of policies, so that SI can be competing with larger companies. The method that been used in this study is the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and the recommendations for policies that can be used by the government by using SWOT analysis. QFD is used to identify consumer needs and its association with the characteristic techniques provided by the government, so that the final results are the critical competencies that should be developed first. The linkage between the needs of consumers with technical characteristics reflected in the House of Quality (HOQ). While the results of the SWOT analysis are four types of strategies which can be used later by using the strategy outlined in the strategy implementation architecture for 10 years. This research resulted in 25 indicators of entrepreneurial competencies that include Human Resources (HR), financial, and research and development which consist of eight aspects. The resulting formulation of strategies using SWOT analysis generates SO Strategies (5 strategies), WO Strategies (7 strategies), ST Strategies (7 strategies), and WT Strategies (5 strategies). The design of the implementation of the strategy is planned for 10 years which is reflected in the architecture of the strategy and its implementation strategies.Keywords: small industries, indicators, competences, entrepreneur, strategies
Antara Desain Dan Product-Service Systems: Suatu Tinjauan Literatur
Authors: Yuliandra Berry , Sutanto Agus , Hadiguna Rika Ampuh
Published: May 2017

Persaingan bisnis global yang semakin ketat telah menyebabkan terjadinya pergeseran paradigma bisnis dari product-oriented menjadi penyediaan solusi yang memuaskan kebutuhan konsumen. Hal ini telah mendorong kemunculan konsep Product-Service Systems (PSS). Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk membahas hubungan antara konsep desain dan PSS berdasarkan literatur yang tersedia. Berdasarkan kajian yang dilakukan terhadap berbagai literatur tersebut dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa PSS merupakan konsep yang diyakini sebagai jalan menuju sustainability melalui integrasi antara produk dan jasa dalam penyediaan solusi yang memenuhi kebutuhan spesifik konsumen. Proses desain PSS perlu memperhatikan kebutuhan konsumen dan stakeholder yang terkait melalui penggunaan metode dan pendekatan yang mampu mengintegrasikan pengembangan produk dan jasa dalam perspektif waktu yang sama.Evaluasi untuk mendukung keberhasilan implementasi PSS dapat dilakukan berdasarkan aspek sustainability, life cycle cost maupun berdasarkan perspektif konsumen dan penyedia.Keywords: Product-Service Systems, sustainability, desain, evaluasi, perbaikan
Perancangan Purwarupa Sistem Pengendalian Kualitas Pengukuran Dimensi Produk Terotomasi
Authors: Arief Ikhwan , Fajri Rahmat
Published: May 2017

The production process is one of the several main activities in industries. The process followed by quality control to achieve expected final products. Products' conformities to design specification can be achieved through direct measurement. However, not all measurements can be done directly while the process is running. Inconformities to product's design specification could result in unfunctional or rejected products. This will render producers into losing their profits. Technology plays a major role in simplifying products' measurement processes. Advancement in technology made it possible to automate measurement processes and will also make it possible to do during the production process in achieving expected quality control as early as possible. The quality control yield measurements in products'lengths, widths and depths/ heights which will control products' dimension and generate quality control chart. The proposed prototype will allow measurements of product dimension and data acquisition directly during the process without disrupting on going processes.
Analisis Penerapan Lean Production Process untuk Mengurangi Lead Time Process Perawatan Engine (Studi Kasus PT.GMF AEROASIA)
Authors: Adrianto Wahyu , Kholil Muhammad
Published: May 2017

Engine maintenance strives to always improve its service excellence with tools such as gate system where the system is expected to realize the lead time for 60days. In the implementation of the gate system is still not able to meet the expected target. During maintenance or overhaul the engine is still encountered waste or waste that causes the target cannot be met. Lean Manufacturing is an approach that aims to minimize waste that occurs in the process flow.Understanding the conditions of the process described in Value Stream Mapping for further elaborate activities that have the value-added and non-value added.Through seven waste concept, then be weighted to determine the most dominant type of waste.From the data processing is obtained that through the Value Stream Mapping is known gate 1 and gate 3 is the point that there are many wastes. Weighting and ranking of seven existing waste in the process of the activity obtained results in the form of a waste critical sequence of seven existing waste. Highest weights on the type of waste waiting with a weight of 0.38. Results of Root Cause Analysis in mind that the root cause of waste waiting for that data is maintained, the lack of attention to people development, There are still bugs in the system and miscommunication.
Pengembangan Model Economic Production Quantity (EPQ) dengan Sinkronisasi Demand Kontinu dan Diskrit Secara Simultan
Authors: Oktavia Nurike , Henmaidi Henmaidi , Jonrinaldi Jonrinaldi
Published: May 2017

