bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
浅析住宅小区园林绿化种植施工技术
Authors: 朱 啊南 , 智 利博
Published: September 2019

新时代环境下,随着人们生活质量与水平的不断提高,对住宅小区环境绿化有了新要求与新目标,小区园林绿化则成为了人们关注的焦点。而针对住宅小区园林绿化,必须综合分析小区环境条件,科学、合理规划园林绿化工程,选择最佳的绿化种植施工技术,由此才能够充分发挥小区园林绿化的功能与作用。
超滤膜技术在环境工程水处理中的运用
Authors: 葛 卫斌
Published: September 2019

水是人们日常生活中不可或缺的一部分,随着经济的发展,人类的经济活动对水环境造成了严重的影响。而水污染问题也逐渐引起了国家的重视,为此,加强对水污染处理技术是非常关键的。本文主要从超滤膜技术出发,分析了超滤膜技术原理与特点,阐述了超滤膜技术在环境工程水处理中的应用。
从园林植保的角度谈健康生态园林营建
Authors: 唐 正国
Published: September 2019

随着经济的不断发展,人们的环境保护意识也逐渐增强,对于当下生存环境恶化的情况人们不仅要对城市生态环境进行反思,还应积极探寻保护生态环境的方法,保证人与自然的和谐共处,其既是必要过程也是营建健康生态园林的根本意义。从园林植保的角度来看,为了进一步保护植物健康与周边的生态环境,需要以环境绿化的维护与巩固为第一工作原则,在健康生态园林的营建过程中融入园林植保的相关知识,进一步促进健康生态园林的持续有序发展。本文简述了园林植保的含义与原则,并在健康生态园林营建过程中出现的问题提出了对应的解决措施。
造林绿化促进生态建设的有效途径分析
Authors: 张 艳玲
Published: September 2019

如今,我国绿化造林工作日渐受到人们的高度重视,森林面积明显扩大,同时生态环境也发生了诸多改变。但我国人口较多,环境污染依然较为明显,这也在一定程度上推动了生态环境建设。因此,应采取有效措施推动我国生态建设的稳步前行。
关于膜法水处理技术运用于饮水安全的分析
Authors: 闻 圣
Published: September 2019

受各方面因素的影响,水资源污染情况日益严重。在此种情况下,为了保障人们饮用水的安全,则需要对水资源进行处理,而膜技术是水处理的一种重要技术,该技术的应用极大程度上提高了出水的质量。基于此,本文主要分析了膜技术在水处理中的重要性,研究了饮用水净化膜处理工艺,并探究了膜法水处理技术的未来发展。
Análise comportamental de dutos no desempenho de propulsores destinados a drones e pequenos aeromodelos
Authors: Klann M , Mailer C , Saldías Daniel A P
Published: September 2019

Por décadas os meios de locomoção aéreos fazem parte do cotidiano do ser humano. Desde a invenção dos compressores axiais e posterior aplicação em turbinas destinadas à grandes aeronaves muito se obteve em relação à estudos de dinâmica pneumática. No entanto, muito precisa ser estudado em novas áreas, como o promissor uso dos drones para diversas atividades. Tais aparatos possuem conjuntos de hélices responsáveis pela propulsão vertical, gerando assim zonas de diferentes pressões. Dessa forma, o objetivo do presente estudo é a análise do uso de dutos (bocais) para a melhor eficiência dos propulsores através de um levantamento experimental, modelagem e simulação. O levantamento experimental permite mensurar a força exercida pelo sistema hélice-bocal. Para a construção do sistema experimental algumas peças foram projetadas e imprimidas através de uma impressora 3D, incluindo a hélice e dutos em questão. São utilizados também na parte mecânica: uma guia linear, perfil de alumínio e um rolamento. Eletronicamente tem-se um controlador para motor brushless, um microcontrolador e uma fonte de tensão contínua. Por meio de um software de simulação numérica o sistema experimental foi modelado e a força de empuxo obtida. Foram comparados os resultados experimentais e simulados possibilitando a distinção de comportamento entre os modelos testados, sendo que o uso de dutos mostrou-se pouco eficiente para a aplicação desejada. Com tais informações, espera-se que a modelagem e construção de drones sejam otimizadas e que novas pesquisas sejam feitas no ramo aeroespacial.
Association between maternal undernutrition and low birth weight: A hospital-based study in Chennai
Authors: Ramesh Shanthi , Sundari S , Harsha M
Published: September 2019

Background: Birth weight is an important predictor of a child’s growth and survival and this is dependent on the maternal health and nutrition during pregnancy. Objective: The objective of this study was to study the association between maternal nutritional status as measured by anthropometry, sociodemographic characteristics, and the birth weight of neonates. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 singleton term newborns and their mothers between September 2017 and December 2018. Demographic and socioeconomic details such as maternal age, education, occupation, religion, and household income were recorded using a pre-structured questionnaire. The weight and height of all the mothers were measured. The babies were examined and the weight was recorded at birth. Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was found to be 21%. The mean birth weight was 2955±418 g. Maternal undernutrition (p=0.03), maternal short stature (p=0.04), maternal illiteracy (p=0.01), and lower socioeconomic status (p=0.05) were significantly associated with increased prevalence of low birth weight. Conclusion: The prevalence of low birth weight was found to be high. Maternal undernutrition was significantly associated with low birth weight. Hence, there is a need for continued focus on maternal nutrition for optimal intrauterine growth, thereby reducing the prevalence of low birth weight in India.
Adab dan Pola Relasi Suami Isteri
Authors: Nurdiansyah Rifqi
Published: September 2019

