bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life Assessment in Pediatric Epilepsy
Authors: Shakya Sujana , Shakya Rajani , Poudel Prithuja , Shrestha Ashwinee Kumar
Published: October 2020

Objectives Quality of life (QOL) is an accepted health outcome measure in clinical practice. This study was performed to assess QOL in pediatric epilepsy patients and identify demographic and clinical factors influencing it.

Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient pediatric department of Dhulikhel Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital in Nepal. Parents or caretakers of children receiving one or more antiepileptic drugs were interviewed using QOL childhood epilepsy questionnaire comprising 91 items with seven domains and 16 subscales. All the individual subscales of the questionnaire were found to be compromised with least score on QOL and general health item. Compromised social, physical, psychological, emotional, cognitive as well as behavioral domains were also identified.

Results QOL was found to be more impaired in older children and in those from rural areas. They had significant linguistic impairment and lower level of self-esteem. Overall QOL was found to be compromised more in patients with generalized than with focal epilepsy. Seizure frequency and polytherapy were the most important factors influencing overall QOL.

Conclusion Despite taking appropriate antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy was found to be detrimental to QOL of patients. Hence, QOL assessment should be an important part of epilepsy management protocol.
Incidence of Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis in Acute Leukemia and Effect on Mortality
Authors: Poh Christina , Brunson Ann , Keegan Theresa , Wun Ted , Mahajan Anjlee
Published: October 2020

The cumulative incidence, risk factors, rate of subsequent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding and impact on mortality of isolated upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UE DVT) in acute leukemia are not well-described. The California Cancer Registry, used to identify treated patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) diagnosed between 2009 and 2014, was linked with the statewide hospitalization database to determine cumulative incidences of UE DVT and subsequent VTE and bleeding after UE DVT diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association of UE DVT on the risk of subsequent pulmonary embolism (PE) or lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (LE DVT) and subsequent bleeding, and the impact of UE DVT on mortality. There were 5,072 patients identified: 3,252 had AML and 1,820 had ALL. Three- and 12-month cumulative incidences of UE DVT were 4.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.1–5.6) and 6.6% (95% CI: 5.8–7.5) for AML and 4.1% (95% CI: 3.2–5.1) and 5.9% (95% CI: 4.9–7.1) for ALL, respectively. Twelve-month cumulative incidences of subsequent VTE after an incident UE DVT diagnosis were 5.3% for AML and 12.2% for ALL. Twelve-month cumulative incidences of subsequent bleeding after an incident UE DVT diagnosis were 15.4% for AML and 21.1% for ALL. UE DVT was associated with an increased risk of subsequent bleeding for both AML (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.60–2.68) and ALL (HR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.02–2.57) but was not an independent risk factor for subsequent PE or LE DVT for either leukemia subtype. Isolated incident UE DVT was associated with increased leukemia-specific mortality for AML (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.16–1.73) and ALL (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.31–2.47). UE DVT is a relatively common complication among patients with AML and ALL and has a significant impact on bleeding and mortality. Further research is needed to determine appropriate therapy for this high-risk population.
Shifting Provider Attitudes and Institutional Resources Surrounding Resuscitation at the Limit of Gestational Viability
Authors: Arbour Kaitlyn , Lindsay Elizabeth , Laventhal Naomi , Myers Patrick , Andrews Bree , Klar Angelle , Dunbar Alston E.
Published: October 2020

Objective This study aimed to provide contemporary data regarding provider perceptions of appropriate care for resuscitation and stabilization of periviable infants and institutional resources available to providers.

Study Design A Qualtrics survey was emailed to 672 practicing neonatologists in the United States by use of public databases. Participants were asked about appropriate delivery room care for infants born at 22 to 26 weeks gestational age, factors affecting decision-making, and resources utilized regarding resuscitation. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the dataset.

Results In total, 180 responses were received, and 173 responses analyzed. Regarding preferred course of care based on gestational age, the proportion of respondents endorsing full resuscitation decreased with decreasing gestational age (25 weeks = 99%, 24 = 64%, 23 = 16%, and 22 = 4%). Deference to parental wishes correspondingly increased with decreasing gestational age (25 weeks = 1%, 24 = 35%, 23 = 82%, and 22 = 46%). Provision of comfort care was only endorsed at 22 to 23 weeks (23 weeks = 2%, 22 = 50%). Factors most impacting decision-making at 22 weeks gestational age included: outcomes based on population data (79%), parental wishes (65%), and quality of life measures (63%). Intubation with a 2.5-mm endotracheal tube (84%), surfactant administration in the delivery room (77%), and vascular access (69%) were the most supported therapies for initial stabilization. Availability of institutional resources varied; the most limited were obstetric support for cesarean delivery at the limit of viability (37%), 2.0-mm endotracheal tube (45%), small baby protocols (46%), and a consulting palliative care teams (54%).