The most popular inventory model to determine production lot size is Economic Production Quantity (EPQ). It shows enterprise how to minimize total production cost by reducing inventory cost. But, three main parameters in EPQ which are demand, machine set up cost, and holding cost, are not suitable to solve issues nowadays. When an enterprise has two types of demand, continue and discrete demand, the basic EPQ would be no longer useful. Demand continues comes from a customer who wants their needs to be fulfilled every time per unit time, while the fulfillment of demand discrete is at a fixed interval of time. A literature review is done by writers to observe other formulation of EPQ model. As there is no other research can be found which adopt this topic, this study tries to develop EPQ model considering two types of demand simultaneously.
Evaluasi Kualitas Layanan Nasabah dengan Metode Kano, Analisis Kuadran dan Triz Studi Kasus: Bank Nagari Cabang Pembantu Universitas Bung Hatta Padang
Authors: Oktaviani Dewi , Zadry Hilma Raimona
Published: May 2017

The banking industry is one of the pulse of Indonesian economic system. Bank Nagari is an industry aims to support the community’s economic development in West Sumatra. These objectives can be realized if Bank Nagari is able to face the existing challenges and problems. However, based on the preliminary studies, it was found a weakness in the bank services, such as the irreverent attitude of the tellers to the customers and long queues at certain times. Therefore, there is a need for a solution and quick actions so that Bank Nagari can improve customer satisfaction and provide excellent service to the communities. This study was conducted at Bank Nagari branch Bung Hatta University, Padang. Data is collected using questionnaire. The questionnaires were distributed to 97 respondents consisted of 24 variables and analyzed using the Kano method, quadrant analysis, and Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). The study proposed improvements to Bank Nagari branch Bung Hatta University, Padang. It is proposed to install a bulletin board or poster containing bank service procedures and information about bank services, to provide training to the bank employees, to focus on the frequent bank service problems and the evolution of the bank service system from traditional services to phone banking or internet banking.
Increasing proportion of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and emergence of a MCR-1 producer through a multicentric study among hospital-based and private laboratories in Belgium from September to November 2015
Authors: Huang Te Din , Bogaerts Pierre , Berhin Catherine , Hoebeke Martin , Bauraing Caroline , Glupczynski Youri ,   on behalf of a multicentre study group
Published: May 2017

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) strains have been increasingly reported in Belgium. We aimed to determine the proportion of CPE among Enterobacteriaceae isolated from hospitalised patients and community outpatients in Belgium in 2015. For the hospitalised patients, the results were compared to a previous similar survey performed in the same hospitals in 2012. Twenty-four hospital-based and 10 private laboratories collected prospectively 200 non-duplicated Enterobacteriaceae isolates from clinical specimens. All isolates were screened locally by carbapenem disk diffusion using European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing methodology. Putative CPE strains with inhibition zone diameters below the screening breakpoints were referred centrally for confirmation of carbapenemase production. From September to November 2015, we found a proportion of clinical CPE of 0.55% (26/4,705) and of 0.60% (12/1,991) among hospitalised patients and among ambulatory outpatients respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae (26/38) and OXA-48-like carbapenemase (28/38) were the predominant species and enzyme among CPE. One OXA-48-producing Escherichia coli isolated from a hospital was found carrying plasmid-mediated MCR-1 colistin resistance. Compared with the 2012 survey, we found a significant increased proportion of clinical CPE (0.55% in 2015 vs 0.25% in 2012; p = 0.02) and an increased proportion of hospitals (13/24 in 2015 vs 8/24 in 2012) with at least one CPE detected. The study results confirmed the concerning spread of CPE including a colistin-resistant MCR-1 producer in hospitals and the establishment of CPE in the community in Belgium.
Meningoencephalitis in intensive care unit: Do Japanese Encephalitis cases go unsuspected?
Authors: Ghimire Ashish , Bhattarai Balkrishna , Khanal Basudha , Marhatta Suchana , Deo Gopendra Prasad
Published: May 2017

