bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EXAMINATION OF STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS BIOLOGY AND BIOLOGY COURSE IN TERMS OF GENDER, GRADE LEVEL AND PET-KEEPING
Authors: Acarlı Dilek Sultan , Acarlı Hüseyin Abdurrahman
Published: June 2020

Biology course can be difficult for students at times as it includes a lot of concepts and a relatively intense content. At this point, students’ attitude towards biology and biology course is highly important because having developed a positive attitude would significantly affect behavior. In other words, those students who have developed a positive attitude towards biology and biology course are expected to be more interested in class, more enthusiastic for learning, and as a result more successful. In this research, the gender and grade level variables as well as the pet-keeping variable were examined. The effects of these variables on the attitudes of secondary school students towards biology and biology course were examined by MANOVA. The sample of the research, which was designed in a relational survey model, consisted of 1047 secondary school students. In the collection of data, “Secondary School Students’ Attitude towards Biology and Biology Course Scale” was used. It was concluded that students who keep a pet have a more affirmative attitude. It was determined that female students have a more affirmative attitude compared to male students and 9th graders have a more affirmative attitude compared to students in other grade levels. Finally, it has been discussed why female students', pet keeping students' and lower grade students' attitudes towards biology and biology course are more affirmative, and suggestions for increasing students' attitudes have been developed.
Keywords: attitude towards biology, biology course, secondary school students, pet-keeping behavior.
The Role of Communication Media in Improving Students Achievement at Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, IAI Al-Aziziyah Samalanga Bireuen Aceh
Authors: Saiful Bahri
Published: June 2020

The focus of this study is the role of communication media in improving students achievement at Faculty of Da'wa and Communication, Al-Aziziyah Samalanga. To answer the focus of the study thoroughly and in depth, in this study used a descriptive qualitative research method that is useful to provide facts and data about the communication media of students at Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, IAI Al-Aziziyah. The data obtained were analyzed using the theory of usage and satisfaction in order to obtain several activities when communicating. From the results of the study it was found that: (1) communication media used by students  of Da'wah and communication Faculty, IAI Al-Aziziyah namely books, newspapers, magazines, television, BBM, Line, Whatsapp, Facebook, Youtube and kompas.com (2) the way how to use media student communication of Da'wah and Communication Faculty, IAI Al-Aziziyah namely; join the Whatsapp, BBM, Line group with the aim of exchanging information between friends, faculty, or even between campuses, watching the training videos related to lectures, following a kind of toefl school on Facebook. The role of the communication media in improving the achievements of students of Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, Al-Aziziyah Samalanga is to make it easier for them to look for references because wherever and whenever they can access them. So as to shorten and save time and place.
Novel approaches in treatment of Acne vulgaris: Patents related to micro/nanoparticulated carrier systems
Authors: Sibinovska Nadica , Komoni Venera , Ancevska Netkovska Katerina , Vranic Edina , Simonoska Crcarevska Maja , Glavas Dodov Marija
Published: June 2020

Acne vulgaris (acne) is chronic inflammatory dermatosis which affects the pilosebaceous unit, with a varied clinical picture including inflammatory and non-inflammatory cutaneous lessions. This multifactorial disease mostly occurs in adolescents; however, it can also affect children and adults. Different therapy options for acne treatment exist, comprising topical, systemic and hormonal agents or a combination thereof. The choice of the therapy depends on various factors, for instance the severity and extent of the disease and site of involvement. Commonly used topical acne therapies include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, antibiotics, retinoids, azelaic acid, sulfone agents and their combinations. Systemic antibiotics are indicated for use in moderate to severe inflammatory acne and should be used in combination
with a topical retinoid and benzoyl peroxide. The available conventional formulations often cause side effects such as skin irritation, dryness, peeling, itching, leading to reduced patient compliance and compromised therapeutical efficacy. Novel drug delivery systems are promising option for improved acne treatment outcome, as they can diminish the side effects caused by the therapeutic agents or can modulate their properties and at the same time offering possibilities for modified release and improved skin penetration of the active substances. The cosmetics manufacturers implement micro/nanotechnology in their formulations, while patent protection for cosmetics has gained more importance over the past decades. This review focuses on micro/nanoparticulated carrier systems that can be used for acne treatment and the published patents concerning them.
IMPROVING XI-GRADE STUDENTS’ WRITING ESSAY SKILL USING COMPUTER EDUTAINMENT
Authors: Yulandari Evi Safitri , Rahman Arif
Published: June 2020