Conclusion There appears to be discordance in provider attitudes surrounding preferred actions at 23 and 22 weeks. Provider attitudes regarding decision-making at the limit of viability and identified resource limitations are nonuniform. Between-hospital variations in outcomes for periviable infants may be partly attributable to lack of provider consensus and nonuniform resource availability across institutions.

Key Points
Manipulating micro- and nano-particles with optoelectronic tweezers with large optical spots
Authors: McConnon Aili
Published: October 2020

Optoelectronic tweezers with a non-uniform background field held a particle along one axis of an optical spot while maintaining a high resolution even without needing small optical spots.
Quantifying the spatial scale mismatch between satellite-derived solar irradiance and in situ measurements: A case study using CERES synoptic surface shortwave flux and the Oklahoma Mesonet
Authors: Yang Dazhi
Published: October 2020

The spatial scale mismatch between gridded irradiance products and in situ measurements is perhaps the least understood topic in solar resource assessment. However, it has a profound impact on virtually all solar applications that involve satellite-derived or reanalysis irradiance data. This paper investigates spatial scale mismatch through a kriging-based upscaling method. Point-location measurements from a monitoring network are upscaled to the size of a satellite-derived irradiance footprint. Subsequently, satellite-derived irradiance is validated against both the nearest point-location measurements and the upscaled areal averages, and the error reduction can, thus, be used to quantify the amount of spatial scale mismatch. In that, a new measure is proposed. The empirical part of the paper considers a synoptic scale satellite-derived irradiance product, namely, National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System synoptic surface shortwave flux, and a mesoscale monitoring network, namely, the Oklahoma Mesonet. Based on two years of hourly data and the proposed measure, the spatial scale mismatch is found to be 45% for the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
An algorithm to calculate the cationic composition of soil solutions. 1. Theory and structure
Authors: Reid Jeff B.
Published: October 2020

Difficulties forecasting cation exchange processes may limit the use of soil solution analyses in routine soil testing for agriculture. An important part of those difficulties is the need for much data and expertise to parameterise existing models that can be used for variable charge soils. This paper proposes an algorithm to simulate concentrations of the major nutrient cations in the soil solution. It is designed to have only modest data requirements, be applicable for variable charge soils, and be simple to implement in crop and environment simulation packages. It is based on a Gaines–Thomas type approach to cation exchange, adapted to allow for variations in cation exchange capacity. It includes interactions with anions and anion exchange, which may affect cation behaviour in variable charge soils. Assumptions and limitations of the approach are described, and some issues associated with parameterisation, implementation, and future extension are discussed.
Sitting on the fence
Authors: Symes Colin
Published: October 2020

Analysis of the Linguistic Landscape of schools has by and large concentrated on that in classrooms rather than that mounted on their boundaries, on their perimeter architecture. In the last decade, this architecture has become a rich site for semiotic expression, where schools project not just their own brand but also that of enterprises that sponsor and support them. Following an extensive analysis of the advertisements, signs, and banners around schools located in the inner-west of Sydney, Australia, this paper argues that their presence is emblematic of the neo-liberalist imperatives that now impel education and that is evident in the need for government schools to bolster their income streams and student enrolments. Hence comes the pressure for schools to advertise their qualities and attraction to their communities using a range of semiotic devices, including electronic message boards.
Evaluating attenuation correction strategies in a dedicated, single-gantry breast PET-tomosynthesis scanner
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Srilalan , Vent Trevor , Barufaldi Bruno , Maidment Andrew D A , Karp Joel S , Surti Suleman
Published: October 2020

We are developing a dedicated, combined breast positron emission tomography (PET)-tomosynthesis scanner. Both the PET and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) scanners are integrated in a single gantry to provide spatially co-registered 3D PET-tomosynthesis images. The DBT image will be used to identify the breast boundary and breast density to improve the quantitative accuracy of the PET image. This paper explores PET attenuation correction (AC) strategies that can be performed with the combined breast PET-DBT scanner to obtain more accurate, quantitative high-resolution 3D PET images. The PET detector is comprised of a 32 × 32 array of 1.5 × 1.5 × 15 mm3 LYSO crystals. The PET scanner utilizes two detector heads separated by either 9 or 11 cm, with each detector head having a 4 × 2 arrangement of PET detectors. GEANT4 Application for Tomographic Emission simulations were performed using an anthropomorphic breast phantom with heterogeneous attenuation under clinical DBT-compression. FDG-avid lesions, each 5 mm in diameter with 8:1 uptake, were simulated at four locations within the breast. Simulations were performed with a scan time of 2 min. PET AC was performed using the actual breast simulation model as well as DBT reconstructed volumetric images to derive the breast outline. In addition to using the known breast density as defined by the breast model, we also modeled it as uniform patient-independent soft-tissue, and as a uniform patient-specific material derived from breast tissue composition. Measured absolute lesion uptake was used to evaluate the quantitative accuracy of performing AC using the various strategies. This study demonstrates that AC is necessary to obtain a closer estimate of the true lesion uptake and background activity in the breast. The DBT image dataset assists in measuring lesion uptake with low bias by facilitating accurate breast delineation as well as providing accurate information related to the breast tissue composition. While both the uniform soft-tissue and patient-specific material approaches provides a close estimate to the ground truth, <5% bias can be achieved by using a uniform patient-specific material to define the attenuation map.
A novel method for calibrating head models to account for variability in conductivity and its evaluation in a sphere model
Authors: Schrader S , Antonakakis M , Rampp S , Engwer C , Wolters C H
Published: October 2020