Background: Meningoencephalitis (ME) is a medical emergency. Acute infective encephalitis is usually viral. Nepal has the second highest prevalence of JE in South East Asia. About one third of the JE cases results in death. The records of the JE in the laboratory of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) showed 760 samples to have the evidence of JE infection out of 3352 tested during the period of 2001-2011 AD. The present study aimed to conduct an audit on meningoencephalitis cases admitted in the ICU of our hospital in an attempt to find its burden.Methods: Medical records of all the adult patients with the provisional diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis at BPKIHS over the period of 2009-2011 AD were examined. Laboratory findings of all the patients diagnosed with ME who were admitted to the eight bedded general intensive care unit (ICU) were also reviewed. The diagnosis was made based on the findings of medical history, clinical examination and cerebrospinal fluid analysis for biochemistry and cytology, results of anti JE IgM test performed on CSF and/or serum.Results: Altogether 127 samples of CSF were obtained from adult patients admitted in different inpatient department of BPKIHS with the clinical diagnosis of meningo encephalitis between 2009-2011 AD. Out of them, 25 (19.68%) were tested positive of JE. A total of 684 patients were admitted over the same period with different diagnoses in 8 bedded ICU of hospital. Fifteen (2.19%) were transferred to the ICU with the ME. In the ICU, 9(60%) were treated as viral encephalitis. Among them CSF of only 4 patients’ were sent for testing for JE and found positive in 2 cases. Seven (46.6%) patients expired while 4(26.6%) were taken home by the relatives against medical advice in critically ill conditions and remaining 4 (26.6%) improved and transferred to ward. Among the expired patients 5 (71.4%) had viral encephalitis.Conclusion: JE is a real problem but many cases are likely to have been gone undetected. Adoption of a more intensive approach with much liberal serology testing policy seems to be appropriate for better detecting JE cases in the setting.
Correlation between glycemic parameters and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients attending tertiary care centre in central region of Nepal
Authors: Sapkota Lokendra Bahadur , Thapa Sangita
Published: May 2017

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia with type 2 DM accounting for more than 90% of adult diabetes cases worldwide. Hyperglycemia in type 2 DM is strongly linked with dyslipidemia which in turn increases risk for development of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the correlation between glycemic parameters (fasting blood sugar-FBS, postprandial blood sugar-PPBS and glycated hemoglobin-HbA1c) and serum lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients.Methods: Altogether 160 type 2 diabetic patients (Male=80 and Female=80) aged between 30-70 years visiting Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital (CMCTH) for their routine medical check-up were included in this study. Data were collected using preformed set of questionnaires and biochemical data were obtained from the laboratory analysis of the patient’s blood samples. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 20.0.Results: Hyperglycemia was significant as evident by elevated FBS, PPBS and HbA1c. Also, the serum lipid profile was deranged with elevated TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and lowered HDL levels suggestive of dyslipidemia. There was a Direct and significant correlation of glycemic parameters (FBS, PPBS and HbA1c) with total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) while the correlation with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was just reverse.Conclusion: Chronic hyperglycemia in type 2 DM is associated with dyslipidemia which further exposes risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases. HbA1c, being the gold standard for the assessment of glycaemia is also the better predictor of dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients.
Stereophonic Microphone Array for the Recording of the Direct Sound Field in a Reverberant Environment
Authors: Gößwein Jonathan , Grosse Julian , Van de Par Steven
Published: May 2017

State-of-the-art stereo recording techniques using two microphones have two main disadvantages: first, a limited reduction of the reverberation in the direct sound component, and second, compression or expansion of the angular position of sound sources. To address these disadvantages, the aim of this study is the development of a true stereo recording microphone array that aims to record the direct and reverberant sound field separately. This array can be used within the recording and playback configuration developed in Grosse and van de Par, 2015. Instead of using only two microphones, the proposed method combines two logarithmically-spaced microphone arrays, whose directivity patterns are optimized with a superdirective beamforming algorithm. The optimization allows us to have a better control of the overall beam pattern and of interchannel level differences. A comparison between the newly-proposed system and existing microphone techniques shows a lower percentage of the recorded reverberance within the sound field.
Self-Esteem and Academic Difficulties in Preadolescents and Adolescents Healed from Paediatric Leukaemia
Authors: Tremolada Marta , Taverna Livia , Bonichini Sabrina , Basso Giuseppe , Pillon Marta
Published: May 2017

Adolescents with cancer may demonstrate problems in their self-esteem and schooling. This study aims to screen the preadolescents and adolescents more at risk in their self-esteem perception and schooling difficulties post-five years from the end of therapy. Twenty-five paediatric ex-patients healed from leukaemia were recruited at the Haematology-Oncologic Clinic (University of Padua). The mean age of the children was 13.64 years (Standard Deviation (SD)) = 3.08, range = 10–19 years), most were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) (84%) and relatively equally distributed by gender. They filled in the Multidimensional Self-Esteem Test, while parents completed a questionnaire on their child’s schooling. Global self-esteem was mostly below the 50 percentile (58.5%), especially regarding interpersonal relationships (75%). An independent sample t-test showed significant mean differences on the emotionality scale (t = 2.23; degree of freedom (df) = 24; p = 0.03) and in the bodily experience scale (t = 3.02; df = 24; p = 0.006) with survivors of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) having lower scores. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed significant mean differences in the bodily experience scale (F = 12.31; df = 2, p = 0.0001) depending on the survivors’ assigned risk band. The parent reports showed that 43.5% of children had difficulties at school. Childhood AML survivors with a high-risk treatment were more at risk in their self-esteem perceptions. Preventive interventions focusing on self-esteem and scholastic wellbeing are suggested in order to help their return to their normal schedules.
The Tale of Two Financial Crises: An Entropic Perspective
Authors: Gençay Ramazan , Gradojevic Nikola
Published: May 2017