As viewed by many linguists, writing skill is the most difficult one in English to be tough or learned. For many years, writing has not been a favorable interest like the other skills. This paper is intended to discuss the role and the effectiveness of using computer edutainment or called Education and Entertainment in improving students’ writing. The subjects of this research were the students’ class XI A. Meanwhile, the objects of this research are students’ skill in writing through Computer Edutainment. In this research the researcher used CAR (Classroom Action Research) as the research method, there is 2 technique of collecting the data in this research those are qualitative data and quantitative data. The quantitative data are in the form of numerical data. The data are from students' score of pre-test and post-test while the qualitative used in collecting the data were taken from the result of observation and interview. This study used several data instrument in gathering the data dealing with the question of the study, i.e: writing test in the form of writing essay, observation field note, and interview. The data were then analyzed whether their writing results were reaching the minimum standard or not, and having improvement or not. From the comparisons, the researcher makes a conclusion in the form of descriptions whether the students' ability of XI of SMAN 1 PAJO in writing has improved by the use of computer edutainment or not.
DESIGNING STRATEGIES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILL
Authors: Ismiati Ismiati , Pebriantika Erlin
Published: June 2020

In the process of teaching and learning English writing skill, some strategies which are considered appropriate for a certain group of learners, may not suitable for other groups as each group has its own problems and needs in writing. Therefore, teaching learning strategies for English writing requires to be continuously developed. This study aims to design strategies based on the students’ writing needs and problems as the development of the previous common implemented strategies in writing course classes at English Study Program of Cordova University, West Sumbawa Regency. The research subjects were students who are active studying English as their major specialization and lecturers who have been teaching English writing course in academic year 2018/2019.The result shows that the previous strategies give little significant impact toward the students’ writing skill progress. For the reasons, new strategies were designed and recommended to be continuously implemented for teaching and learning writing courses and involved in curriculum at English Study Program, Cordova University. Those strategies are (1) Collaborative Writing Strategy. (2) Combining Diary and Guided Writing Strategy. (3) Additional credit hours for writing course classes (4). Graded writing course classes need to be continuously taught by the same lecturer
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO MASTER ENGLISH LISTENING SKILLS FOR NON-ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS
Authors: Suryana Irfan , Asrianto Asrianto , Murwantono Didik
Published: June 2020

Technology plays an important role in people’s day-to-day life and various aspects of life  including education also use technology. Artificial Intelligence is regarded as an example of the advancement of technology. The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ perceptions of using Artificial Intelligence mobile applications to improve English listening skills. It was under phenomenological qualitative research characterized by an interdisciplinary approach, mainly education and technology. The online interview was used to gain information from students’ on the specific theme of artificial intelligence mobile applications in improving English listening skills. The survey consists of seven questions which become category such as 1. The Knowledge of Artificial Intelligence; 2. The Knowledge of Tune In, Joox Music, VOA Learning English Listening every day, and Netflix; 3. The Use of the Applications; 4. The Reason to Use the Applications; 5. The Use of Applications in Improving English listening Skills; 6. The Influence of the Applications toward The Users; 7. The Most Effective and Efficient Applications to Improve English Listening Skills. This survey was conducted at the Faculty of Psychology in Universitas Sarjanawiyata took part in this study. Participants were three females and two males. The results showed that the most effective and efficient Artificial Intelligence mobile application to improve English listening skills is Netflix.
STUDENTS’ STRATEGIES IN LEARNING SPEAKING SKILLS AT SMP NASRANI 3 MEDAN
Authors: Lingga Laura Maloni , Simanjuntak Reka Monika , Sembiring Yenita
Published: June 2020