The accuracy in electroencephalography (EEG) and combined EEG and magnetoencephalography (MEG) source reconstructions as well as in optimized transcranial electric stimulation (TES) depends on the conductive properties assigned to the head model, and most importantly on individual skull conductivity. In this study, we present an automatic pipeline to calibrate head models with respect to skull conductivity based on the reconstruction of the P20/N20 response using somatosensory evoked potentials and fields. In order to validate in a well-controlled setup without interplay with numerical errors, we evaluate the accuracy of this algorithm in a 4-layer spherical head model using realistic noise levels as well as dipole sources at different eccentricities with strengths and orientations related to somatosensory experiments. Our results show that the reference skull conductivity can be reliably reconstructed for sources resembling the generator of the P20/N20 response. In case of erroneous assumptions on scalp conductivity, the resulting skull conductivity parameter counterbalances this effect, so that EEG source reconstructions using the fitted skull conductivity parameter result in lower errors than when using the standard value. We propose an automatized procedure to calibrate head models which only relies on non-invasive modalities that are available in a standard MEG laboratory, measures under in vivo conditions and in the low frequency range of interest. Calibrated head modeling can improve EEG and combined EEG/MEG source analysis as well as optimized TES.
Tunable surface plasmon resonance in laser-induced plasma spheroids
Authors: Colón Quiñones Roberto A , Underwood Thomas Carlton , Cappelli Mark A
Published: October 2020

We present a study of the Ku-band tunability of the surface plasmon response of a gaseous plasma resonator generated by laser-induced gas breakdown. Tuning is achieved by varying gas pressure and laser pulse energy. Microwave scattering characteristics of the plasma resonator are obtained using an experimental configuration in which a waveguide is loaded with a single plasma element. Optical imaging of the laser plasma is used to characterize the time-dependent plasma size. Complex transmission waveforms are attributed to the dynamic expansion of the plasma, resulting first in a sweep through the principle Mie resonance, followed by strong reflection of the incident wave due to bulk plasma loading as the plasma expands to significantly fill the waveguide. The described resonator has the potential to be used in an all-plasma metamaterial with tunable opacity and resonance frequency.
Application of energy-balance model from gas discharge to single-surface multipactor
Authors: Wang Huihui , Bai Xianchen , Liu Laqun , Liu Dagang , Meng Lin
Published: October 2020

A unified theory of multipactor discharge on a dielectric is proposed by utilizing the similarity of the energy balance between multipactor and collisional gas discharge. In this theory, the electron energy gain in multipactor is predicted using the classical formulas for the electric field powers in gas discharge, and the electron energy loss is caused by electron bombardment to the dielectric surface. As with kinetic effects in collisional gas discharge, the electron energy distribution function is important in saturated multipactor. Due to the complex energy distribution functions in saturated multipactor, the average bombardment electron energies are varied and much larger than the traditional predicted value indicated by the first crossover of unity in the secondary electron yield. Using the proposed energy-balance model, multipactor in envelope microwaves and multipactor under an extra magnetic field are both theoretically predicted. The theoretical results for the surface-normal accumulative electric field and the deposited power in saturated multipactor are consistent with the results from electromagnetic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations.
Learning cell for superconducting neural networks
Authors: Schegolev Andrey , Klenov Nikolay , Soloviev Igor , Tereshonok Maxim
Published: October 2020

An energy-efficient adiabatic learning neuro cell is proposed. The cell can be used for on-chip learning of adiabatic superconducting artificial neural networks. The static and dynamic characteristics of the proposed learning cell have been investigated. Optimization of the learning cell parameters was performed within simulations of the multi-layer neural network supervised learning with the resilient propagation method.
Metallographic analysis of 11 T dipole coils for High Luminosity-Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC)
Authors: Balachandran Shreyas , Cooper Jonathan , Van Oss Orion B , Lee Peter J , Bottura Luca , Devred Arnaud , Savary Frederic , Scheuerlein Christian , Wolf Felix
Published: October 2020