This paper provides a comparative analysis of stock market dynamics of the 1987 and 2008 financial crises and discusses the extent to which risk management measures based on entropy can be successful in predicting aggregate market expectations. We find that the Tsallis entropy is more appropriate for the short and sudden market crash of 1987, while the approximate entropy is the dominant predictor of the prolonged, fundamental crisis of 2008. We conclude by suggesting the use of entropy as a market sentiment indicator in technical analysis.
The Effect of Embodied Impact on the Cost-Optimal Levels of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings: A Case Study of a Residential Building in Thessaloniki, Greece
Authors: Chastas Panagiotis , Theodosiou Theodoros , Kontoleon Karolos , Bikas Dimitrios
Published: May 2017

Considering the nearly zero energy building (nZEB) and the increased measures for the improvement of the energy efficiency, the international literature indicates an extended use of specialized materials and technical installations. An increase in the embodied energy follows that use, with a final share between 74% and 100% in the total life cycle energy of residential nZEBs. The current energy efficiency legislation considers only the impact from the operational phase and ignores the embodied impact from the remaining life cycle phases of the building. Nevertheless, the delegated regulation 244 of 2012 acknowledges the incompleteness of this assessment and provides an optional consideration of the embodied (“grey”) energy. The current study applies this option through the macroeconomic global cost calculations and the cost-optimal levels of nZEBs. The results indicate a limited effect of the embodied impact on the cost-optimal levels and in specific on extended calculation periods and in combination with other key parameters of the sensitivity analysis. An increase in the primary energy and a transposition to variants with lower use of materials and decreased embodied emissions follow this effect. Sensitivity analysis confirms the calculation period as a key parameter and indicates the need for further research.
Breast Cancer: Exploring the Facts and Holistic Needs during and beyond Treatment
Authors: Ng Zhi , Ong Mei , Jegadeesan Tamilarasi , Deng Shuo , Yap Celestial
Published: May 2017

Breast cancer patients face challenges throughout the journey of diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment, and recovery. The breast cancer patient is exposed to a multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, therapists, counselors, and psychologists. While the team assembled together aims to address multiple facets in breast cancer care, the sub-specialized nature of individual professional practices may constrain the overview of patients’ holistic needs and a comprehensive approach to cancer management. This paper aims to provide an overview of the holistic needs of breast cancer patients at each stage of their cancer journey, addressing their complex physical, psychological, and social needs. As every patient is different, cancer care has to be tailored to each patient based on a holistic needs assessment. This paper also explores how support can be provided from the perspectives of the healthcare providers, family members and caretakers. Examples of general practices at healthcare institutions worldwide as well as supportive care provided by support groups are discussed. The needs of breast cancer patients extend beyond the resolution of cancer as a disease, and the restoration of health as far as possible is a critical component of healing. Understanding the complex issues involved in the journey of breast cancer will aid healthcare providers to be better equipped to sensitively address their concerns and focus on healing the patient holistically. Methodology: This paper provides a literature review of validated practices in different countries and elaborates on the holistic needs of patients at various stages of recovery. This review is based on more than a decade of publications sourced from multiple resources including PubMed journal articles; books and official websites of breast cancer organizations.
Regulatory Plasticity of Earthworm wMT-2 Gene Expression
Authors: Drechsel Victoria , Schauer Karl , Šrut Maja , Höckner Martina
Published: May 2017

Metallothioneins (MTs) are multifunctional proteins occurring throughout the animal kingdom. While the expression and transcriptional regulation of MTs is well-studied in vertebrates, the mechanism of MT activation is still unknown for most invertebrates. Therefore, we examined wMT-2 gene regulation and expression patterns in Lumbricus rubellus and L. terrestris. Transcription levels, the occupation of DNA binding sites, the expression of putative transcriptional regulators, and promotor DNA methylation were determined. We found that wMT-2 expression does not follow a circadian pattern. However, Cd-induced wMT-2 induction was observed, and was, interestingly, suppressed by physical injury. Moreover, the promotor region that is responsible for the wMT-2 gene regulation was elucidated. ATF, a putative transcriptional regulator, showed increased phosphorylation upon Cd exposure, suggesting that it plays a major role in wMT-2 gene activation. The promotor methylation of wMT-2, on the other hand, is probably not involved in transcriptional regulation. Elucidating the regulatory mechanism of the earthworm MT gene activation might provide insights into the molecular coordination of the environmental stress response in invertebrates, and might also reveal a link to wound repair and, in a broader sense, to immunity.
Effects of Osteopathic Treatment on Postural Equilibrium Evaluated through a Stabilometric Platform: A Randomized and Controlled Study
Authors: Buscemi Andrea , Cannatella Marcello , Lutrario Paolo , Rapisarda Alessandro , Di Gregorio Giulia , Coco Marinella
Published: May 2017

