bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MUSIK DAN SEKSUALITAS DALAM NOVEL DIE KLAVIERSPIELERIN KARYA ELFRIEDE JELINEK (Music and Sexuality in Elfriede Jelinek’s Novel “Die Klavierspielerin”)
Authors: Hapitta Okky Dwi , Aksa Yati , Noorman Safrina
Published: August 2017

Musik banyak diangkat menjadi tema dalam karya-karya yang ditulis Jelinek. Dalam novel Die Klavierspielerin  yang terbit tahun 1983, Jelinek mengangkat tema musik. Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk mengungkapkan fungsi musik dan keterkaitannya dengan seksualitas tokoh utama. Kajian ini dilandasi oleh teori fungsi musik yang dikemukakan Alan P. Merriam, teori seksualitas yang dikemukakan oleh Padgug, serta teori seksualitas yang berkaitan dengan relasi kuasa yang dikemukakan oleh M. Foucault. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa di dalam novel tersebut terdapat fungsi musik sebagai representasi simbolis yang dijadikan sarana antar tokoh untuk saling menekan antara ibu terhadap Erika sebagai anak, Erika sebagai guru terhadap Klemmer sebagai murid. Musik juga memunculkan relasi kuasa yang mempengaruhi seksualitas Erika.Abstract: Music was mostly taken as a theme in many works written by Jelinek.  In the Die Klavierspielerin novel  published in 1983, Jelinek took theme of music. The study is aimed at revealing music function  and its links with the main character’s sexuality. This study is based on music function theory introduced by Alan P. Merriam, sexuality theory introduced by Padgug, and sexuality theory concerning power relation introduced by M. Foucault. The  results of analysis indicate that in the novel there are musical functions as symbolic representation used as a reference between characters to repress each other, such as,  mother to Erika as a child, Erika as a teacher to Klemmer as a student.
PEREMPUAN DI LUAR JALUR: SEKSUALITAS PEREMPUAN DALAM DUA CERPEN KARYA SUWARSIH DJOJOPUSPITO (Women Out of the Line: Women’s Sexuality in Two Short Stories by Suwarsih Djojopuspito)
Authors: Priyatna, M.A., M.Hum., Ph.D. Aquarini
Published: August 2017

Tulisan ini mendiskusikan isu seksualitas dalam dua cerpen karya Suwarsih Djojopuspito, yakni Seruling di Malam Hari dan Artinah. Penelitian ini meletakan isu seksualitas dalam kedua cerpen tersebut dalam kerangka kajian gender dan feminis. Suwarsih adalah  salah  satu penulis perempuan pionir di Indonesia yang karyanya secara lugas mengambil posisi yang resisten terhadap ideologi patriarki. Dalam kedua cerpen yang dibahas, Suwarsih menunjukkan timpangnya praktik-praktik keseharian dalam relasi inti antara perempuan dan laki-laki, terutama dalam perkawinan. Melalui narasi dan penggambaran tokoh, ditunjukkan bahwa ideologi patriarki yang termanifestasi dalam nilai-nilai heteronormativitas telah menempatkan seksualitas laki-laki sebagai normatif dan berterima, sementara seksualitas perempuan sebagai peripheral saja terhadap seksualitas laki-laki. Juga diperlihatkan, bagaimana nilai-nilai patriarki yang diwujudkan dalam relasi personal menempatkan perempuan dalam posisi yang lebih lemah. Meskipun demikian, kedua cerpen mengambil posisi yang tidak memihak posisi laki-laki, melainkan memberikan perempuan agensi yang menyuarakan tubuh dan seksualitas perempuan sebagai bagian dari subjektivitas perempuan sebagaimana seksualitas adalah bagian dari laki-laki.Abstract: This writing examines the issues of sexuality in two short stories by Suwarsih Djojopuspito’s “Seruling di Malam Hari” and “Artinah”. This research locates sexuality in the two short stories in the framework of gender and feminist studies. Suwarsih is among the pioneering woman writer in Ind onesi a. Her wor ks ha ve been recogni zed a s a form of resista nce t oward  the domin ant patriarchal ideology. In the two short stories discussed in this article, Suwarsih elaborates the bias ag ai ns t wo men  i n th e everyda y pr actices  o f in ti mat e rela ti ons  b et ween  women an d men, particularly in marital relationships. Through the narrative and the portrayal of the characters, the short stories show that the ideology of patriarchy as manifested in the heteronormative values have established men’s sexuality as normative and acceptable, while female sexuality is  only as peripheral to men’s sexuality. Likewise, the two short stories also show that patriarchal values apparent in personal relationships have put women in the inferior position. However, the two short stories articulate feminist by giving the women’s characters the agency to articulate their bodies and sexuality as important parts of their subjectivity as a woman just like they are the important part of men’s.
PENGEMBANGAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN SASTRA INDONESIA BERBASIS PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER DI SMA/SMK KABUPATEN KLATEN (Development of the Teaching-Learning Model of Indonesian Literature Based on Character Education in SMA/SMK in Klaten Regency)
Authors: Ismawati Esti , Santosa Gunawan Budi , Ghofir Abdul
Published: August 2017