Tulisan ini bertujuan menggali informasi terbentuknya pola relasi suami-isteri dalam Buku Adab al-Islam fi an-Nidzhomi al-Usroh karya Syeikh Muhammad Alwi al-Maliki. Buku ini mengandung pelbagai urusan rumah tangga yang disandarkan pada al-Qur’an-Hadist serta Atsar Sahabat. Urgensi pola relasi suami-isteri telah banyak dikaji oleh para praktisi hukum islam sebagai modal terciptanya peranan besar seorang isteri dalam rumah tangga. Beranjak dari argumentasi inilah peneliti ingin mengkaji lebih lanjut pola relasi tersebut dan difokuskan pada Buku adab al-Islam fi an-Nidzhomi Usroh. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif yang berjenis studi teks. Sumber primer penelitian ini adalah  Buku adab al-Islam fi an-Nidzhomi Usroh karya Sayyid Muhammad al-Maliki.
The Fekete-Szegö Problem for the Logarithmic Function of the Starlike and Convex Functions
Authors: Mustafa Nizami , C. Gündüz Muherrem
Published: September 2019

In this paper, we discuss the Fekete-Szegö functional (Equation) which is defined by coefficients of the function (Equation) for the analytic and univalent function .......................
Nieustające reformy opodatkowania dochodów osób prawnych – perspektywa istotnych zmian ustawy o podatku dochodowym od osób prawnych w latach 2012–2017
Authors: Werner Aleksander
Published: September 2019

Celem artykułu jest opisanie i ocena jakościowa najistotniejszych zmian w ustawie o podatku dochodowym od osób prawnych w latach 2012–2017. Dotyczy to zmian, które mają na celu przeciwdziałanie unikaniu opodatkowania. Stąd w tekście znalazły się zmiany odnośnie: (a) objęcia ustawą CIT spółek komandytowo-akcyjnych, (b) opodatkowania dochodów z zagranicznych spółek kontrolowanych, (c) opodatkowania dochodu przerzucanego na podmiot powiązany i obowiązku sporządzania dokumentacji cen transakcyjnych, (d) ograniczania potrącalności w ramach kosztów uzyskania przychodów odsetek (interest limitation rule, poprzednio thin capitalisation), (e) „przychodowego” podatku od nieruchomości komercyjnych, (f) ograniczeń w zaliczaniu do kosztów uzyskania przychodów określonych usług niematerialnych i praw majątkowych, (g) zmiany przepisów o podatkowej grupie kapitałowej, (h) regulacje dotyczące kosztów uzyskania przychodów wierzytelności nieściągalnych.
Ocena zmian w polskich regulacjach dotyczących cen transferowych
Authors: Laskowska Monika
Published: September 2019

W artykule przedstawiono ocenę zmian regulacji dotyczących cen transferowych pomiędzy podmiotami powiązanymi. Zmiany te obowiązywać będą w Polsce od 1 stycznia 2019 r. Oceny dokonano poprzez porównanie i weryfikację zgodności zmian ze standardami międzynarodowymi wynikającymi z rekomendacji OECD dotyczących cen transferowych. Zapewnienie zgodności ze standardami międzynarodowymi jest bowiem warunkiem pozwalającym na zastosowanie mechanizmów unikania ekonomicznego podwójnego opodatkowania dochodu pomiędzy podmiotami powiązanymi w sytuacji szacowania dochodów jednego z nich. Ocenę zgodności przeprowadzono względem najważniejszych zmian dotyczących skorygowanego podejścia do stosowania międzynarodowego standardu dotyczącego cen transferowych, zasady arm’s length. Skorygowane podejście do zasady arm’s length wprowadza kilka zmian, z których najważniejsza dotyczy nałożenia dodatkowych obowiązków dotyczących ustalania na bieżąco cen transferowych oraz uprawnienia organów podatkowych do stosowania instytucji uznania w przypadku zmiany charakteru transakcji pomiędzy podmiotami powiązanymi lub jej pominięcia. Istotność tego zagadnienia wynika z zaproponowanego brzmienia przepisu, które nie nakłada istotnych ograniczeń przeciwdziałających nadmiernej uznaniowości organów podatkowych. W artykule wskazano, które zmiany przepisów budzą wątpliwości co do ich zgodności ze standardami międzynarodowymi. Są to zarazem zagadnienia prowadzące do powstawania sporów międzynarodowych, które będą skutkować brakiem możliwości uniknięcia podwójnego opodatkowania
Opodatkowanie handlu kryptowalutami – kierunki i decyzje polityki podatkowej
Authors: Majdowski Filip
Published: September 2019