For next-generation accelerator magnets for fields beyond those achievable using Nb–Ti, Nb3Sn is the most viable superconductor. The high luminosity upgrade for the Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) marks an important milestone as it will be the first project where Nb3Sn magnets will be installed in an accelerator. Nb3Sn is a brittle intermetallic, so magnet coils are typically wound from composite strands containing ductile precursors before heat treating the wire components to form Nb3Sn. However, some mechanical assembly is still required after the coils have been heat-treated. In this paper, we present direct evidence of cracking of the brittle Nb3Sn filaments in a prototype dipole that resulted in degraded magnet performance. The cracking of the Nb3Sn, in this case, can be attributed to an issue with the collaring process that is required in the assembly of dipole accelerator magnets. Metallographic procedures were developed to visualize cracks present in the cables, along with quantitative image analysis for location-based crack analysis. We show that the stresses experienced in the damaged coil are above the critical damage stress of Nb3Sn conductor, as evidenced by a measured Cu stabilizer hardness of 85 HV0.1, which is higher than the Cu stabilizer hardness in a reference Nb3Sn cable ten-stack that was subjected to a 210 MPa transverse compression. We also show that once the collaring procedure issue was rectified in a subsequent dipole, the Nb3Sn filaments were found to be undamaged, and the Cu stabilizer hardness values were reduced to the expected levels. This paper provides a post-mortem verification pathway to analyze the damage, provides strand level mechanical properties, which could be beneficial for improving model prediction capabilities. This method could be applied beyond Nb3Sn magnets to composite designs involving high work hardening materials.
Engineering of the Cesium Zeeman sublevel populations using sequences of laser pulses and RF excitation
Authors: Sarreshtedari Farrokh , Rashedi Alireza , Ghashghaei Fahime , Sabooni Mahmood
Published: October 2020

Incorporating the rate equations of the laser pumped atomic system, the population evolution of the Cesium Zeeman sublevels is calculated and discussed when a specific sequence of laser pulses irradiate the Cesium vapor. In this scheme, after the equalization of the sublevel populations by a magnetically resonant RF pulse, using a left (right) circularly polarized laser pulse the whole atomic population transfer to high (low) projection numbers. Then by irradiating a right (left) polarized laser pulse with appropriate duration and intensity, the desired population distribution could be obtained. The effects of different sequence parameters on the population distribution of Zeeman sublevels are investigated and it is shown that by proper process adjustment it is possible to arbitrary engineer the population distribution. Preparing the desired distribution of the population in the atomic sublevels is substantially important in different light–matter interaction experiments.
TiO2/Co3O4 nanocomposite: Synthesis via Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don leaf extract, characterization and its photocatalytic activity for malachite green degradation
Authors: Syahfitri T W W , Yulizar Y , Gunlazuardi J , Apriandanu D O B
Published: October 2020

TiO2/Co3O4 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized using leaf extract of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. (CRE), precursors of TTIP and Co(NO3)2. FT-IR characterization shows that TiO2/Co3O4 has been formed due to the presence of secondary metabolites in CRE which have a major role as a weak base source for nanocomposite synthesis. Particle size analysis was employed by PSA and TEM, which were found to be 38.04 nm and 90.80 nm, respectively. Besides, the UV-Vis DRS result shows that TiO2/Co3O4 has bandgap energy at 2.8 eV. According to the morphological analysis, TiO2/Co3O4 nanocomposite has a spherical shape confirmed by SEM. The structural analysis was confirmed by XRD that TiO2/Co3O4 nanocompositehas a diffraction pattern combination of TiO2 and Co3O4 nanoparticle. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/Co3O4 nanocomposite was examined for malachite green degradation. The result shows that the degradation percentage was 82.61 % under visible light illumination for 120 min.
Nickel ferrite nanocrystalline as a green and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of Spiro-oxindole-chromene
Authors: Oktavia S H , Cahyana A H , Yunarti R T
Published: October 2020

A separable NiFe2O4 nanocrystalline catalyst was synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method. The catalytic activity of this heterogenous catalyst was investigated to synthesize Spiro-oxindole-chromene derivates via Knoevenagel condensation, and Michael addition reaction under conventional heating condition. The catalyst showed a prominent catalytic activity in a good yield (86.74 %). This easily separated catalyst could be recycled efficiently for four cycles without significant loss of its activity. Furthermore, the products were investigated for the antioxidant activity using DPPH method. The IC50 of the compounds was found to be 182.3 ppm. The use of catalysts has been proven a simple, efficient and environmentally friendly reaction. Based on the results, it is known that the reaction could not be achieved without the presence of NiFe2O4 catalyst.
Preliminary study of electrooxidation isoeugenol into vanillin using platina and boron-doped diamond electrode
Authors: Hilyatudini  , Riyanto H G , Wibowo W , Ivandini T A
Published: October 2020

Vanillin was synthesized from isoeugenol through an electrochemical method using Pt and BDD electrodes using chronoamperometry technique in a one-compartment electrochemical cell. The oxidation at C-C bond termination was expected to occur to form an aldehyde group. The oxidation potential of isoeugenol at Pt and BDD electrodes were fixed at +0.61 V and +0.96 V, respectively. The oxidation results were confirmed by GC, GC-MS, and FTIR. Thin layer chromatography result showed that vanillin could be produced at Pt and BDD electrodes with the yield percentage of 2.9 % and 1.33 %, respectively.
Electroreduction of CO2 using modified boron-doped diamond electrode as the working electrode
Authors: Rahmawati I , Yetri N Y , Gunlazuardi J , Ivandini T A
Published: October 2020