Penelitian Hibah Bersaing DP2M DIKTI ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan model pengajaran sastra Indonesia berbasis karakter. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah R&D model Gall & Borg dengan 4 langkah, yakni (1) studi pendahuluan, (2) tahap pengembangan, (3) tahap pengujian model, dan (4) desiminasi hasil. Produk akhir penelitian ini berupa model pembelajaran sastra Indonesia berbasis karakter beserta buku teksnya. Permasalahan yang akan dipecahkan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut: (1) Karakter apa saja yang sudah dan belum dimiliki oleh siswa dan guru SMA, SMK, dan MA di Klaten? (2) Bagaimana pembelajaran sastra Indonesia berbasis karakter di SMA, SMK, dan MA di Klaten? (3) Perlukah pengembangan model pembelajaran sastra Indonesia berbasis karakter di SMA, SMK, dan MA di Klaten? Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa (1) dari 18 karakter yang harus dibelajarkan di tingkat SLTA, baru 14 karakter yang terinternalisasi dalam diri siswa dan guru di Klaten; (2) pembelajaran karakter dalam sastra hanya ditempelkan saja; (3) perlu model pembelajaran sastra Indonesia berbasis karakter yang aplikatif.Abstract: The research of DP2M  DIKTI  aims to develop the teaching- learning model of Indonesian literature based on character education. The method of this research is R & D with four steps, namely, (1) preliminary study phase/introductory study, (2) development phase,  (3) trial phase, and  (4)  dissemination of the model. The product of this research is a learning   model of Indonesian literature   based on the character as well as the textbook. The research questions of the study are as follows: (1) what kinds  of the character  have or have not yet been owned by students and teachers  of SMA, SMK, MA in Klaten; (2) how the teaching Indonesian literature based on the character  is; (3) whether development of teaching Indonesian literature based on the character needs doing in SMA, SMK, and MA in Klaten. The results of the research show that (1) of the 18 characters taught  in  the high school level, only 14 characters are internalized within the students and teachers in Klaten; (2) teaching the character in literature subject  is only written; (3) it needs learning model of Indonesian literature based  on applicable  character.
Role of imaging (MDCT) in ocular and orbital lesions
Authors: Shah Pratima Kumari , Rauniyar RK , Gupta MK , Badhu BP
Published: August 2017

Background: Radiological imaging is still important to diagnose ocular and orbital abnormalities. Computed tomography is the first-line imaging modality for orbital imaging in the acute setting with magnetic resonance imaging playing an important secondary role.Objective: To assess the role of multidectector computed tomography (MDCT) in diagnosis of ocular and orbital lesions. To describe the imaging features of various orbital and ocular lesions on MDCT.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 patients in B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, over the period of one year (from July 2013 to June 2014). All the patients with clinical suspicion of ocular and orbital lesions, referred from the ophthalmology department for CT scan were included in this study.Results: Out of 50 cases 4 were traumatic and 46 were non traumatic cases. Retinoblastoma was most common non traumatic lesion in our study. We compared MDCT diagnosis and final diagnosis which was based on histopathology/ per operative finding, FNAC, clinical response to treatment, supportive laboratory (biochemical/ microbiological) findings and supportive findings on other radiological investigations (USG and MRI). The sensitivity of MDCT in diagnosing ocular and orbit lesions was 95.65%.Conclusion: MDCT has important role in characterization and diagnosis of the lesions, surgical planning and follow up of patient with various ocular and orbital pathologies. MDCT is better for evaluation of bones and detection of calcifications and to discern the location, extent and configuration of the lesions. Therefore MDCT is an ideal radiological method for evaluation of various ocular and orbital lesions. Health Renaissance 2015;13 (3): 24-36
Quality assessment of discharge summaries from an emergency department in eastern Nepal
Authors: Giri Rajani , Bhandari R , Poudel M , Gupta P P
Published: August 2017

Background: Discharge summaries are intended to transfer important clinical information from inpatient to outpatient settings and between hospital admissions. A good discharge summary helps physician to provide continuity of care which will in turn improve patient outcomes. Despite the importance of the discharge summary, there has been relatively little research in this area in Nepal. We therefore decided to review discharge summaries of patients discharged from emergency department in eastern Nepal.Objective: To assess the completeness of discharge summaries from emergency department. Methods: A total of 360 discharge summaries, representing 20% of discharge from the emergency department of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal were randomly selected and evaluated. Quality of discharge for completeness was evaluated using recommendations by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital for the presence or absence of the following key items: admission diagnosis, drug allergy, physical examination, significant laboratory test and results, discharge diagnosis, procedures, discharge medication (including dose and duration), follow up and attending physician signature.Results: The proportion of discharge summaries missing particular component of vital data ranged from less than 4% (no discharge medications) to 97% (no mention of drug allergy). Information was missing on patients discharge condition (74%), hospital course (61%), discharge instruction (57%) and the discharge diagnosis in (13%). Most of the discharge summaries were partially structured representing 75%. Ease of access to the diagnosis was 78%.Conclusions: Though most of the discharge summaries were structured and access to the diagnosis was 78%, considerable deficiencies in the completeness of discharge summaries were found. Health Renaissance 2015;13 (3): 41-47
Socio-cultural factors associated with morbidity and mortality: A study from Eastern Nepal
Authors: Jha Nilambar , Bhattarai S , Niraula SN
Published: August 2017