Equilibrium is a very complex function and involves many systems, including the somatic-sensory, vestibular and visual systems. The condition of balance is maintained until the gravity center falls into the perimeter of support, defined as the ground level of the support base. Equilibrium loss is at the root of the risk of falling down, and represents a public health issue associated with remarkable costs for hospitalization, risk of residual disability and death for the elderly. Osteopathy can be a good ally that allows the human body to oppose gravitational force in a functional and ergonomic way. Osteopathy represents a medical approach complementary to healthcare and could be a non-invasive approach to improve and support traditional medicine in different physiological and pathological conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cause-effect relationship between Manipulative Osteopathic Treatment (OMT) and its effects on equilibrium through stabilometric examinations. The 63 chosen subjects, including 23 females and 40 males, were between 18 and 45 years old, with a mean age of 29. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups: Manipulative Osteopathic Treatment (OMT) and Non Touch group (NON TOUCH). We can confirm that the tonic-postural response was more marked in the OMT group, with a statistic relevance both for the ellipse surface and the tangle length, with better stability and consequent energy saving in treated subjects. There were not statistically relevant variations for the NON TOUCH group. Therefore, it seems that Manipulative Osteopathic Treatment (OMT) influences stabilometry. However, posture influence due to Manipulative Osteopathic Treatment (OMT) should be evaluated with short- and long-term follow-ups, and with a larger sample size to test the administration of osteopathic treatments, in order to define an adequate work plan time period to prevent equilibrium loss.
Investigation of Drug Cocktail Effects on Cancer Cell-Spheroids Using a Microfluidic Drug-Screening Assay
Authors: Au Ieong Ka , Yang Chengpeng , Wong Chin , Shui Angelie , Wu Tom , Chen Ting-Hsuan , Lam Raymond
Published: May 2017

Development of drugs based on potential anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents has been hindered by its necessary tedious procedures and failure in the clinical trials because of unbearable toxicity and extremely low clinical efficacy. One of the technical challenges is the mismatch between laboratory settings and human body environments for the cancer cells responding upon treatments of the anti-cancer agents. This major limitation urges for applying more reliable platforms for evaluating drugs with a higher throughput and cell aggregates in a more natural configuration. Here, we adopt a microfluidic device integrated with a differential micromixer and multiple microwell-containing channels (50 microwells per channel) for parallel screening of suspending cell spheroids treated by drugs with different combinations. We optimize the culture conditions of the surfactant-coated microwells in order to facilitate the spheroid formation of the breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). We propose a new drug cocktail combined with three known chemotherapeutic agents (paclitaxel, epirubicin, and aspirin) for the drug screening of the cancer cell-spheroids. Our results exhibit the differential responses between planar cell layers in traditional culture wells and cell-spheroids grown in our microfluidic device, in terms of the apoptotic rates under treatments of the drug cocktails with different concentrations. These results reveal a distinct drug resistance between planar cell layers and cell-spheroids. Together, this work offers important guidelines on applying the cell-spheroid microfluidic cultures for development of more efficacious anticancer drugs.
Exploring Anti-Prion Glyco-Based and Aromatic Scaffolds: A Chemical Strategy for the Quality of Life
Authors: Blázquez-Sánchez María , De Matos Ana , Rauter Amélia
Published: May 2017

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by protein misfolding and aggregation, affecting the brain progressively and consequently the quality of life. Alzheimer’s is also a protein misfolding disease, causing dementia in over 40 million people worldwide. There are no therapeutics able to cure these diseases. Cellular prion protein is a high-affinity binding partner of amyloid β (Aβ) oligomers, the most toxic species in Alzheimer’s pathology. These findings motivate the development of new chemicals for a better understanding of the events involved. Disease control is far from being reached by the presently known therapeutics. In this review we describe the synthesis and mode of action of molecular entities with intervention in prion diseases’ biological processes and, if known, their role in Alzheimer’s. A diversity of structures is covered, based on glycans, steroids and terpenes, heterocycles, polyphenols, most of them embodying aromatics and a structural complexity. These molecules may be regarded as chemical tools to foster the understanding of the complex mechanisms involved, and to encourage the scientific community towards further developments for the cure of these devastating diseases.
On Forgotten Topological Indices of Some Dendrimers Structure
Authors: Bashir Yasir , Aslam Adnan , Kamran Muhammad , Qureshi Muhammad , Jahangir Adnan , Rafiq Muhammad , Bibi Nargis , Muhammad Nazeer
Published: May 2017