Opodatkowanie obrotu kryptowalutami do końca 2018 r. budziło wiele wątpliwości, w szczególności w świetle braku szczególnych zasad w podatkach dochodowych oraz podatku od czynności cywilnoprawnych. Od 1 stycznia 2019 r. polski ustawodawca postanowił wprowadzić do polskiego systemu podatkowego kompleksowy reżim sankcjonujący skutki podatkowe związane z obrotem walutą wirtualną w obydwu podatkach dochodowych, podczas gdy w połowie 2018 r. postanowił zaniechać na okres jednego roku poboru podatku od czynności cywilnoprawnych. Handel walutą wirtualną wywołuje określone skutki również w podatku od towarów i usług, gdzie wiodącą rolą w ich zdefiniowaniu przypisać należy wyrokowi Trybunału Sprawiedliwości Unii Europejskiej z 2015 r. Zamiarem niniejszego artykułu jest przybliżenie zasad związanych z opodatkowaniem obrotu kryptowalut ze wskazaniem na ich praktyczne problemy i decyzje polityki podatkowej, które w swoim założeniu miały te problemy usunąć. Tam gdzie jest to właściwe autor będzie odnosił się również do sytuacji prawno-podatkowej sprzed wprowadzenia zmian.
The development of Finnish anti-tank weapons, 1918-1939
Authors: Halila Michael
Published: September 2019

This article deals with the Finnish army's failure to acquire anti-tank weapons in the interwar period. Even though Finland was an early adopter of armor, anti-tank weapons became neglected when a clique of German-trained officers took control of the Finnish army in 1924. Disregarding practical evidence, they believed that Finnish terrain was impassable to armor, and therefore anti-tank defenses were unnecessary. Their beliefs were rooted in a nationalist conception of Finnist terrain as totally different from Central Europe, and were only challenged in the 1930's when formally trained officers started rising through the ranks. Once they questioned the prevailing orthodoxy and practical experiments were performed, it became clear that Finnish terrain was not so unique after all.

Even after the need for anti-tank weapons was understood, the chaotic state of the Finnish armed forces delayed procurement. There was no formal procurement process, and weapon system evaluations were carried out by small, over-worked committees. When the decision was made to procure 37mm anti-tank guns from Bofors, national industrial policy intervened, and instead of buying guns from Sweden, complex schemes to create joint Finnish-Swedish armament production were developed. When these came to naught, it was decided to create a state-owned munitions plant, effectively from scratch. After a 1935 decision to procure the guns, the first pieces were delivered in October 1939; barely over a month before the Soviet invasion.
The evolution of zemski obligations’ system on the territory of the Belarusian provinces (the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century)
Authors: Motorova Nadezhda S.
Published: September 2019

In the article, based on the analysis of legal acts, changes in the system of zemsky obligations on the territory of the Belarusian provinces in the second half of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century are characterized for the first time. It was noted that in the post-reform period it functioned on the basis of the 1851 Rules of the New Organization of the Zemsky Obligations, but its structure gradually included expenditures on social sphere: financing the rural-medical part, the maintenance of institutions departments’ of public charity and primary schools. The corresponding changes were fixed by the laws of 1868, 1883, 1887 and decisions approving zemsky estimates. The study made it possible to identify the main disadvantages of the existing system of zemsky obligations. They included: legislative approval of estimates for a three-year term, the impossibility of prompt redistribution of zemsky funds, bureaucratic procedures for disposing of them, long-term preparation of estimates, which was accompanied by extensive correspondence of central and local authorities. To eliminate these shortcomings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed to reform the existing system of zemsky obligations by introducing Zemstvo self-government on the territory of the Belarusian provinces. However, the ministry met with opposition on this issue from the two most influential dignitaries of the late 19th century: Finance Minister S. Yu. Witte and the Chief Prosecutor of the Synod K. P. Pobedonostsev. An analysis of the estimates of zemsky obligations has led to the conclusion that in the post-reform period the zemsky tax was transformed into the main source to provide the wide range of needs of the local population. At the end of 19th – the beginning of 20th century they amounted to a total of more than 3 million rubles in year. In the structure of the estimates, the share of social spending ranged from 30–40 %. On the territory of the Vitebsk, Minsk and Mogilev provinces these resources were handed over to the institutions of local economy in 1903. In the Grodno and Vilna provinces it was kept the former order of management of the zemsky obligations according to the 1851 Rules of the New Organization of the Zemsky Obligations. Based on the analysis of estimates for these regions, it was first shown the annual amount of expenditures on zemsky duties increased 1.5 times from 1.5 to 2.3 million rubles. At the same time, the share of social spending increased by 1.3 times and reached 48 % on the eve of the First World War. During the post-reform period, the system of zemsky obligations on the territory of the Belarusian provinces underwent a significant evolution. On the basis of an analysis of legal acts and estimates of zemsky duties, it was first proved that this source of local taxation has become the main financial resource for the development of various components of the social sphere in countryside.
Human Machines Petrified: Play's Mineral Mechanics and Les statues meurent aussi
Authors: Beloborodova Olga , Verhulst Pim
Published: September 2019