Background: Today there has been a change in the perception of disease from germ theory to the involvement of multiple factors in the causation.Methods: With this notion, this cross sectional study made an effort to delineate the socio-cultural factors associated with health in six teaching districts of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in the Eastern region of Nepal among the mothers of reproductive age surveying 1985 households.Results: This study revealed association of chronic disease and acute illness with various socio-demographic variables like religion, ethnicity, family size, number of children, respondent’s literacy and occupation. Number of jobholders in the family and poverty line were found to be associated with acute illness. Treatment of shaman healers and restrictions during pregnancy period showed association with health inequalities. Mortality in the family was associated with ethnicity, number of children, and literacy of respondent.Conclusion: As a consequence of these associated factors, the effective utilization of the modern health facilities may not be proper which may lead to ill health consequences. Multifaceted development program from the government along with effective awareness program can help out the people to combat the evil of health life. Health Renaissance 2015;13 (3): 114-128
Resisting the Right: Countering Right-Wing Extremism in Canada
Authors: Scrivens Ryan , Perry Barbara
Published: August 2017

Recent world events seem to have motivated renewed activity of and public attention to right-wing extremism, not only within a global context but in Canada as well. In a national study involving interviews with Canadian law enforcement officials, community organizations, and right-wing activists, paired with analyses of open source intelligence, we observed that the foundations of right-wing extremism are complex and multifaceted, grounded in both individual and social conditions. This suggests that so too must counter-extremist initiatives be multidimensional, building on the strengths and expertise of diverse sectors: law enforcement, certainly, but also education, social services, public health, youth workers, and victim service providers, to name a few. In this article, we suggest strategies intended to directly exploit identified patterns inherent in right-wing extremist groups and their environments to disrupt the growth and sustainability of those groups.
“Everybody Loves a Redemption Story around Election Time”: Rob Ford and Media Construction of Substance Misuse and Recovery
Authors: Kennedy Liam , Valleriani Jenna
Published: August 2017

The crack cocaine scandal that embroiled former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford presents an opportunity to explore how we think and talk about substance (mis)use and recovery. Examining 1,836 articles from four Canadian newspapers, we analyze the ways news media frame Ford's use of crack cocaine. We find that Ford's drug use was often linked to a police investigation into gangs and guns, and much was made of his association with “Somali” drug dealers. Not only does this framing perpetuate prevailing stereotypes (crack cocaine use by racialized individuals living in poor and violent communities), but also it encourages the public to consider drugs a criminal justice issue and contributes to the stigma associated with drug use. Moreover, news media repeatedly suggested that Ford's problematic drug use could be solved if he took a leave from his job and entered a treatment facility. However, Ford's refusal to express shame and seek immediate treatment made him unworthy of compassion and instead rendered him deserving of censure. We argue that news media promoting a narrow pathway to addiction recovery and redemption ignores the realities of problematic drug use and justifies the continued marginalization of those who fail to meet this strict code of conduct.
Calibration of Asphalt Strain Transducers by Using Digital Image Correlation
Authors: Burnham Thomas R. , Huerta Santiago , Olson Steven C.
Published: August 2017

Full-scale pavement testing often utilizes embedded instrumentation to measure the effect of traffic loading. As with any scientific measurement, confidence in the data from these sensors relies on proper calibration and installation. Manufacturers of sensors typically perform calibration tests before shipment, but these tests are not standardized. In addition, some manufacturers provide only one calibration sheet covering a batch of sensors, while others provide calibration results for each sensor. Many transducers are calibrated to produce voltage sensitivity factors; however, not all data acquisition systems accept these as inputs. This was the case at the pavement testing facility of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, where a new data acquisition system required gauge factors. This paper describes the development of a bench calibration testing procedure that uses a digital image correlation system to determine system gauge factors (SGFs) for two types of asphalt strain transducers. The calibration results clearly show that each transducer has a unique SGF that should be used when transforming collected strain data. Although the procedure that was developed produced consistent SGFs between tests, several improvements are recommended. The variations in SGFs found in this study demonstrate the need for fully understanding the calibration of strain transducers and the data acquisition systems to which they are connected.
Ductile Concrete Material with Self-Healing Capacity for Jointless Concrete Pavement Use
Authors: Zhang Zhigang , Qian Shunzhi , Liu Hezhi , Li Victor C.
Published: August 2017