Electroreduction of CO2 becomes a popular study to resolve the problems due to the increase of CO2 in atmosphere. In this work, electroreduction of CO2 was studied using various working electrodes in 0.1 M NaCl solutions. A reduction peak potential around -1.5, -1.1 and -1.2 V, respectively, was observed at BDD, Cu, Cu-BDD, while Cu2O-BDD with different deposition times showed typical peaks at around -1.3 V. Liquid chromatography analysis on the solutions after CO2 electroreduction at the applied potential of -1.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl) showed that by using BDD and Cu electrodes only formic acid and formaldehyde could be produced. However, the use of various Cu2O concentrations deposited on BDD electrodes can produce not only formic acid and formaldehyde, but also acetic acid and methanol with high selectivity of the products, indicating the electrode is promising to have more various products in the electrochemical reduction of CO2.
Sm2O3 nanoparticles preparation using caesalpinia pulcherrima leaf extract, characterization and photocatalytic activity
Authors: Putri N , Yulizar Y , Umar A , Apriandanu D O B
Published: October 2020

In this research, Sm2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared via Caesalpinia pulcherrima leaf extract (CPE), whichh contains secondary metabolites contained as a weak base source and a capping agent. The nanoparticles were confirmed by UV-Vis DRS, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, PSA and TEM. FT-IR spectrum showed that CPE contains the secondary metabolites which play an essential role in the preparation of Sm2O3 NPs. UV-Vis DRS result showed that the bandgap value of Sm2O3 NPs was approximately 4.76 eV which works in the UV region. Based on the XRD analysis, Sm2O3 NPs have a structure of cubic. PSA characterization showed that the average particle size distribution of Sm2O3 was around 84.47 nm. TEM image confirmed that Sm2O3 was in nanoscale with the particle size of 73.27 nm. Finally, Sm2O3 NPs have been tested for the photodegradation of malachite green (MG) under UV light illumination. The degradation percentage of MG using Sm2O3 NPs photocatalyst was 80.14 % for 2 h.
Investigation on the effect of Zirconium doping on the structural and electrical properties of BiFe1-x
Zr
x
O3 with x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05
Authors: Aflahannisa  , Triyono D
Published: October 2020

Multiferroic material was interesting because it has many potential applications in sensors, spintronic devices, actuators, memory devices, microelectronic devices, and convertors. Material multiferroic has two or more primary ferroic properties in the same phase. BiFeO3 is a multiferroic material that has two ferroic properties such as antiferromagnetism and ferroelectricity. BiFe1-xZrxO3 with x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05 have been prepared by sol-gel method to study effect structural and electrical properties. X-ray diffraction result shows that all of the samples have a hexagonal structure with space group R3c and lattice parameter, volume, density increased when the concentration of zirconium increased. Zr-substitution caused the dielectric constant decrease when the concentration of Zr increases at a lower frequency.
Microstructure and mechanical properties of magnesium Si3N4 reinforced composite fabricated by stir casting method
Authors: Manggabarani A A D , Syahrial A Z
Published: October 2020

Currently, the development of materials to improve the efficiency of fuel usage is increasingly carried out, one of which is a matrix composite. The stages of making composites in this study started from the preparation of magnesium matrix and Si3N4 reinforcement to casting with a stirring casting method. The addition of Si3N4 reinforce was carried out by varying the volume fraction by 2 vf-%, 4 vf-%, 6 vf-%, and 8 vf-% which was then characterized by metallographic testing, SEM-EDS, tensile testing, hardness, impact, wear, density and porosity, and XRD. The results of this study showed an increase in mechanical properties by adding Si3N4 as reinforcing particles. The magnesium composite produced different mechanical properties in each variation of the addition of the reinforce. The best mechanical properties resulted from the addition of a reinforce is with a volume fraction of 8 vf-% which produced a hardness value of 94 HRH and a wear rate of 0.0045 mm3/m.
An impedance spectroscopy study of sol-gel prepared La0.9Sr0.1Fe0.7Mo0.3O3 perovskite
Authors: Triyono D , Rafsanjani R A , Laysandra H
Published: October 2020

In this present work, impedance spectroscopy was applied to investigate the electrical properties of La0.9Sr0.1Fe0.7Mo0.3O3 (LSFMo) perovskite prepared by sol-gel and sintering methods. SEM analysis reveals the non-uniform grain distributed in samples with average grain size 347 nm. The complex impedance has been examined in the frequency range of 100 Hz–1 MHz and temperature range of 75–250 °C. The Nyquist plots were identified to form single semicircular arc described as grain behavior working in conduction mechanism. The dielectric and complex conductivity is shown depending on the temperature and frequency. The evolution of ln σDC vs 103/T (K−1) satisfies Arrhenius law and the activation energy is found to be 0.45 eV for this conduction mechanism.
A preliminary study on modified chitosan-curcuminoids as material active food packaging with antioxidant and antibacterial activities
Authors: Azkia A , Baihaqi A I , Prabowo H A , Hendri  , Handayani S , Agustiany T
Published: October 2020