Speaking is one of the speaking skills possessed by students. Speaking skills have been trained from an early age, but the results of speaking learning are still far applied. Many students still experience difficulties in learning to speak. such as shame, fear and anxiety and lack of confidence inhibiting learning factors in speaking to students lacking motivation, poor student learning habits, mastery of students' vocabulary is still low, as for student learning strategies are one aspect that determines the success of students in speaking, students can have student learning strategies by memorizing vocabulary, believing themselves and improving vocabulary pronunciation. This research was conducted to identify the difficulty of speaking in English faced by students and find out the strategies they used to overcome these difficulties. This researcher used a qualitative descriptive method involving as many as 17 students in grade 9 at 3 Medan Christian Middle School, research results this shows that students have difficulty speaking in English namely lack of grammatical understanding, lack of vocabulary, incorrect pronunciation of words fearing the response of others feeling nervous in making mistakes, lack of self-confidence and shame in the strategy that students do is asking help to others trying to compose sentences in different ways by using gestures, taking the rules in positive thinking, can be concluded that students have a sense of difficulty in speaking English.
CONTENT OF TEXTBOOK ENTITLED “PATHWAY TO ENGLISH” FOR THE TWELFTH GRADE OF HIGH SCHOOL
Authors: Sianipar David Ricardo , Ginting Rahel Lolita , Elisabeth S Kristina , Saragih Erikson
Published: June 2020

A Textbook has a big role to make the process of learning and teaching running well.  The good textbook will influence on the students’ ability toward the lesson in the classroom. Before getting an explanation from the teachers, the students will learn the material first in their homes. It will let them comprehend the material before being explained by their teachers. It will make the learners easily understanding the lesson which is explained by the teachers in the classroom. By doing so, it will not be complicated for the students in mastering each lesson. The purpose of this research is to know whether the textbook integrates all learning skills and to find out whether the textbook gives assessment or self-reflection to the students about each chapter. In order to do this research, the checklist and documentation method is used to investigate the content of the textbook. The result will be shown by using the table and explained clearly to avoid misunderstanding against the readers. Briefly, a good textbook used by teachers and students in the classroom plays a crucial role in the process of learning and teaching.
AN ANALYSIS OF RECOUNT TEXT IN ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS USED BY TENTH GRADE STUDENTS
Authors: Sianipar Riana Br. , Sianturi Dewi Sartika , Situmorang Sintia Anastasia , Gulo Perius , Saragih Erikson
Published: June 2020

This study was aimed at investigating the extent to which recount texts in two selected English textbooks meet the recount text criteria and to find out the similarities and differences of the recount texts between the two selected English textbooks. This study employed a descriptive qualitative method. The data in this study were four forms of recount texts taken from the two selected textbooks. Data analysis was done through analyzing, displaying, reducing, and drawing a conclusion. The data of this study include the generic structure, social objectives, and linguistic elements. The results of the analysis showed findings as follows: (1) four forms of the recount texts in the English textbooks have met the generic structure criteria, namely orientation, event, and reorientation; (2) one of the four recount texts fulfilled social goals; and (3) the four recount texts fulfilled the linguistic element. In short, the recount texts in English textbooks were similar to in terms of linguistic elements and type of process, while differences were found in terms of social goals and generic structure.
THE USE OF MIND MAPPING TO TEACH READING COMPREHENSION
Authors: Saori Sopian
Published: June 2020

The research was aimed at finding out the impact of using mind mapping toward students’ reading comprehension. This study was classified as a quasi experimental research design using two intact classes as an experimental and control group. The experimental group was treated using mind-mapping technique, while the control group was subjected to conventional learning technique. The sample of this study was the first year students of Nabi’ Nubu’ Islamic Senior High School. The instrument of this study employed reading test for students in both groups. The reading tests were distributed in the pre-test and post-test. The data analysis used descriptive and inferential statistic. The data were met the normal and homogeneous data. The result of the study showed that the mean scores of the experimental group (71.76) was higher than the control group (60.24) after treatment was given. Thus, the use of mind mapping has a significant effect towards students’ reading comprehension. It indicated that the technique can be an alternative technique to teach reading comprehension.
INTEGRATING “ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION” APP INTO PRONUNCIATION TEACHING: HOW IT AFFECTS STUDENTS’ PARTICIPATION AND LEARNING
Authors: Haryadi, S Haryadi , Aprianoto Aprianoto
Published: June 2020