The existence of joints in concrete pavement tends to cause many distresses and driving discomfort, thus resulting in high maintenance and shortened service life. This study achieved jointless function in concrete pavement by utilizing the high ductility and self-healing capacity of engineered cementitious composite (ECC). From the preliminary experimental results, ECC showed high strain capacity of 4.4% and deflection capacity of 7.9 mm under tension and bending, overcoming the brittleness of normal concrete. The flexural and compressive strengths of ECC are 12.2 and 45.8 MPa, respectively, which could meet the requirements of heavy-duty concrete pavement in accordance with design guidance in China. Under restrained shrinkage, ECC also shows a very low tendency to form fracture failure. In addition, the self-healing phenomenon is observed in ECC. Its stiffness, tensile strain capacity, tensile strength, and resonant frequency value show a very high recovery level after self-healing, nearly approaching that of virgin ECC of the same age. The water permeability coefficient of predamaged ECC decreases gradually with self-healing age, and eventually is close to that of the undamaged specimens. Based on the experimental results, it is concluded that ECC material, as expected, has the potential to be used in jointless concrete pavement.
Impact of Concrete Pavement Structural Response on Rolling Resistance and Vehicle Fuel Economy
Authors: Balzarini Danilo , Zaabar Imen , Chatti Karim
Published: August 2017

Reduction in vehicle fuel consumption is one of the main benefits considered in technical and economic evaluations of road improvements. The study described in this paper investigated the increase in vehicle energy consumption caused by the structural response of a concrete pavement to a moving load. First, the day and night falling weight deflectometer deflection time histories were measured for three concrete sections; their mechanical characteristics were then backcalculated. Second, a finite element model (DYNASLAB) was used to determine the pavement structural response under moving load for all three sections under different wheel loading conditions (passenger car, SUV, and articulated truck), vehicle speeds, and temperatures. As the rolling wheels move forward, the local deflection basin caused by the delayed deformation of the subgrade and the rotation of the slab form a positive slope. The energy dissipated was calculated as the energy required for a rolling wheel to move uphill. Finally, the calorific values of gasoline and diesel were used to convert energy into fuel consumption excess. The maximum deflection-induced energy consumption is about 0.08% of the total consumption for articulated trucks, which is small compared with 1.9% for asphalt pavements at high temperatures and low speeds, as reported by other studies.
Deployment of the Next Generation Concrete Surface in Minnesota
Authors: Izevbekhai Bernard Igbafen , Khazanovich Lev , Voller Vaughan R.
Published: August 2017

Development of a quiet diamond grinding configuration commenced in an initial laboratory effort at Purdue University, followed by research iterations from 2007 to 2010 at the pavement test track research facility (MnROAD) of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT). This paper catalogues the stages in the development and deployment of the Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) from the configuration development at MnROAD, coupled with the simultaneous development of a tire–pavement noise predictive model deployed on Interstate 94 near Saint Cloud, Interstate 35 in Duluth, and Interstate 394 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NGCS in these projects caused noise reduction of 3 to 6 dB, representing 50% to 75% sound intensity reduction. Diamond grinding was performed on the preexisting textures: burlap drag on Interstate Highway 94 near Saint Cloud, transverse tining on Interstate Highway 35 in Duluth, and Ultra-Thin Bonded Wearing Course (UTBWC) on Interstate 394, Minnesota DOT exceeded the goal of not increasing the pregrind tire–pavement noise level by these rehabilitations. The predictive tire–pavement interaction noise model was validated in these deployments, including on Interstate 394, where the full acoustic benefit of NGCS had been attenuated by the anomalous effect of undulations reminiscent of the previous concrete–UTBWC interface, which had inadvertently conferred a background configuration to the new diamond-ground surface.
Cysteine, Glutathione, and Thiol Redox Balance in Astrocytes
Authors: McBean Gethin
Published: August 2017

This review discusses the current understanding of cysteine and glutathione redox balance in astrocytes. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of oxidative stress and astrocyte activation on pathways that provide cysteine as a precursor for glutathione. The effect of the disruption of thiol-containing amino acid metabolism on the antioxidant capacity of astrocytes is also discussed.
A Novel Reactive Power Optimization in Distribution Network Based on Typical Scenarios Partitioning and Load Distribution Matching Method
Authors: Ji Yuqi , Liu Keyan , Geng Guangfei , Sheng Wanxing , Meng Xiaoli , Jia Dongli , He Kaiyuan
Published: August 2017