Play is usually regarded as the starting point of Beckett's late theatre, introducing a radically new approach to the body and language that set a benchmark for subsequent plays such as Not I, That Time and Footfalls. Building on Krapp's Last Tape and Happy Days, Play dehumanizes its characters by means of the audiovisual technologies that Beckett was experimenting with at the time. In this process, his human subjects are increasingly reduced to mechanical devices or mouthpieces for the conveyance of speech, instead of represented as recognizable and sentient beings of flesh and blood. The nonhuman aspect of Play is enhanced by its foregrounding of Beckett's long-standing fascination with the mineral, with the characters' faces being ‘so lost to age and aspect as to seem almost part of the urns’. Whereas, separately, the influence of radio, television and cinema on Play has received some critical attention, and James Knowlson, Claire Lozier, Mark Nixon, Jean-Michel Rabaté and Conor Carville, among others, have noted Beckett's fascination with the sculptural arts and the inorganic, this paper aims to merge those two strands by discussing the docufilm Les statues meurent aussi (1953) as a potential but overlooked source of inspiration. By combining the technological and the sculptural in Play, Beckett stages a ‘mineral mechanics’ verging closely on the nonhuman without being fully dehumanized, as characters continue to laugh and hiccup, barely retaining a trace of their humanity. This oscillation from the human to the nonhuman and vice versa is clearly traceable in the genesis of the text, as well as its French translation (Comédie). The result, Play's iconic stage image, is marked by the familiar Beckettian trope of in-betweenness: between life and death, between the organic and the mineral, between the natural and the technological.
Thermodynamics Beyond Molecules: Statistical Thermodynamics of Probability Distributions
Authors: Matsoukas Themis
Published: September 2019

Statistical thermodynamics has a universal appeal that extends beyond molecular systems, and yet, as its tools are being transplanted to fields outside physics, the fundamental question, what is thermodynamics, has remained unanswered. We answer this question here. Generalized statistical thermodynamics is a variational calculus of probability distributions. It is independent of physical hypotheses but provides the means to incorporate our knowledge, assumptions and physical models about a stochastic processes that gives rise to the probability in question. We derive the familiar calculus of thermodynamics via a probabilistic argument that makes no reference to physics. At the heart of the theory is a space of distributions and a special functional that assigns probabilities to this space. The maximization of this functional generates the mathematical network of thermodynamic relationship. We obtain statistical mechanics as a special case and make contact with Information Theory and Bayesian inference.
Parameter Matching and Optimization of a Hybrid Type DC SFCL Considering the Transient Characteristics of VSC-Based DC Systems
Authors: Liang Siyuan , Tang Yuejin , Ren Li , Xu Ying , Shi Jing , Li Zheng , Tan Xiangyu
Published: September 2019

Voltage source converter-based (VSC-based) DC systems play an important role in connecting large-scale renewable energy and distributed energy, but they are vulnerable to DC short-circuit fault and lacks mature protection devices and appropriate protection strategies. Therefore, a hybrid type DC superconducting fault current limiter (H-SFCL) is proposed and the current limiting mechanism of the SFCL is analyzed. According to the requirements and strategies for protection, several different effective parameter matching and optimization methods of the H-SFCL are proposed by combining optimization algorithms and two short-circuit transient calculation models of VSC-based DC systems. The optimization methods proposed in this paper are compared and analyzed in terms of convergence, running time, calculation range and stability of optimization results, revealing their respective calculation characteristics. Finally, the effectiveness of parameter matching and optimization methods are well validated by comparison and analysis of simulation. The proposed methods can select a good parameter matching scheme of the H-SFCL to deal with different requirements.
Evaluating the Investment Efficiency of China’s Provincial Power Grid Enterprises under New Electricity Market Reform: Empirical Evidence Based on Three-Stage DEA Model
Authors: Sun Jingqi , Ruze Nuermaimaiti , Zhang Jianjun , Zhao Haoran , Shen Boyang
Published: September 2019

The new round of electricity market reform in 2015 completely changed the profit pattern of power grid enterprises (PGEs) in China, and directly affected their investment plans. Under the new electricity market reform (NEMR), the government regulatory authority made higher requirements for the investment efficiency of PGEs, and the investment effectiveness hence became the core criterion for investment plans. Therefore, the PGEs are now attaching great importance to the investment efficiency. According to their geographical differences, this paper divides the Chinese provincial PGEs into three groups, namely eastern, central and western region enterprises. Based on the NEMR, we developed an evaluation system of investment efficiency for the above-mentioned enterprises. Moreover, this paper selects GDP per capita, electricity consumption in industry, and electrification rate as external environment variables, and conducts an empirical research on the investment efficiency of 31 provincial PGEs in China in 2017. The analysis reveals that three external environment variables have considerable impacts on the investment efficiency. Though the increase of GDP per capita and electricity consumption in industry are not conducive to improving investment efficiency, the advancement of electrification plays a positive role in its improvement. And from the real efficiency results, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Fujian have relatively higher investment efficiency, while Henan, Shandong, and Shanghai exhibit lower investment efficiency. By comparing the investment efficiency of PGEs in the first and third stage, conclusions can be drawn that in the first stage the investment efficiency of PGEs was overestimated, and the inefficient investments prevailed some provincial PGEs, which caused by low scale efficiency.
Parameters Extraction of Photovoltaic Models Using an Improved Moth-Flame Optimization
Authors: Sheng Huawen , Li Chunquan , Wang Hanming , Yan Zeyuan , Xiong Yin , Cao Zhenting , Kuang Qianying
Published: September 2019