This study aimed to find out whether the integration of the English Pronunciation app in pronunciation class at Mandalika University of Education (UNDIKMA) can increase students’ participation and self-learning. This study made use of quasi-qualitative design. Forty-eight first-year English department students from two groups of learning involved in this research, aged between 19 to 21. Each group, group A and group B, comprised of 24 students. Both groups received instruction using the English pronunciation app. Data was collected using class observation and interviews. In conducting observation, the observer chose to take the role of participant-observer in that the researcher immersed with the students during the observation activities. One volunteer assistant was employed to work with the researcher. It was intended to increase the accuracy of the data collected. In regard to the interview process, the researcher used individual and group interviews where one interviewer/researcher interviews a group of students. The result of the study indicates that the integration of the English Pronunciation app in teaching pronunciation increased the students’ participation (engagement, attitude, and conduct). In addition, the app brought a positive effect to the establishment of independent learning to a significant number of students.
Paradoxical dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 by herd immunity and antibody-dependent enhancement
Authors: Kamikubo Yasuhiko , Hattori Toshio , Takahashi Atsushi
Published: June 2020

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China caused a pandemic of COVID-19. However, it remains enigmatic why the mortality rate is variable among countries. Here we show that at least three types of SARS-CoV-2 virus, type S, K, and G, have spread globally and formed complex infectious trends in terms of transmissibility and virulence. Type K establishes herd immunity and protects against the most virulent type G. Immunity to type S is involved in aggravating type G infections through antibody-dependent enhancement. Epidemiological tools based on influenza and SARS-CoV-2 epidemic curves explain why COVID-19 mortality varies among Japan prefectures and European countries and warns of high fatality in the United States. An equation was developed to predict the severity of COVID-19. Our tools and equations also detect new infectious disease explosions and bioterrorism early, and guide containment of the virus with therapeutic approaches and local policies efficiently inducing herd immunity.
DM-SLAM: Monocular SLAM in Dynamic Environments
Authors: Lu Xiaoyun , Wang Hu , Tang Shuming , Huang Huimin , Li Chuang
Published: June 2020

Many classic visual monocular SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) systems have been developed over the past decades, yet most of them fail when dynamic scenarios dominate. DM-SLAM is proposed for handling dynamic objects in environments based on ORB-SLAM2. This article mainly concentrates on two aspects. Firstly, we proposed a distribution and local-based RANSAC (Random Sample Consensus) algorithm (DLRSAC) to extract static features from the dynamic scene based on awareness of the nature difference between motion and static, which is integrated into initialization of DM-SLAM. Secondly, we designed a candidate map points selection mechanism based on neighborhood mutual exclusion to balance the accuracy of tracking camera pose and system robustness in motion scenes. Finally, we conducted experiments in the public dataset and compared DM-SLAM with ORB-SLAM2. The experiments corroborated the superiority of the DM-SLAM.
Accuracy of Molar Solubility Prediction from Hansen Parameters. An Exemplified Treatment of the Bioantioxidant l-Ascorbic Acid
Authors: Lehnert Ralph J. , Schilling Richard
Published: June 2020

Estimating molar solubility from the Hildebrand-Scott relation employing Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) is widely presumed a valid semi-quantitative approach. To test this presumption and to determine quantitatively the inherent accuracy of such a solubility prognosis, l-ascorbic acid (LAA) was treated as an example of a commercially important solute. Analytical calculus and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation were performed for 20 common solvents with total HSP ranging from 14.5 to 33.0 (MPa)0.5 utilizing validated material data. It was found that, due to the uncertainty of the material data used in the calculations, the solubility prediction had a large scattering and, thus, a low precision. Prediction power is most adversely affected by the uncertainty of the HSP estimates (solvent and solute), followed by the solute heat of fusion. The solute melting temperature and molar volume have minor effects. Computed and experimental solubilities show the same qualitative behavior, while quantitative discrepancies reach one to three orders of magnitude. Solubility estimates were found to provide, at best, rough guiding information but, with the quality of material data on LAA available, they cannot be rated semi-quantitative. It is assumed that these results generally apply at least to solute-solvent systems with a material data quality and solubility similar to LAA.
The Polar Vortex and Extreme Weather: The Beast from the East in Winter 2018
Authors: Overland James , Hall Richard , Hanna Edward , Karpechko Alexey , Vihma Timo , Wang Muyin , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: June 2020