This paper proposed an entropy weight optimum seeking method (EWOSM) based on the typical scenarios partitioning and load distribution matching, to solve the reactive power optimization problem in distribution network under the background of big data. Firstly, the mathematic model of reactive power optimization is provided to analyze the relationship between the data source and the optimization schemes in distribution network, which illustrate the feasibility of using large amount of historical data to solve reactive power optimization. Then, the typical scenarios partitioning method and load distribution matching method are presented, which can select out some loads that have the same or similar distributions with the load to be optimized from historical database rapidly, and the corresponding historical optimization schemes are used as the alternatives. As the reactive power optimization is a multi-objective problem, the multi-attribute decision making method based on entropy weight method is used to select out the optimal scheme from the alternatives. The objective weights of evaluation indexes are determined by entropy weight method, and then the multi-attribute decision making problem is transformed to a single attribute decision making problem. Finally, the proposed method is tested on several systems with different scales and compared with existing methods to prove the validity and superiority.
Guest Editors’ Note—Special Issue on Spatial Audio
Authors: Gan Woon-Seng , Choi Jung-Woo
Published: August 2017

Three-dimensional (or spatial) audio is a growing research field that plays a key role in realizing immersive communication in many of today’s applications for teleconferencing, entertainment, gaming, navigation guidance, and virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR).[...]
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and MicroRNAs in Lung Cancer
Authors: Legras Antoine , Pécuchet Nicolas , Imbeaud Sandrine , Pallier Karine , Didelot Audrey , Roussel Hélène , Gibault Laure , Fabre Elizabeth , Le Pimpec-Barthes Françoise , Laurent-Puig Pierre , Blons Hélène
Published: August 2017

Despite major advances, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the major cause of cancer-related death in developed countries. Metastasis and drug resistance are the main factors contributing to relapse and death. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex molecular and cellular process involved in tissue remodelling that was extensively studied as an actor of tumour progression, metastasis and drug resistance in many cancer types and in lung cancers. Here we described with an emphasis on NSCLC how the changes in signalling pathways, transcription factors expression or microRNAs that occur in cancer promote EMT. Understanding the biology of EMT will help to define reversing process and treatment strategies. We will see that this complex mechanism is related to inflammation, cell mobility and stem cell features and that it is a dynamic process. The existence of intermediate phenotypes and tumour heterogeneity may be debated in the literature concerning EMT markers, EMT signatures and clinical consequences in NSCLC. However, given the role of EMT in metastasis and in drug resistance the development of EMT inhibitors is an interesting approach to counteract tumour progression and drug resistance. This review describes EMT involvement in cancer with an emphasis on NSCLC and microRNA regulation.
Low-Frequency Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy as a Monitoring Tool for Yeast Growth in Industrial Brewing Processes
Authors: Slouka Christoph , Brunauer Georg , Kopp Julian , Strahammer Michael , Fricke Jens , Fleig Jürgen , Herwig Christoph
Published: August 2017

Today’s yeast total biomass and viability measurements during the brewing process are dependent on offline methods such as methylene blue or florescence dye-based staining, and/or the usage of flow cytometric measurements. Additionally, microscopic cell counting methods decelerate an easy and quick prediction of yeast viability. These processes are time consuming and result in a time-delayed response signal, which not only reduces the knowledge of the performance of the yeast itself, but also impacts the quality of the final product. Novel approaches in process monitoring during the aerobic and anaerobic fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are not only limited to classical pH, dO2 and off-gas analysis, but they also use different in situ and online sensors based on different physical principles to determine the biomass, product quality and cell death. Within this contribution, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor the biomass produced in aerobic and anaerobic batch cultivation approaches, simulating the propagation and fermentation unit operation of industrial brewing processes. Increases in the double-layer capacitance (CDL), determined at frequencies below 1 kHz, were proportional to the increase of biomass in the batch, which was monitored in the online and inline mode. A good correlation of CDL with the cell density was found. In order to prove the robustness and flexibility of this novel method, different state-of-the-art biomass measurements (dry cell weight—DCW and optical density—OD) were performed for comparison. Because measurements in this frequency range are largely determined by the double-layer region between the electrode and media, rather minor interferences with process parameters (aeration and stirring) were to be expected. It is shown that impedance spectroscopy at low frequencies is not only a powerful tool for the monitoring of viable yeast cell concentrations during operation, but it is also perfectly suited to determining physiological states of the cells, and may facilitate biomass monitoring in the brewing and yeast-propagating industry drastically.
Electrophoretic Coating of Octahedral Molybdenum Metal Clusters for UV/NIR Light Screening
Authors: Nguyen Thi , Dierre Benjamin , Grasset Fabien , Dumait Noée , Cordier Stéphane , Lemoine Pierric , Renaud Adèle , Fudouzi Hiroshi , Ohashi Naoki , Uchikoshi Tetsuo
Published: August 2017

Thin and transparent Mo6 cluster films with significant optical properties were prepared on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plates from the suspension of Cs2Mo6Br14 cluster precursors dispersed in methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK) by an electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process. Two kinds of polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS); i.e., KF-96L-1.5CS and KF-96L-2CS corresponding to the kinetic viscosity of 1.5 and 2 centistokes, respectively, were selected to topcoat the Mo6 cluster film after the EPD. The influence of the PDMS on the durability, chemical compatibility and light absorption property of Mo6 cluster films were characterized by means of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectroscopy. The stabilized PDMS-coated Mo6 cluster film could be stored for more than 6 months under ambient conditions.
Investigation of Structural and Electronic Properties of CH3NH3PbI3 Stabilized by Varying Concentrations of Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)
Authors: Awino Celline , Odari Victor , Dittrich Thomas , Prajongtat Pongthep , Sakwa Thomas , Rech Bernd
Published: August 2017