Photovoltaic (PV) models’ parameter extraction with the tested current-voltage values is vital for the optimization, control, and evaluation of the PV systems. To reliably and accurately extract their parameters, this paper presents one improved moths-flames optimization (IMFO) method. In the IMFO, a double flames generation (DFG) strategy is proposed to generate two different types of target flames for guiding the flying of moths. Furthermore, two different update strategies are developed for updating the positions of moths. To greatly balance the exploitation and exploration, we adopt a probability to rationally select one of the two update strategies for each moth at each iteration. The proposed IMFO is used to distinguish the parameter of three test PV models including single diode model (SDM), double diode model (DDM), and PV module model (PMM). The results indicate that, compared with other well-established methods, the proposed IMFO can obtain an extremely promising performance.
Optimal and Decentralized Control Strategies for Inverter-Based AC Microgrids
Authors: Cook Michael D. , Trinklein Eddy H. , Parker Gordon G. , Robinett Rush D. , Weaver Wayne W.
Published: September 2019

This paper presents two control strategies: (i) An optimal exergy destruction (OXD) controller and (ii) a decentralized power apportionment (DPA) controller. The OXD controller is an analytical, closed-loop optimal feedforward controller developed utilizing exergy analysis to minimize exergy destruction in an AC inverter microgrid. The OXD controller requires a star or fully connected topology, whereas the DPA operates with no communication among the inverters. The DPA presents a viable alternative to conventional P − ω / Q − V droop control, and does not suffer from fluctuations in bus frequency or steady-state voltage while taking advantage of distributed storage assets necessary for the high penetration of renewable sources. The performances of OXD-, DPA-, and P − ω / Q − V droop-controlled microgrids are compared by simulation.
A Brief Overview of lncRNAs in Endothelial Dysfunction-Associated Diseases: From Discovery to Characterization
Authors: Islam Rashidul , Lai Christopher
Published: September 2019

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of regulatory RNA molecules and they are involved in many biological processes and disease developments. Several unique features of lncRNAs have been identified, such as tissue-and/or cell-specific expression pattern, which suggest that they could be potential candidates for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. More recently, the scope of lncRNA studies has been extended to endothelial biology research. Many of lncRNAs were found to be critically involved in the regulation of endothelial function and its associated disease progression. An improved understanding of endothelial biology can thus facilitate the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for endothelial dysfunction-associated diseases, such as abnormal angiogenesis, hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of lncRNA remains undefined in previous published studies. Therefore, in this review, we aimed to discuss the current methodologies for discovering and investigating the functions of lncRNAs and, in particular, to address the functions of selected lncRNAs in endothelial dysfunction-associated diseases.
Association between Club Sports Participation and Physical Fitness across 6- to 14-Year-Old Austrian Youth
Authors: Drenowatz Clemens , Greier Klaus , Ruedl Gerhard , Kopp Martin
Published: September 2019

Changes in social and built environments most likely contribute to a decline in physical activity (PA) and physical fitness in children and adolescents. Organized sports may be an important component in ensuring adequate fitness, which is an important aspect in general health and well-being. The present study examines differences by club sports participation in cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, power, speed, agility, flexibility and balance in 3293 (55.1% male) Austrian children and adolescents between 6 and 14 years of age. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were taken and participants completed the German motor test during regular class time. Even though there was no significant difference in body weight between club sports participants and non-club sports participants, club sports participation was associated with higher physical fitness, particularly regarding endurance, strength, power, and agility. Differences by club sports participation, however, declined during the elementary school years (6–10 years of age), while they became more pronounced during middle school years (10–14 years of age). Club sports participation, therefore, may be a viable option in the promotion of physical fitness, particularly during adolescence. At younger ages, other sources of PA, such as physical education and free play, however, should be considered to ensure sufficient fitness levels that contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle.
Current Understanding of the Effects of Congestion on Traffic Accidents
Authors: Retallack Angus Eugene , Ostendorf Bertram
Published: September 2019

Traffic accidents impart both economic and social costs upon communities around the world, hence the desire for accident rates to be reduced. For this reduction to occur, the factors influencing the occurrence of accidents must be understood. The role of congestion in modifying accident risk has been widely studied, but consensus has not been reached, with conflicting results leaving open questions. An inverse relationship between accidents and congestion would imply a benefit of congested conditions for road safety, posing a difficult situation for traffic management. This paper assesses articles that reveal the shape of the relationship between traffic accidents and congestion. We find a positive linear response to dominate the literature. However, studies with higher numbers of statistical units tend to show a U-shaped relationship. This suggests an important role of high spatio-temporal traffic data in understanding factors causing accidents and identifying the combination of real-time conditions which may lead to increased accident risk. Modern advancements in traffic measurement systems provide the ability for real-time alleviation of accident-prone conditions before they can fully develop.
The Epigenetics of Aging in Invertebrates
Authors: Yu Guixiang , Wu Qi , Gao Yue , Chen Meiling , Yang Mingyao
Published: September 2019

Aging is an unstoppable process coupled to the loss of physiological function and increased susceptibility to diseases. Epigenetic alteration is one of the hallmarks of aging, which involves changes in DNA methylation patterns, post-translational modification of histones, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNA interference. Invertebrate model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, have been used to investigate the biological mechanisms of aging because they show, evolutionarily, the conservation of many aspects of aging. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the epigenetic changes of aging with invertebrate models, providing insight into the relationship between epigenetic dynamics and aging.
Overview of the Anticancer Profile of Avenanthramides from Oat
Authors: Turrini Eleonora , Maffei Francesca , Milelli Andrea , Calcabrini Cinzia , Fimognari Carmela
Published: September 2019