The compound of inorganic nanoparticles is commonly mixed with polymeric materials for food packaging that has antibacterial function. However, the inorganic nanoparticles are toxic to human and the polymeric materials used are not easily biodegraded. The curcuminoids compound from turmeric extract has antioxidant and antibacterial activity which can be a candidate as polymer combination. The polymer used is chitosan which isolated from crab shell with the yield of 4.54 %. In this study, the modified chitosan-curcuminoids was synthesized by in-situ loading method and moulded into a film. Interaction between chitosan and curcuminoids is hydrogen interaction which determined using FTIR. Then, antioxidant activity was tested using radical DPPH scavenger. Antioxidant test results showed that modified chitosan with 20, 40, 60 80 and 100 ppm of ascorbic acid have inhibition levels of 15.49, 16.20, 16.90, 23.94 and 27.47 %, respectively. Modified chitosan with 25 ppm of curcuminoids have a comparable antioxidant activity to chitosan modified ascorbic acid 80 ppm with 24.65 % inhibition. Meanwhile, in the antibacterial test, chitosan modified with curcuminoids showed antibacterial activity toward E. coli and S. aureus bacteria with inhibition zone of 9 and 6 mm, respectively.
Methyl orange dye removal using Ni/Fe-NO3 and Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40] layered double hydroxides
Authors: Lesbani A , Taher T , Palapa N R , Mohadi R , Yuliana A , Mardiyanto
Published: October 2020

The material of layered double hydroxide (LDH) Ni/Fe-NO3 was prepared by coprecipitation method under basic condition. Ni/Fe LDH was modified by intercalation using K4[α-SiW12O40] to form Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40]. All materials were characterized by X-ray and FTIR spectroscopy. Ni/Fe LDH and intercalated Ni/Fe LDH were used as adsorbent of methyl orange dye from the aqueous solution. The parameter of adsorption such as kinetic and also thermodynamic adsorption of methyl orange on LDHs were investigated. X-Ray analysis showed that the diffraction at 11.53 ° [003] of Ni/Fe-NO3 has interlayer distance 7.67 Å shift to 8.20 ° [003] of Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40] with interlayer distance 10.78 Å. FTIR spectra of Ni/Fe-NO3 and Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40] show the wavenumber at 1600 cm−1 due to vibration of LDHs anion. Adsorption of methyl orange onto Ni/Fe-NO3 and Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40] follow the pseudo second-order kinetic model, where intercalated material has a higher reactivity than Ni/Fe-NO3 before intercalation. Isotherm model Freundlich was more fitted than isotherm Langmuir for the adsorption of methyl orange on LDHs with multilayer physical adsorption process. Adsorption capacity of methyl orange on Ni/Fe-[α-SiW12O40] as adsorbent was slightly higher (up to 7.226 mg.g−1) than Ni/Fe-NO3 as adsorbent (3.190 mg.g−1).
Conversion of delignified stem sorghum bicolor into levulinic acid using micro and mesoporous ZSM-5 catalysts
Authors: Siregar Y D I , Saepudin E , Krisnandi Y K
Published: October 2020

Sorghum bicolor stem is one of the biomass wastes that can be used as raw material for synthesizing platform chemicals. Levulinic acid is one of the chemicals that is currently a substance often synthesized or isolated. Levulinic acid can be catalytically synthesized from sorghum stem waste which is rich in cellulose. Cellulose in the sorghum stem is still bound to lignin and hemicellulose, therefore pretreatment is needed to reduce lignin. The method consists of pretreatment of biomass by delignification, manufacturing of micro and mesoporous ZSM-5 catalysts (double template method) and the reaction of the conversion of stem sorghum to levulinic acid is carried out in a mini reactor. Catalyst characterizations were conducted using FTIR, XRD, SEM EDX and product analysis by HPLC. The result of delignification is the cellulose content increased from 45.10 % to 76.66 %. The result of as-synthesized ZSM-5 showed the diffractogram patterns similar to the standard ZSM-5. SEM image showed a hexagonal coffin-like shape which is the characteristic of ZSM-5. The levulinic acid produced using meso-porous ZSM-5 catalyst was observed at the reaction time of 2–6 h, while the yield of levulinic acid using micro-porous ZSM-5 catalyst was observed at the end of the reaction time, i.e. 6–10 h. It can be concluded that the pore size of the catalyst and the duration of the conversion time influenced the yield of levulinic acid.
Electronic structure of 9 quintuple layers Bi2Se3 within Density Functional Theory
Authors: Hasan M , Majidi M A
Published: October 2020