Public attention has recently focused on high-impact extreme weather events in midlatitudes that originate in the sub-Arctic. We investigate movements of the stratospheric polar vortex (SPV) and related changes in lower atmospheric circulation during the February-March 2018 “Beast from the East” cold winter event that dramatically affected much of Europe and north-central North America. This study demonstrates that the movement of the SPV is a key linkage in late winter subarctic and northern midlatitude extreme weather events. February–March 2018 saw two types of subarctic-midlatitude weather connections. In the first type, the SPV was displaced from the pole to lower latitudes over North America in February and then was found over northern Siberia in March. Mid-February and mid-March are examples of persistent near vertically aligned geopotential height structures of the atmospheric circulation. These structures over North America and Eurasia advected cold Arctic air southward. The second type of cold surface event was associated with a weak regional SPV and a sudden stratospheric warming event over Europe during the second half of February. These late winter linkage events that arise through dynamic instabilities of the SPV are more common in the last decade, but the potential role of enhanced Arctic amplification is uncertain.
The Process of Producing Bioethanol from Delignified Cellulose Isolated from Plants of the Miscanthus Genus
Authors: Kriger Olga , Budenkova Ekaterina , Babich Olga , Suhih Stanislav , Patyukov Nikolay , Masyutin Yakov , Dolganuk Vyacheslav , Chupakhin Evgeny
Published: June 2020

Plants of the Miscanthus genus (Miscanthus Anderss.) have a unique index of biomass production in relation to the occupied area. Miscanthus plants can be attributed to promising second-generation raw materials for the production of bioethanol and biofuel. Miscanthus plants are characterized by a high cellulose content. Herein, we report the results of a study on the obtained delignified cellulose with subsequent processing into bioethanol using microbial communities. In the course of the study, the optimal conditions for the delignification of the initial plant material for cellulose were selected. Ethanol with a high degree of conversion was successfully obtained from the isolated delignified cellulose. The article describes the pilot technological scheme for the conversion of Miscanthus plant biomass to bioethanol involving the delignification stages, followed by the conversion of the resulting cellulose into bioethanol by a consortium of microorganisms. As a result of the study, it was found that delignification using trifluoroacetic acid leads to the production of cellulose of high purity. Bioethanol with a yield of 3.1% to 3.4% in terms of the initial amount of biomass was successfully obtained by a microorganism consortium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae M Y-4242/Pachysolen tannophilus Y-3269, and Scheffersomyces stipitis Y-3264.
Theory of Mind Deficits and Neurophysiological Operations in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review
Authors: Andreou Maria , Skrimpa Vasileia
Published: June 2020

Theory of Mind (ToM) is a multifaceted skill set which encompasses a variety of cognitive and neurobiological aspects. ToM deficits have long been regarded as one of the most disabling features in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. One of the theories that attempts to account for these impairments is that of “broken mirror neurons”. The aim of this review is to present the most recent available studies with respect to the connection between the function of mirror neurons in individuals with ASD and ToM-reflecting sensorimotor, social and attentional stimuli. The majority of these studies approach the theory of broken mirror neurons critically. Only studies from the last 15 years have been taken into consideration. Findings from electroencephalography (EEG) studies so far indicate that further research is necessary to shed more light on the mechanisms underlying the connection(s) between ToM and neurophysiological operations.
Neurochemical Correlates of Brain Atrophy in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Cortical Thickness Study
Authors: Feraco Paola , Nigro Salvatore , Passamonti Luca , Grecucci Alessandro , Caligiuri Maria Eugenia , Gagliardo Cesare , Bacci Antonella
Published: June 2020