A series of previously conducted experiments pertaining to various chemicals and drugs uncover a natural linkage between the molecular structures and the bio-medical and pharmacological characteristics. The forgotten topological index computed for the molecular structures of various chemical compounds and drugs has proven significant in medical and pharmaceutical fields by predicting biological features of new chemical compounds and drugs. A topological index can be considered as the transformation of chemical structure into a real number. Dendrimers are highly-branched star-shaped macromolecules with nanometer-scale dimensions. Dendrimers are defined by three components: a central core, an interior dendritic structure (the branches), and an exterior surface with functional surface groups. In this paper, we determine forgotten topological indices of poly(propyl) ether imine, porphyrin, and zinc–porphyrin dendrimers.
Design and Synthesis of Dendrimers with Facile Surface Group Functionalization, and an Evaluation of Their Bactericidal Efficacy
Authors: Ladd Elizabeth , Sheikhi Amir , Li Na , Van de Ven Theo , Kakkar Ashok
Published: May 2017

We report a versatile divergent methodology to construct dendrimers from a tetrafunctional core, utilizing the robust copper(I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC, “click”) reaction for both dendrimer synthesis and post-synthesis functionalization. Dendrimers of generations 1–3 with 8–32 protected or free OH and acetylene surface groups, were synthesized using building blocks that included acetylene- or azide-terminated molecules with carboxylic acid or diol end groups, respectively. The acetylene surface groups were subsequently used to covalently link cationic amino groups. A preliminary evaluation indicated that the generation one dendrimer with terminal NH3+ groups was the most effective bactericide, and it was more potent than several previously studied dendrimers. Our results suggest that size, functional end groups and hydrophilicity are important parameters to consider in designing efficient antimicrobial dendrimers.
In Silico Study and Bioprospection of the Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects of Flavone and Its Hydroxylated Derivatives
Authors: Montenegro Camila , Gonçalves Gregório , Oliveira Filho Abrahão , Lira Andressa , Cassiano Thays , Lima Natanael , Barbosa-Filho José , Diniz Margareth , Pessôa Hilzeth
Published: May 2017

Flavonoid compounds are widely used as natural protective species, which can act as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antihypertensive and antitumor agents. This study set out to investigate the probable pharmacological activities, along with the antibacterial and antioxidant effects, of flavone and its hydroxy derivatives: 3-hydroxyflavone, 5-hydroxyflavone and 6-hydroxyflavone. To do so, we investigated their pharmacological characteristics, using in silico tests that indicate likelihood of activity or inactivity, with the PASS online software, and the antimicrobial potential against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria was also analyzed, including bacteria of clinical importance. We also tested for oxidant and antioxidant potential in these molecules in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phenylhydrazine (Ph). The results revealed the following characteristics: pharmacological activities for the flavonoids as agonists of cell membrane integrity and as permeability inhibitors, as antagonists of anaphylatoxin receptors, as inhibitors of both kinase and peroxidase, and as having both antimutagenic capacity and vaso-protective potential. All of the flavonoids exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative strains, with the flavones being bactericidal at 200 μg/mL for the strains of P. aeruginosa ATCC 8027, S. aureus ATCC 25619 and E. coli 104; the other flavonoids revealed bacteriostatic action. The substances did not promote erythrocyte oxidation and behaved as sequestrators and antioxidants of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and phenylhydrazine (Ph). It was concluded that the analyzed compounds have various pharmacological activities in accordance with the predictions of PASS online, as their antibacterial and antioxidant activities were confirmed. The study also helps to consolidate the use of computational chemistry in silico tools to guide new drug search and discovery protocols.
Impact of Maturity of Malay Cherry (Lepisanthes alata) Leaves on the Inhibitory Activity of Starch Hydrolases
Authors: Zhang Yan , Gui Yuyang , Huang Dejian
Published: May 2017

Aqueous extracts of young (7-day-old) Malay cherry (Lepisanthes alata) leaves were incorporated into wheat and rice flours to evaluate their inhibitory activities against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. HPLC-ESI/MS2 results showed that the active components in young leaves were proanthocyanidins with lower mean degrees of polymerisation (≤10). The IC50 of the aqueous extracts of young leaves were 2.50 ± 0.03 and 12.91 ± 0.29 µg/mL, against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which make them less active compared to the mature leaves. In contrast, total proanthocyanidins in aqueous extracts decreased as the leaves matured, indicating that the compounds in the mature leaves have much higher activity. However, there was no significant difference in the digestibility of wheat noodles incorporated with the aqueous extracts from either young or mature leaves. Interestingly, with regard to rice noodles, their digestibility was mostly reduced by incorporating aqueous extracts of young leaves compared to using mature leaves.
Diet Hypotheses in Light of the Microbiota Revolution: New Perspectives
Authors: Wypych Tomasz , Marsland Benjamin
Published: May 2017