Cancer represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Progresses in treatment of cancer have continued at a rapid pace. However, undesirable side effects and drug resistance remain major challenges for therapeutic success. Natural products represent a valuable starting point to develop new anticancer strategies. Polyphenols, well-known as antioxidant, exert anticancer effects through the modulation of multiple pathways and mechanisms. Oat (Avena sativa L., Poaceae) is a unique source of avenanthramides (AVAs), a group of polyphenolic alkaloids, considered as its signature compounds. The present review aims to offer a comprehensive and critical perspective on the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic potential of AVAs. AVAs prevent cancer mainly by blocking reactive species. Moreover, they exhibit potential therapeutic activity through the modulation of different pathways including the activation of apoptosis and senescence, the block of cell proliferation, and the inhibition of epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastatization. AVAs are promising chemopreventive and anticancer phytochemicals, which need further clinical trials and toxicological studies to define their efficacy in preventing and reducing the burden of cancer diseases.
Current Clinical Strategies of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment and Open Molecular Questions
Authors: Brunner Maximilian , Wu Zhiyuan , Krautz Christian , Pilarsky Christian , Grützmann Robert , Weber Georg F.
Published: September 2019

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies and is associated with a poor prognosis. Surgery is considered the only potential curative treatment for pancreatic cancer, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, but surgery is reserved for the minority of patients with non-metastatic resectable tumors. In the future, neoadjuvant treatment strategies based on molecular testing of tumor biopsies may increase the amount of patients becoming eligible for surgery. In the context of non-metastatic disease, patients with resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic carcinoma might benefit from neoadjuvant chemo- or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgeryPatients with locally advanced or (oligo-/poly-)metastatic tumors presenting significant response to (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy should undergo surgery if R0 resection seems to be achievable. New immunotherapeutic strategies to induce potent immune response to the tumors and investigation in molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer may provide novel therapeutic opportunities in patients with pancreatic carcinoma and help patient selection for optimal treatment.
The Role of Major Histocompatibility Complex in Organ Transplantation- Donor Specific Anti-Major Histocompatibility Complex Antibodies Analysis Goes to the Next Stage -
Authors: Nakamura Tsukasa , Shirouzu Takayuki , Nakata Katsuya , Yoshimura Norio , Ushigome Hidetaka
Published: September 2019

Organ transplantation has progressed with the comprehension of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). It is true that the outcome of organ transplantation largely relies on how well rejection is managed. It is no exaggeration to say that to be well acquainted with MHC is a shortcut to control rejection. In human beings, MHC is generally recognized as human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Under the current circumstances, the number of alleles is still increasing, but the function is not completely understood. Their roles in organ transplantation are of vital importance, because mismatches of HLA alleles possibly evoke both cellular and antibody-mediated rejection. Even though the control of cellular rejection has improved by recent advances of immunosuppressants, there is no doubt that antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), which is strongly correlated with donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA), brings a poor outcome. Thus, to diagnose and treat AMR correctly is a clear proposition. In this review, we would like to focus on the detection of intra-graft DSA as a recent trend. Overall, here we will review the current knowledge regarding MHC, especially with intra-graft DSA, and future perspectives: HLA epitope matching; eplet risk stratification; predicted indirectly recognizable HLA epitopes etc. in the context of organ transplantation.
MAPK Pathway under Chronic Copper Excess in Green Macroalgae (Chlorophyta): Influence on Metal Exclusion/Extrusion Mechanisms and Photosynthesis
Authors: Celis-Plá Paula S. M. , Rodríguez-Rojas Fernanda , Méndez Lorena , Moenne Fabiola , Muñoz Pamela T. , Lobos M. Gabriela , Díaz Patricia , Sánchez-Lizaso José Luis , Brown Murray T. , Moenne Alejandra , Sáez Claudio A.
Published: September 2019

There is currently no information regarding the role that whole mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways play in counteracting environmental stress in photosynthetic organisms. To address this gap, we exposed Ulva compressa to chronic levels of copper (10 µM) specific inhibitors of Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal Kinases (JNK), and Cytokinin Specific Binding Protein (p38) MAPKs alone or in combination. Intracellular copper accumulation and photosynthetic activity (in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence) were measured after 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 6 days of exposure. By day 6, when one (except JNK) or more of the MAPK pathways were inhibited under copper stress, there was a decrease in copper accumulation compared with algae exposed to copper alone. When at least two MAPKs were blocked, there was a decrease in photosynthetic activity expressed in lower productivity (ETRmax), efficiency (αETR), and saturation of irradiance (EkETR), accompanied by higher non-photochemical quenching (NPQmax), compared to both the control and copper-only treatments. In terms of accumulation, once the MAPK pathways were partially or completely blocked under copper, there was crosstalk between these and other signaling mechanisms to enhance metal extrusion/exclusion from cells. Crosstalk occurred among MAPK pathways to maintain photosynthesis homeostasis, demonstrating the importance of the signaling pathways for physiological performance. This study is complemented by a parallel/complementary article Rodríguez-Rojas et al. on the role of MAPKs in copper-detoxification.
Interpretation of Fiber Supplementation on Offspring Testicular Development in a Pregnant Sow Model from a Proteomics Perspective
Authors: Lin Yan , Li Lujie , Li Yang , Wang Ke , Wei Dongqin , Xu Shengyu , Feng Bin , Che Lianqiang , Fang Zhengfeng , Li Jian , Zhuo Yong , Wu De
Published: September 2019