(1) Background: Recently, a series of clinical neuroimaging studies on fibromyalgia (FM) have shown a reduction in cortical volume and abnormally high glutamate (Glu) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx) levels in regions associated with pain modulation. However, it remains unclear whether the volumetric decreases and increased Glu levels in FM are related each other. We hypothesized that higher Glu levels are related to decreases in cortical thickness (CT) and volume in FM patients. (2) Methods: Twelve females with FM and 12 matched healthy controls participated in a session of combined 3.0 Tesla structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-voxel MR spectroscopy focused on the thalami and ventrolateral prefrontal cortices (VLPFC). The thickness of the cortical and subcortical gray matter structures and the Glu/Cr and Glx/Cr ratios were estimated. Statistics included an independent t-test and Spearman’s test. (3) Results: The Glu/Cr ratio of the left VLPFC was negatively related to the CT of the left inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis (p = 0.01; r = −0.75) and triangularis (p = 0.01; r = −0.70)). Moreover, the Glx/Cr ratio of the left VLPFC was negatively related to the CT of the left middle anterior cingulate gyrus (p = 0.003; r = −0.81). Significantly lower CTs in FM were detected in subparts of the cingulate gyrus on both sides and in the right inferior occipital gyrus (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Our findings are in line with previous observations that high glutamate levels can be related, in a concentration-dependent manner, to the morphological atrophy described in FM patients.
Multiscale Computation and Dynamic Attention in Biological and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Badman Ryan Paul , Hills Thomas Trenholm , Akaishi Rei
Published: June 2020

Biological and artificial intelligence (AI) are often defined by their capacity to achieve a hierarchy of short-term and long-term goals that require incorporating information over time and space at both local and global scales. More advanced forms of this capacity involve the adaptive modulation of integration across scales, which resolve computational inefficiency and explore-exploit dilemmas at the same time. Research in neuroscience and AI have both made progress towards understanding architectures that achieve this. Insight into biological computations come from phenomena such as decision inertia, habit formation, information search, risky choices and foraging. Across these domains, the brain is equipped with mechanisms (such as the dorsal anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) that can represent and modulate across scales, both with top-down control processes and by local to global consolidation as information progresses from sensory to prefrontal areas. Paralleling these biological architectures, progress in AI is marked by innovations in dynamic multiscale modulation, moving from recurrent and convolutional neural networks—with fixed scalings—to attention, transformers, dynamic convolutions, and consciousness priors—which modulate scale to input and increase scale breadth. The use and development of these multiscale innovations in robotic agents, game AI, and natural language processing (NLP) are pushing the boundaries of AI achievements. By juxtaposing biological and artificial intelligence, the present work underscores the critical importance of multiscale processing to general intelligence, as well as highlighting innovations and differences between the future of biological and artificial intelligence.
A Comparative Study of the ZnO Growth on Graphene and Graphene Oxide: The Role of the Initial Oxidation State of Carbon
Authors: Gomez-Alvarez Miguel Angel , Morales Carlos , Méndez Javier , del Campo Adolfo , Urbanos Fernando J. , Díaz Aarón , Reséndiz Luis , Flege Jan Ingo , Granados Daniel , Soriano Leonardo
Published: June 2020

The role of the oxidation state of carbon on the early stages of growth of metal oxides was studied for the particular case of ZnO deposition on graphene and graphene oxide on SiO2 (G/SiO2 and GO/SiO2, respectively) substrates. The growth was carried out by thermal evaporation of metallic Zn under an oxygen atmosphere at room temperature. This technique permits quasi-equilibrium conditions during the oxide growth, allowing the characterization of the fundamental interaction between ZnO and the graphene-based substrates. Although in both cases ZnO follows a Volmer–Weber growth mode controlled by nucleation at defects, the details are different. In the case of the GO/SiO2 substrate, the nucleation process acts as a bottleneck, limiting the coverage of the complete surface and allowing the growth of very large ZnO structures in comparison to G/SiO2. Moreover, by studying the Zn-LMM Auger spectra, it is shown how the initial nature of the substrate influences the composition of the ZnO deposit during the very early stages of growth in terms of Zn/O atomic ratio. These results are compared to those previously reported regarding ZnO growth on graphite and graphene on Cu (G/Cu). This comparison allows us to understand the role of different characteristics of graphene-based substrates in terms of number of defects, oxidation state, graphene support substrate and number of graphene layers.
Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Catalytic Activities of Two Copper Coordination Compounds Bearing an N,N’-Dibenzylethylenediamine Ligand
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhang Weiwei , Cai Gaigai
Published: June 2020