Bismuth Selenide (Bi2Se3) is a well-known 3D-type topological insulator. The interior part of this material is insulating, while its surface state is metallic which is protected by time-reversal symmetry. The experimental study of this material by varying its thickness reveals that the metallic surface state starts to appear at a minimum thickness of six Quintuple Layer (QL). This study was performed within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) in which a vacuum gap is added to the multilayer structure in order to capture the surface states of the material. While a previous study has explored the electronic structure of this material upto a thickness of 8 QL, a more detailed information of how the system evolves from this thickness to a fully bulk limit has not much been explored. With this motivation, we propose to calculate the electronic structure of this material with thickness of 9 QL. We perform the DFT calculation using Quantum Espresso (QE) package. Our results show that the band structure of this system reveals the surface metallic states with many additional bands as compared to those of thinner layer systems.
Simulation of CuO/ZnO heteroj unction for photovoltaic applications
Authors: Abdelfatah Mahmoud , El-Shafai Nagi M. , Ismail Walid , El-Mehasseb Ibrahim M. , El-Shaer Abdelhamid
Published: October 2020

Inorganic semiconductors become one of the most gifted candidate for photovoltaic applications instead of high cost silicon devices and organics ones. Therefore, in this paper, inorganic CuO/ZnO heteroj unction is simulated as thin layer solar cells employing SCAPS program. Both effect of CuO and ZnO layers thickness on basic parameters of solar cells is investigated deeply. Simulated results of this solar cell device indicate that the absorber layer is responsible for separation process of generated carriers. Higher efficiency of about 23 % could be achieved with 2 μ of CuO thickness and 100 nm of ZnO layer for devices. Generally, the main aspects that controlling the solar cell performance are depletion region width, built-in potential, the charge carrier collection length and generation and recombination rates.
Gold Nanorods as Contrast Agent for Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI) of Breast Cancer
Authors: Awad H , Abdallah T , Easawi K , Negm S , Talaat H
Published: October 2020

Gold Nanorods (AuNRs) can play a fundamental role in the enhancement of photoacoustic imaging (PAI). This is due to their high and tunable optical absorption cross-section. Normally, the most convenient and highly stable AuNRs are synthesized using Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant. In this work, surface modification with poly ethylene glycol (PEGylation) and Silica coating (SiO2-coating) were applied to help in reducing toxicity of CTAB capped AuNRs. Breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) was used to assess the modified AuNRs as contrast agents. A much brighter PAI of cells loaded with SiO2-coated AuNRs was obtained. Such an enhanced PA image is due to the larger cellular uptake, as observed from bright field microscope images taken for the cells. On the other hand, the corresponding PA image for cells with PEGylated AuNRs is diminished. The increase in cell uptake, in case of SiO2-coated AuNRs, could result due to the adsorption of protein, contained in the cell culture media, on the negatively charged silica surface, which increases intercellular uptake by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, the increase of the brightness of PAI of SiO2-coated AuNRs may be due to the lowering of the interfacial thermal resistance between gold and the surrounding solvent. This allows the particle to release more heat to its environment which increases the generated acoustic signals from these particles.
Plasmonic Yolk-Shell Nano Structures for Solar Cells Absorbance Enhancement
Authors: AbdelAziz Hadeer H. , Ali Tamer A. , Rafat Nadia H.
Published: October 2020

In this research we study the enhancement in power absorbance of thin film silicon solar cells by plasmonic yolk-shell (YS) nano particles. Plasmonic YS nano particles are simulated on top/bottom position of thin film Si layers. We suggest different structures of YS and simulate the behaviour of such structures using a FDTD simulations. We calculate the limiting photocurrent taking into consideration the enhanced absorbance of the cell. The simulation results show multi-peaked and broad band power absorbance enhancement all over the solar spectrum. The power absorbance enhanced into solar cell by 64% over planar ultra-thin 300 nm Si cell.
Efficient light harvesting in perovskite layer via three-dimensional TiO2 nanobranched nanorod scaffold
Authors: Daneshvar e Asl Shervin , Zarenezhad Hamaneh , Askari Masoud , Halali Mohammad , Sadrnezhaad Sayed Khatiboleslam
Published: October 2020

A comparative study was done on three types of TiO2 thin film morphology, i.e., mesoporous nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanobranched nanorods thin films, as the scaffold for the perovskite solar cell. The performances of the perovskite-coated thin films were compared in terms of charge carrier extraction, charge transport, and solar energy harvesting via photoluminescence and UV–vis spectroscopies. TiO2 nanobranched nanorods thin film showed better photovoltaic performance than those of mesoporous nanoparticles and nanorods thin films. The better optical properties of nanobranched nanorods thin film as the scaffold is ascribed to its unique morphological advantages, i.e., remarkable specific surface area along with high-speed pathways for charge carriers. These characteristics lead to great, compact, and uniform perovskite loading, excellent electron transport property, and desired light harvesting performance, which are preferable features for promoting the efficiency of the perovskite solar cells. This paper introduces an outstanding scaffold for fabrication of high-performance perovskite solar cells.
Limit linear series and ranks of multiplication maps
Authors: Liu Fu , Osserman Brian , Teixidor i Bigas Montserrat , Zhang Naizhen
Published: October 2020