To study the effects of maternal fiber supplementation during pregnancy on the testicular development of male offspring and its possible mechanisms, 36 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were allocated to either a control diet (n = 18) or a fiber diet (the control diet supplemented with 22.60 g/kg inulin and 181.60 g/kg cellulosic; n = 18) during pregnancy. The body and testes weight of the offspring, 7-day-old piglets, was recorded. Testes were collected for further analyses. Results showed that the testicular organ index and the number of spermatogonia in single seminiferous tubule were higher in piglets from the fiber group than from the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant increase in the concentration of glucose, lactate, and lipids in the testes was found in the fiber group (p < 0.05). Proteomic analysis suggested that there were notable differences in glucolipid transport and metabolism, oxidation, and male reproduction-related proteins expression between the two groups (p < 0.05). Results revealed that the most enriched signaling pathways in the fiber group testes included starch and sucrose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and the renin-angiotensin system. mRNA expression analyzes further confirmed the importance of some signaling pathways in maternal fiber nutrition regulating offspring testicular development. Our results shed new light on the underlying molecular mechanisms of maternal fiber nutrition on offspring testicular development and provided a valuable insight for future explorations of the effect of maternal fiber nutrition on man reproduction.
Is Anticoagulation Necessary for Severely Disabled Cardioembolic Stroke Survivors?
Authors: Jurjans Kristaps , Vikmane Baiba , Vetra Janis , Miglane Evija , Kalejs Oskars , Priede Zanda , Millers Andrejs
Published: September 2019

Background and Objectives: Oral anticoagulants are the hallmark of cardioembolic stroke prevention, but they are frequently underused, especially in elderly patients and patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In our paper, we analyzed the long-term outcome of severely disabled cardioembolic stroke survivors depending on the prescribed antithrombotic secondary prevention medication. Materials and Methods: In our study, we retrospectively collected data for ischemic stroke (IS) patients treated in P. Stradins Clinical University hospital, Riga, Latvia, from 2014 until 2017. Patients’ clinical data were collected using local stroke registry, including patients’ demographic data, vascular risk factors, clinical findings, and laboratory results. Severely disabled stroke survivors were followed up by phone at 30/90/180/365 days after discharge. Patients’ functional outcomes were assessed using the adapted version of The Rankin Focused Assessment–Ambulation. The collected data were compared in 4 groups according to prescribed secondary prevention medication. Results: A total of 682 (91.42%) patients were followed up and included in data analysis. The median age of patients was 80 (IQR = 75–85) years. Of these patients, 231 (31%) were males and 515 (69%) were females. One-year probability of survival of patients not taking any preventive medication was 53% (IQR = 29–76), while in patients taking antiplatelet agents it was 57% (IQR = 37–78), 78% (IQR = 68–88) of patients on Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and 81% (IQR = 72–90) in patients on direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). One year after discharge 73 (31%) had mRS 0–2, 50 (20.9%), 29 (12.1%) were still severely disabled, and 87 (36.4%) had died. Conclusions: Anticoagulant use in secondary prevention predicts better functional outcome and higher survival rate in patients with severe cardioembolic stroke due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), therefore severe neurological deficit must not be a reason of restriction of anticoagulation.
Selenium Status and Hemolysis in Sickle Cell Disease Patients
Authors: Delesderrier Emília , Cople-Rodrigues Cláudia S. , Omena Juliana , Kneip Fleury Marcos , Barbosa Brito Flávia , Costa Bacelo Adriana , Correa Koury Josely , Citelli Marta
Published: September 2019

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolysis. Chronic hemolysis is promoted by increased oxidative stress. Our hypothesis was that some antioxidant micronutrients (retinol, tocopherol, selenium, and zinc) would be determinant factors of the degree of hemolysis in SCD patients. We aimed to investigate the nutritional adequacy of these antioxidants and their relationships to hemolysis. The study included 51 adult SCD patients regularly assisted in two reference centers for hematology in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Serum concentrations of retinol, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, and zinc were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography or atomic absorption spectrometry. Hematological parameters (complete blood count, reticulocyte count, hemoglobin, direct and indirect bilirubin, total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase) and inflammation markers (leukocytes and ultra-sensitive C-reactive protein) were analyzed. A linear regression model was used to test the associations between the variables. Most patients presented selenium deficiency and low selenium consumption. Linear regression analysis showed that selenium is the main determinant of hemolysis among the antioxidant nutrients analyzed. Thus, data from this study suggest that the nutritional care protocols for patients with SCD should include dietary sources of selenium in order to reduce the risk of hemolysis.
The Role of Young Child Formula in Ensuring a Balanced Diet in Young Children (1–3 Years Old)
Authors: Chouraqui Jean-Pierre , Turck Dominique , Tavoularis Gabriel , Ferry Constance , Dupont Christophe
Published: September 2019