Studies have shown that perovskites have a high potential of outdoing silicon based solar cells in terms of solar energy conversion, but their rate of degradation is also high. This study reports on improvement on the stability of CH3NH3PbI3 by passivating it with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Structural and electronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3 stabilized by polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were investigated by varying concentrations of PMMA in the polymer solutions. Stability tests were performed over a period of time using modulated surface photovoltage (SPV) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The XRD patterns confirm the tetragonal structure of the deposited CH3NH3PbI3 for every concentration of PMMA. Furthermore, CH3NH3PbI3 coated with 40 mg/mL of PMMA did not show any impurity phase even after storage in air for 43 days. The Tauc gap (ETauc) determined on the basis of the in-phase SPV spectra was found in the range from 1.585 to 1.62 eV for the samples stored during initial days, but shifted towards lower energies as the storage time increased. This can be proposed to be due to different chemical reactions between CH3NH3PbI3/PMMA interfaces and air. PL intensity increased with increasing concentration of PMMA except for the perovskite coated with 40 mg/mL of PMMA. PL quenching in the perovskite coated with 40 mg/mL of PMMA can be interpreted as fast electron transfer towards the substrate in the sample. This study shows that, with an optimum concentration of PMMA coating on CH3NH3PbI3, the lifetime and hence stability on electrical and structural behavior of CH3NH3PbI3 is improved.
Development of the IBSAL-SimMOpt Method for the Optimization of Quality in a Corn Stover Supply Chain
Authors: Chavez Hernan , Castillo-Villar Krystel , Webb Erin
Published: August 2017

Variability on the physical characteristics of feedstock has a relevant effect on the reactor’s reliability and operating cost. Most of the models developed to optimize biomass supply chains have failed to quantify the effect of biomass quality and preprocessing operations required to meet biomass specifications on overall cost and performance. The Integrated Biomass Supply Analysis and Logistics (IBSAL) model estimates the harvesting, collection, transportation, and storage cost while considering the stochastic behavior of the field-to-biorefinery supply chain. This paper proposes an IBSAL-SimMOpt (Simulation-based Multi-Objective Optimization) method for optimizing the biomass quality and costs associated with the efforts needed to meet conversion technology specifications. The method is developed in two phases. For the first phase, a SimMOpt tool that interacts with the extended IBSAL is developed. For the second phase, the baseline IBSAL model is extended so that the cost for meeting and/or penalization for failing in meeting specifications are considered. The IBSAL-SimMOpt method is designed to optimize quality characteristics of biomass, cost related to activities intended to improve the quality of feedstock, and the penalization cost. A case study based on 1916 farms in Ontario, Canada is considered for testing the proposed method. Analysis of the results demonstrates that this method is able to find a high-quality set of non-dominated solutions.
Passivity-Based Control of a Doubly Fed Induction Generator System under Unbalanced Grid Voltage Conditions
Authors: Huang Jiawei , Wang Honghua , Wang Chong
Published: August 2017

According to the theory of passivity-based control (PBC), this paper establishes a port-controlled Hamiltonian system with dissipation (PCHD) model for a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) system under unbalanced grid voltage conditions and proposes a method of interconnection and damping assignment passivity-based control (IDA-PBC) of the system under such conditions. By using this method, the rotor-side converter and grid-side converter can be controlled simultaneously in order to improve fault ride-through capability of the DFIG system. Simulation results indicate that this IDA-PBC strategy effectively suppresses fluctuations of output current and power in the DFIG system during unbalanced grid voltage sag/swell, enhances dynamic performance, and improves the robustness of the system.
A Governance Perspective on Net Zero Energy Building Niche Development in India: The Case of New Delhi
Authors: Jain Mansi , Hoppe Thomas , Bressers Hans
Published: August 2017

The net zero-energy building (NZEB) concept has recently gained prominence worldwide. Large scale adoption and implementation of NZEBs would potentially contribute greatly to greening of the building sector. However, it is still at a nascent stage of niche formation. This paper aims to assess the governance context for adoption and uptake of NZEBs through niche formation in India by addressing the research question: What is the state of governance in New Delhi regarding NZEB niche development? A case study research design is used to answer this question. The Governance Assessment Tool (GAT) and Strategic Niche Management (SNM) are used to analyze the New Delhi case. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with fourteen key stakeholders. Data were analyzed using the qualitative data analysis software (ATLAS.ti). The results reveal that the governance context is only marginally supportive towards NZEB niche formation due to qualities of moderate extent, flexibility and intensity. Actor network formation was identified as an important driver which influences other elements of governance, as well as factors stimulating strategic niche management.
Which Ballast Water Management System Will You Put Aboard? Remnant Anxieties: A Mini-Review
Authors: Batista William , Fernandes Flavio , Lopes Claudio , Lopes Rosangela , Miller Whitman , Ruiz Gregory
Published: August 2017