From an evolutionary standpoint, allergy has only recently emerged as a significant health problem. Various hypotheses were proposed to explain this, but they all indicated the importance of rapid lifestyle changes, which occurred in industrialized countries in the last few decades. In this review, we discuss evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that indicate changes in dietary habits may have played an important role in this phenomenon. Based on the example of dietary fiber, we discuss molecular mechanisms behind this and point towards the importance of diet-induced changes in the microbiota. Finally, we reason that future studies unraveling mechanisms governing these changes, along with the development of better tools to manipulate microbiota composition in individuals will be crucial for the design of novel strategies to combat numerous inflammatory disorders, including atopic diseases.
Recent Deceleration of the Ice Elevation Change of Ecology Glacier (King George Island, Antarctica)
Authors: Pętlicki Michał , Sziło Joanna , MacDonell Shelley , Vivero Sebastián , Bialik Robert
Published: May 2017

Glacier change studies in the Antarctic Peninsula region, despite their importance for global sea level rise, are commonly restricted to the investigation of frontal position changes. Here we present a long term (37 years; 1979–2016) study of ice elevation changes of the Ecology Glacier, King George Island ( 62 ∘ 11 ′ S, 58 ∘ 29 ′ W). The glacier covers an area of 5.21 km 2 and is located close to the H. Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station, and therefore has been an object of various multidisciplinary studies with subject ranging from glaciology, meteorology to glacial microbiology. Hence, it is of great interest to assess its current state and put it in a broader context of recent glacial change. In order to achieve that goal, we conducted an analysis of archival cartographic material and combined it with field measurements of proglacial lagoon hydrography and state-of-art geodetic surveying of the glacier surface with terrestrial laser scanning and satellite imagery. Overall mass loss was largest in the beginning of 2000s, and the rate of elevation change substantially decreased between 2012–2016, with little ice front retreat and no significant surface lowering. Ice elevation change rate for the common ablation area over all analyzed periods (1979–2001–2012–2016) has decreased from −1.7 ± 0.4 m/year in 1979–2001 and −1.5 ± 0.5 m/year in 2001–2012 to −0.5 ± 0.6 m/year in 2012–2016. This reduction of ice mass loss is likely related to decreasing summer temperatures in this region of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Development of Diamond and Silicon MEMS Sensor Arrays with Integrated Readout for Vapor Detection
Authors: Possas-Abreu Maira , Ghassemi Farbod , Rousseau Lionel , Scorsone Emmanuel , Descours Emilie , Lissorgues Gaelle
Published: May 2017

This paper reports on the development of an autonomous instrument based on an array of eight resonant microcantilevers for vapor detection. The fabricated sensors are label-free devices, allowing chemical and biological functionalization. In this work, sensors based on an array of silicon and synthetic diamond microcantilevers are sensitized with polymeric films for the detection of analytes. The main advantage of the proposed system is that sensors can be easily changed for another application or for cleaning since the developed gas cell presents removable electrical connections. We report the successful application of our electronic nose approach to detect 12 volatile organic compounds. Moreover, the response pattern of the cantilever arrays is interpreted via principal component analysis (PCA) techniques in order to identify samples.
Human Thalamic Somatosensory Nucleus (Ventral Caudal, Vc) as a Locus for Stimulation by INPUTS from Tactile, Noxious and Thermal Sensors on an Active Prosthesis
Authors: Chien Jui , Korzeniewska Anna , Colloca Luana , Campbell Claudia , Dougherty Patrick , Lenz Frederick
Published: May 2017

The forebrain somatic sensory locus for input from sensors on the surface of an active prosthesis is an important component of the Brain Machine Interface. We now review the neuronal responses to controlled cutaneous stimuli and the sensations produced by Threshold Stimulation at Microampere current levels (TMIS) in such a locus, the human thalamic Ventral Caudal nucleus (Vc). The responses of these neurons to tactile stimuli mirror those for the corresponding class of tactile mechanoreceptor fiber in the peripheral nerve, and TMIS can evoke sensations like those produced by the stimuli that optimally activate each class. These neuronal responses show a somatotopic arrangement from lateral to medial in the sequence: leg, arm, face and intraoral structures. TMIS evoked sensations show a much more detailed organization into anterior posteriorly oriented rods, approximately 300 microns diameter, that represent smaller parts of the body, such as parts of individual digits. Neurons responding to painful and thermal stimuli are most dense around the posterior inferior border of Vc, and TMIS evoked pain sensations occur in one of two patterns: (i) pain evoked regardless of the frequency or number of spikes in a burst of TMIS; and (ii) the description and intensity of the sensation changes with increasing frequencies and numbers. In patients with major injuries leading to loss of somatic sensory input, TMIS often evokes sensations in the representation of parts of the body with loss of sensory input, e.g., the phantom after amputation. Some patients with these injuries have ongoing pain and pain evoked by TMIS of the representation in those parts of the body. Therefore, thalamic TMIS may produce useful patterned somatotopic feedback to the CNS from sensors on an active prosthesis that is sometimes complicated by TMIS evoked pain in the representation of those parts of the body.
Biomechanical Modeling of Pterygium Radiation Surgery: A Retrospective Case Study
Authors: Pajic Bojan , Aebersold Daniel , Eggspuehler Andreas , Theler Frederik , Studer Harald
Published: May 2017