During the nutritional vulnerable period of 1–3 years of age, nutrient intake is often inadequate due to an unbalanced diet. Young child formula (YCF) has been proposed as a means of improving nutrition in this age group. We compared the food consumption and nutrient intake of 241 YCF consumers (YCF-C) to those of 206 non-consumers (YCF-NC), selected from among the children enrolled in the Nutri-Bébé survey, an observational cross-sectional survey, conducted from 3 January to 21 April 2013. Food consumption and nutrient intake were analyzed from a three-day dietary record. The YCF-C < 2 years group had a protein (−8 g/d; p < 0.0001) and sodium (−18%; p = 0.0003) intake that was lower than that of YCF-NC, but still above the respective EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) Average Requirement (AR) or Adequate Intake (AI). At all ages, the YCF-C group had higher intakes of essential fatty acids (p < 0.0001), vitamins C (p < 0.0001), A, D, and E (p < 0.0001), all B vitamins (p < 0.001) except B12, iron (9 vs. 5 mg/d, p < 0.0001), reaching the Dietary Reference Values (DRVs, AR or AI), but similar DHA and ARA intakes. Getting closer to the reference values proposed by EFSA required at least 360 mL/d of YCF. The consumption of YCF may help infants and children at risk of nutrient deficiencies to meet their nutritional requirements. However, protein, sodium, and vitamin A intakes remained above the EFSA DRVs, and DHA, ARA, and vitamin D remained below.
Polyimide-Based PolyHIPEs Prepared via Pickering High Internal Phase Emulsions
Authors: Song In-Ho , Kim Dong-Min , Choi Ju-Young , Jin Seung-Won , Nam Kyeong-Nam , Park Hyeong-Joo , Chung Chan-Moon
Published: September 2019

Pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) oligoimide particles and PMDA-ODA poly(amic acid) salt (PAAS) were synthesized and used as stabilizers to prepare oil-in-water Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). The stability of the Pickering HIPEs was investigated by dispersion stability analysis. Polyimide-based polyHIPEs could be prepared through freeze-drying and subsequent thermal imidization of the Pickering HIPEs. The characteristics of the polyHIPEs, including their morphology, porosity, thermal decomposition temperature, and compression modulus, were investigated. The thermal decomposition temperature (T10) of the polyHIPEs was very high (>530 °C), and their porosity was as high as 92%. The polyimide-based polyHIPEs have the potential to be used in high-temperature environments.
Coastal Tidal Effects on Industrial Thermal Plumes in Satellite Imagery
Authors: Faulkner Agnieszka , Bulgin Claire E. , Merchant Christopher J.
Published: September 2019

Coastal tidal effects on thermal plumes are investigated, exploiting remote sensing of two major coastal industrial installations. The installations use sea water as a coolant, which is then released back into coastal environments at a higher-than-ambient temperature, allowing the plume to be delineated from the ambient waters. Satellite-based thermal sensors observing the Earth at spatial resolutions of 90 and 100 m are used. It is possible to identify coastal features and thermal spatial distributions. This paper presents coastal tidal effects on detected plumes for two case studies: an intertidal embayment and open water exposure, both on the coast of the UK. We correlated the behaviours of thermal plumes using remotely sensed high resolution thermal imagery with tidal phases derived from tide gauges. The results show very distinct behaviours for the flood and ebb tides. The detected surface plume location was dependent on flow switching direction for the different types of tide. The detected surface area was dependent on the strength of the currents, with the largest area observed during the strongest currents. Understanding the dispersion of the plume is essential to influence understanding of any potential ecological impacts.
An Accurate Image Measurement Method Based on a Laser-Based Virtual Scale
Authors: Huang Shiping , Ding Wei , Huang Yonghui
Published: September 2019

Image measurement methods have been widely used in broad areas due to their accuracy and efficiency. However, current techniques usually involve complex calibration, an elaborate optical design, or sensitivity to the test environment. In this paper, a simple optical device was designed to emit parallel beams to obtain a virtual scale for measurement purposes. The proposed theory ensures the robustness of the system when obtaining each scale in the presence of uncertainty. The scale creates a mapping from image coordinates to world coordinates. By using the moving least squares (MLS) method, a full-field scale map can be reconstructed to achieve high-precision measurement at the sub-pixel level. Experimental verifications are carried out, showing that the proposed method provides very accurate and reliable results. The proposed approach is simple in terms of equipment, and the scale can be automatically calculated. Therefore, the system proposed in this paper is a promising candidate as a tool for non-contacting measurements (e.g., the crack development, geometric size) in the inaccessible structures such as high-rise buildings and long-span bridges.
DNA Biosensor Based on Double-Layer Discharge for the Detection of HPV Type 16
Authors: Espinosa José R. , Galván Marisol , Quiñones Arturo S. , Ayala Jorge L. , Durón Sergio M.
Published: September 2019

DNA electrochemical biosensors represent a feasible alternative for the diagnosis of different pathologies. In this work, the development of an electrochemical method for Human Papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16) sensing is reported based on potential relaxation measurements related to the discharge of a complex double layer of a DNA-modified gold electrode. The method used allows us to propose an equivalent circuit (EC) for a DNA/Au electrode, which was corroborated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement. This model differs from the Randles circuit that is commonly used in double-layer simulations. The change in the potential relaxation and associated charge transfer resistance were used for sensing the DNA hybridization by using the redox pair Fe(CN)64-/Fe(CN)63+ as an electrochemical indicator. In order to determinate only the potential relaxation of the composed double layer, the faradic and double-layer current contributions were separated using a rectifier diode arrangement. A detection limit of 0.38 nM was obtained for the target HPV-16 DNA sequences. The biosensor showed a qualitative discrimination between a single-base mismatched sequence and the fully complementary HPV-16 DNA target. The results indicate that the discharge of the double-layer detection method can be used to develop an HPV DNA biosensor.