An accepted solution to the environmental problems related to a ship’s ballast water has been the adoption and proper utilization of approved onboard ballast water plans and management systems (BWMS). On 8 September 2017, the International Maritime Organization Ballast Water Management Convention comes into force, and under this Convention, ships engaged in international trade must have an approved BWMS aboard to discharge ballast water, reducing species transfer. In response to enormous global concern about this problem, the overwhelming majority of the BWMS, approved currently for use by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and United States Coast Guard, utilize two main technologies (electro-chlorination or ultraviolet irradiation) as their principle mode of disinfection, often used in combination with filtration. However, both technologies have been questioned regarding their practically, efficiency, and possible environmental impacts upon discharge. This review article aims to explore some questions about these two technologies, drawing attention to some current uncertainties associated with their use. Also, it draws attention to some technical obstacles and regulatory impediments related to the new development of green biocide technology, which largely has been ignored, despite its potential as a simpler, cleaner and effective technology.
Expression Profiling in Pinus pinaster in Response to Infection with the Pine Wood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Gaspar Daniel , Trindade Cândida , Usié Ana , Meireles Brígida , Barbosa Pedro , Fortes Ana , Pesquita Cátia , Costa Rita , Ramos António
Published: August 2017

Forests are essential resources on a global scale, not only for the ecological benefits, but also for economical and landscape purposes. However, in recent years, a large number of forest species have suffered a serious decline, with maritime pine being one of the most affected. In Portugal, the maritime pine forest has been devastated by the pine wood nematode (PWN), the causal agent of pine wilt disease. In this study, RNA-Seq data was used to characterize the maritime pine response to infection with PWN, by determining the differentially expressed genes and identifying the regulatory networks and pathways associated. The analyses showed clear differences between an early response that occurs immediately after inoculation and a late response that is observed seven days after inoculation. Moreover, differentially expressed genes related to secondary metabolism, oxidative stress and defense against pathogen infection were identified over different time points. These results provide new insights about the molecular mechanisms and metabolic pathways involved in the response of Pinus pinaster against PWN infection, which will be a useful resource in follow-up studies and for future breeding programs to select plants with lower susceptibility to this disease.
Assembly of a Tripeptide and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs into Supramolecular Hydrogels for Sustained Release
Authors: Kurbasic Marina , Romano Chiara , Garcia Ana , Kralj Slavko , Marchesan Silvia
Published: August 2017

Supramolecular hydrogels offer interesting opportunities for co-assembly with drugs towards sustained release over time, which could be achieved given that the drug participates in the hydrogel nanostructure, and it is not simply physically entrapped within the gel matrix. dLeu-Phe-Phe is an attractive building block of biomaterials in light of the peptide’s inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study evaluates the assembly of the tripeptide in the presence of either of the anti-inflammatory drugs ketoprofen or naproxen at levels analogous to commercial gel formulations. Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), circular dichroism, Thioflavin T fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and oscillatory rheometry are used. Drug release over time is monitored by means of reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography, and shows different kinetics for the two drugs.
Gels Obtained by Colloidal Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Molecules
Authors: Malo de Molina Paula , Gradzielski Michael
Published: August 2017

Gelation in water-based systems can be achieved in many different ways. This review focusses on ways that are based on self-assembly, i.e., a bottom-up approach. Self-assembly naturally requires amphiphilic molecules and accordingly the systems described here are based on surfactants and to some extent also on amphiphilic copolymers. In this review we are interested in cases of low and moderate concentrations of amphiphilic material employed to form hydrogels. Self-assembly allows for various approaches to achieve gelation. One of them is via increasing the effective volume fraction by encapsulating solvent, as in vesicles. Vesicles can be constructed in various morphologies and the different cases are discussed here. However, also the formation of very elongated worm-like micelles can lead to gelation, provided the structural relaxation times of these systems is long enough. Alternatively, one may employ amphiphilic copolymers of hydrophobically modified water soluble polymers that allow for network formation in solution by self-assembly due to having several hydrophobic modifications per polymer. Finally, one may combine such polymers with surfactant self-assemblies and thereby produce interconnected hybrid network systems with corresponding gel-like properties. As seen here there is a number of conceptually different approaches to achieve gelation by self-assembly and they may even become combined for further variation of the properties. These different approaches are described in this review to yield a comprehensive overview regarding the options for achieving gel formation by self-assembly.
Dissecting Tissue-Specific Transcriptomic Responses from Leaf and Roots under Salt Stress in Petunia hybrida Mitchell
Authors: Villarino Gonzalo H. , Hu Qiwen , Scanlon Michael J. , Mueller Lukas , Bombarely Aureliano , Mattson Neil S.
Published: August 2017