Pterygium is a vascularized, invasive transformation on the anterior corneal surface that can be treated by Strontium-/Yttrium90 beta irradiation. Finite element modeling was used to analyze the biomechanical effects governing the treatment, and to help understand clinically observed changes in corneal astigmatism. Results suggested that irradiation-induced pulling forces on the anterior corneal surface can cause astigmatism, as well as central corneal flattening. Finite element modeling of corneal biomechanics closely predicted the postoperative corneal surface (astigmatism error −0.01D; central curvature error −0.16D), and can help in understanding beta irradiation treatment. Numerical simulations have the potential to preoperatively predict corneal shape and function changes, and help to improve corneal treatments.
Predicting Bio-indicators of Aquatic Ecosystems Using the Support Vector Machine Model in the Taizi River, China
Authors: Fan Juntao , Wu Jin , Kong Weijing , Zhang Yizhang , Li Mengdi , Zhang Yuan , Meng Wei , Zhang and Mengheng
Published: May 2017

Numerous studies have sought to clarify the link between biological communities and environmental factors in freshwater, but an appropriate model is still needed to predict the effect of water quality and hydromorphology improvement on biological communities and to provide useful information for ecological restoration planning. In this study, a support vector machine (SVM) was used to predict the bio-indicators of an aquatic ecosystem (i.e., macroinvertebrates, fish, algae communities) in the Taizi River, northeast China. Environmental factors, including physico-chemical (i.e., dissolved oxygen (DO), electricity conductivity (EC), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand in five days (BOD5), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN)) and hydromorphology parameters (i.e., water quantity, channel change, morphology diversity) were used as the input variables to train and validate the SVM model. The sensitivity of the input variables for the prediction was examined by removing a variable from the SVM model. Results revealed that the SVM model reproduced the variation in bio-indicators of fish and algae communities well, based on the input variables. The sensitivity for the input variables applied in SVM showed that in the Taizi River the most sensitive variables for predicting macroinvertebrate and algae communities were channel change, DO, TN, and TP, while the most sensitive variables for predicting fish communities were DO and BOD5. This study proposed an effective method for predicting biological communities, which will improve freshwater quality and hydromorphology management schemes. The outputs can guide the decision-making process in river basin management, support the prioritization of actions and resource allocation, and help to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
Metagenomic Approaches to Assess Bacteriophages in Various Environmental Niches
Authors: Hayes Stephen , Mahony Jennifer , Nauta Arjen , Van Sinderen Douwe
Published: May 2017

Bacteriophages are ubiquitous and numerous parasites of bacteria and play a critical evolutionary role in virtually every ecosystem, yet our understanding of the extent of the diversity and role of phages remains inadequate for many ecological niches, particularly in cases in which the host is unculturable. During the past 15 years, the emergence of the field of viral metagenomics has drastically enhanced our ability to analyse the so-called viral ‘dark matter’ of the biosphere. Here, we review the evolution of viral metagenomic methodologies, as well as providing an overview of some of the most significant applications and findings in this field of research.
Assessing the Integration of Wetlands along Small European Waterways to Address Diffuse Nitrate Pollution
Authors: Donoso Natalia , Gobeyn Sacha , Boets Pieter , Goethals Peter L. M. , Wilde Denis De , Meers Erik
Published: May 2017

Nitrate concentrations in numerous European fresh watercourses have decreased due to end-of-pipe measures towards manure and fertilization management, but fail to meet the environmental objectives. The implementation of complementary measures to attenuate diffuse nitrate pollution in densely populated regions characterised by limited available area has been barely studied. To tackle this issue, this study evaluates the feasibility of integrating Constructed Wetlands (CWs) along waterways as a promising tool to facilitate compliance with the nitrate regulations. The aim is to calculate the required area of land alongside a specific watercourse to integrate CWs to reduce nitrate concentrations consistently below the 11.3 and 5.65 mgNO3-N/L levels, according to the Nitrates Directive and the Flemish Environmental Regulations. Nitrate-nitrogen removal efficiencies achieved at case study CWs were compared and validated with reported values to estimate the needed wetland areas. In addition, the removal efficiencies and areas needed to meet the standards were calculated via the kinetic model by Kadlec and Knight. The predicted areas by both methods indicated that CWs of 1.4–3.4 ha could be implemented in certain regions, such as Flanders (Belgium), with restricted available land. To conclude, three designs for ICWs (Integrated Constructed Wetlands) are proposed and evaluated, assessing the feasibility of their implementation.