We develop a new technique to study ranks of multiplication maps for linear series via limit linear series and degenerations to chains of elliptic curves. We prove an elementary criterion and apply it to proving cases of the Maximal Rank Conjecture. We give a new proof of the case of quadrics, and also treat several families in the case of cubics. Our proofs do not require restrictions on direction of approach, so we recover new information on the locus in the moduli space of curves on which the maximal rank condition fails.
Latin America and Critical Cultural Studies
Authors: Del Sarto Ana
Published: October 2020

The field of cultural studies in Latin America has had a long history and a series of both productive and convoluted developments. Today, its widespread academic commodification and institutionalization in graduate programs deter incisive, critical, and politically daring works that question the limits of the field. Even when there has never been just one way of understanding and practicing cultural studies—its internal differences are mainly due to its local geo-cultural and sociohistoric contextualization—cultural studies in Latin America cannot be understood without the transnational circulation of knowledge, hegemonized by Anglo-Saxon—British as well as American—influences and overdeterminations. Four specific and abridged transformations help sieve through this complex history intricately enmeshed in specific sociopolitical, economic, and cultural processes vis-à-vis epistemic and hermeneutic theoretical projects. These moments are unraveled from the specific articulations built from local traditions of critical thinking mixed with exogenous theories and discourses from the time when self-reflexive postmodern irony and globalization began materializing in a qualitative higher degree around the globe to its critically silent acquiescence.
Historical Views of Homosexuality: Asia
Authors: Rich Timothy , Dahmer Andi , Eliassen Isabel
Published: October 2020

How does Asia compare to other regions in terms of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) rights? While Asia lags behind the West on typical metrics of LGBT rights, this fails to capture the diversity of tolerance historically in the region. At the same time, conservative backlashes to LGBT policies are evident across the region, often invoking traditionalist or religious opposition, as also seen outside of the region.

Moreover, much of the literature myopically focuses on one or two countries in Asia, rarely attempting to make broad comparisons across East, South, and Central Asia. Part of this is due to terminology differences, where “homosexual” is commonly used in some countries as a catch-all term for members of the LGBT community, compared to others in the region countries, especially in South Asia, with a longer history of specialized terminology for transgendered people. Yet broader comparisons in the absence of terminology differences remain rare despite growing attention to LGBT issues in public opinion polls, news, and academic work and despite the fact that the legal avenues chosen by LGBT rights proponents often mirror those chosen in the West.

State policies on LGBT policies also range considerably in the region, with only Taiwan currently recognizing same-sex marriage at the national level, but with decriminalization and antidiscrimination policies at the national and local levels increasingly common. However, a commonly overlooked trend is that of harsher LGBT policies enacted by local governments. Meanwhile, despite trends in the West of growing public tolerance on LGBT issues, far less consistency emerges in Asia, further complicating state efforts.

It is important to highlight Asia’s diversity in terms of rights and tolerance, but it is equally important to integrate evidence from Asia into cross-national research on LGBT issues to understand what is unique about the region and what may have been ignored in other regions.
LGBTQ Politics in Media and Culture
Authors: Billard Thomas J. , Gross Larry
Published: October 2020

As the primary vector by which society tells itself about itself, popular media transmit ideas of what behavior is acceptable and whose identities are legitimate, thereby perpetuating and, at times, transforming the social order. Thus, media have been key targets of LGBT advocacy and activism and important contributors to the political standing of LGBT people. Of course, media are not a monolith, and different types of media inform different parts of society. Community media have been an important infrastructure through which gays and lesbians and, separately, transgender people formed shared identities and developed collective political consciousness. Political media, such as newspapers, news websites, and network and cable television news broadcasts, inform elites and the mass public alike, making them an important influence on public opinion and political behavior. Entertainment media, such as television and film, cultivate our culture’s shared values and ideas, which infuse into the public’s political beliefs and attitudes.

Generally speaking, the literature on LGBTQ politics and the media is biased toward news and public affairs media over fictional and entertainment media, though both are important influences on LGBTQ citizens’ political engagement, as well as on citizens’ public opinion toward LGBTQ rights and their subsequent political behaviors. In the case of the former, media—particularly LG(BT) community media—have played an important role in facilitating the formation of a shared social and then political identity, as well as fueling the formation of, first, separate gay and lesbian and transgender movements and then a unified LGBTQ movement. Moreover, digital media have enabled new modes of political organizing and exercising sociopolitical influence, making LGBTQ activism more diverse, more intersectional, more pluralistic, and more participatory. In the case of the latter, (news) media representations of LGBTQ individuals initially portrayed them in disparaging and disrespectful ways. Over time, representations in both news and entertainment media have come to portray them in ways that legitimate their identities and their political claims. These representations, in turn, have had profound impacts on public opinion toward LGBTQ rights and citizens’ LGBTQ-relevant voting behavior. Yet, the literature on these representations and their effects overwhelmingly focuses on gays and lesbians at the expense of bisexual and transgender people, and this work is done primarily in U.S. and Anglophone contexts, limiting our understanding of the relationships between LGBTQ politics and the media globally.