One of the primary objectives of plant biotechnology is to increase resistance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity. Salinity is a major abiotic stress and increasing crop resistant to salt continues to the present day as a major challenge. Salt stress disturbs cellular environment leading to protein misfolding, affecting normal plant growth and causing agricultural losses worldwide. The advent of state-of-the-art technologies such as high throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has revolutionized whole-transcriptome analysis by allowing, with high precision, to measure changes in gene expression. In this work, we used tissue-specific RNA-seq to gain insight into the Petunia hybrida transcriptional responses under NaCl stress using a controlled hydroponic system. Roots and leaves samples were taken from a continuum of 48 h of acute 150 mM NaCl. This analysis revealed a set of tissue and time point specific differentially expressed genes, such as genes related to transport, signal transduction, ion homeostasis as well as novel and undescribed genes, such as Peaxi162Scf00003g04130 and Peaxi162Scf00589g00323 expressed only in roots under salt stress. In this work, we identified early and late expressed genes in response to salt stress while providing a core of differentially express genes across all time points and tissues, including the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 1 (TPS1), a glycosyltransferase reported in salt tolerance in other species. To test the function of the novel petunia TPS1 allele, we cloned and showed that TPS1 is a functional plant gene capable of complementing the trehalose biosynthesis pathway in a yeast tps1 mutant. The list of candidate genes to enhance salt tolerance provided in this work constitutes a major effort to better understand the detrimental effects of salinity in petunia with direct implications for other economically important Solanaceous species.
WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review of Transport Noise Interventions and Their Impacts on Health
Authors: Brown Alan , Van Kamp Irene
Published: August 2017

This paper describes a systematic review (1980–2014) of evidence on effects of transport noise interventions on human health. The sources are road traffic, railways, and air traffic. Health outcomes include sleep disturbance, annoyance, cognitive impairment of children and cardiovascular diseases. A conceptual framework to classify noise interventions and health effects was developed. Evidence was thinly spread across source types, outcomes, and intervention types. Further, diverse intervention study designs, methods of analyses, exposure levels, and changes in exposure do not allow a meta-analysis of the association between changes in noise level and health outcomes, and risk of bias in most studies was high. However, 43 individual transport noise intervention studies were examined (33 road traffic; 7 air traffic; 3 rail) as to whether the intervention was associated with a change in health outcome. Results showed that many of the interventions were associated with changes in health outcomes irrespective of the source type, the outcome or intervention type (source, path or infrastructure). For road traffic sources and the annoyance outcome, the expected effect-size can be estimated from an appropriate exposure–response function, though the change in annoyance in most studies was larger than could be expected based on noise level change.
Extrusion Approach Based on Non-Overlapping Footprints (EABNOF) for the Construction of Geometric Models and Topologies in 3D Cadasters
Authors: Ding Yuan , Jiang Nan , Yu Zhaoyuan , Ma Binqing , Shi Ge , Wu Changbin
Published: August 2017

Extrusion is widely used to construct models in 3D cadasters. However, the basic extrusion approach only supports relatively simple conditions, and a 3D cadastral data model that supports extruded 3D models that are associated with their corresponding footprints is not available. In this paper, we present a new extrusion approach based on non-overlapping footprints (EABNOF) that supports relatively complex 3D situations. In EABNOF, overlaps between overlapping footprints of the input data are removed, which also involves splitting extrusion intervals and handling the associated cadastral objects of footprints. The newly generated non-overlapping footprints are extruded to generate primitives. To construct geometric models and topologies for cadastral objects, three judgment criteria are proposed to identify and remove redundancies from these primitives, and then primitives of the same 3D spatial unit or topological feature are merged. Considering the feasibility of using EABNOF for current cadastral data, we design a data model that associates 3D cadastral data with the footprints of 2D cadasters. We examine two types of structures on Pozi Street to verify EABNOF: a building complex and property objects. The results demonstrate that EABNOF can construct geometric models and topologies in 3D cadasters. EABNOF is based on the footprints of 2D cadastral data, and thus is particularly suited to areas with 2D cadastral data to establish 3D cadasters with low costs.
Impact of the Hydration States of Polymers on Their Hemocompatibility for Medical Applications: A Review
Authors: Bag Min , Valenzuela Loreto
Published: August 2017

Water has a key role in the functioning of all biological systems, it mediates many biochemical reactions, as well as other biological activities such as material biocompatibility. Water is often considered as an inert solvent, however at the molecular level, it shows different behavior when sorbed onto surfaces like polymeric implants. Three states of water have been recognized: non-freezable water, which does not freeze even at −100 °C; intermediate water, which freezes below 0 °C; and, free water, which freezes at 0 °C like bulk water. This review describes the different states of water and the techniques for their identification and quantification, and analyzes their relationship with hemocompatibility in polymer surfaces. Intermediate water content higher than 3 wt % is related to better hemocompatibility for poly(ethylene glycol), poly(meth)acrylates, aliphatic carbonyls, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) surfaces. Therefore, characterizing water states in addition to water content is key for polymer selection and material design for medical applications.