Two copper coordination compounds bearing an N,N’-dibenzylethylenediamine ligand, namely [Cu3L(CH3COO)6]n (1) and [(CuCl4)∙(C6H5CH2NH2CH2)2] (2) (L = N,N’-dibenzylethylenediamine) were synthesized by the ethanol refluxing method. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectra (IR), elemental analyses, and single crystal X-ray diffraction were used to characterize and verify their structures. Structural analyses showed that the asymmetric unit of compound (1), composed of two Cu(II) cations, three acetate anions, and half of the ligand, was bridged by one acetate to obtain an infinite 1D chain structure. The analyses further showed that the asymmetric unit of compound (2), composed of two crystallographically independent [C6H5CH2NH2CH2]+ units, four chloride anions, and one central Cu(II) cation is connected into an infinite 2D network structure by the hydrogen bonding interactions. The copper compounds were used to catalyze the decomposition of H2O2, and the results showed that both of the compounds exhibited excellent catalytic activities under optimized conditions.
Generalized Methodology for Inserting Metal Heteroatoms into the Layered Zeolite Precursor RUB-36 by Interlayer Expansion
Authors: Bian Chaoqun , Wang Xiao , Yu Lan , Zhang Fen , Zhang Jie , Fei Zhengxin , Qiu Jianping , Zhu Longfeng
Published: June 2020

The incorporation of metal heteroatoms into zeolites is an effective modification strategy for enhancing their catalytic performance. Herein, for the first time we report a generalized methodology for inserting metal heteroatoms (such as Sn, Fe, Zn, and Co) into the layered zeolite precursor RUB-36 via interlayer expansion by using the corresponding metal acetylacetate salt. Through this generalized methodology, Sn-JHP-1, Fe-JHP-1, Zn-JHP-1 and Co-JHP-1 zeolites could be successfully prepared by the reaction of RUB-36 and corresponding metal acetylacetate salt at 180 °C for 24 h in the presence of HCl solution. As a typical example, Sn-JHP-1 and calcined Sn-JHP-1 (Sn-JHP-2) zeolite is well characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), N2 sorption, temperature-programmed-desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques, which confirm the expansion of adjacent interlayers and thus the incorporation of isolated Sn sites within the zeolite structure. Notably, the obtained Sn-JHP-2 zeolite sample shows enhanced catalytic performance in the conversion of glucose to levulinic acid (LA) reaction.
Effectiveness of Photoprotective Strategies in Three Mixotrophic Planktonic Ciliate Species
Authors: Sonntag Bettina , Sommaruga Ruben
Published: June 2020

Mixotrophic ciliate assemblages often prevail in summer in the surface layers of lakes. During this time, they are potentially exposed to damaging levels of incident solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and need efficient photoprotective mechanisms to minimize the damage. Herein, we tested the algal-bearing species of Pelagodileptus trachelioides, Stokesia vernalis, and Vorticella chlorellata for how they handled stress under exposure to the artificial sunlight spectrum (i.e., UV treatment), just photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), or in the dark (i.e., control). In addition to measurements of their survival, changes in behavior, shape, and whether dark or photoenzymatic repair (PER) mechanisms are present, we measured the concentration of UV-absorbing compounds (i.e., mycosporine-like amino acids). In contrast to the response in the PAR and dark treatments, sublethal effects were observed in all species when exposed to UVR. A wavelength-specific test for P. trachelioides revealed that UV-B was especially lethal. These results suggest that the photoprotective mechanisms found in these ciliates are not sufficient to allow for their survival directly at the surface and that, accordingly, they need to shift their position further down in the water column.
Quantum Photovoltaic Cells Driven by Photon Pulses
Authors: Oh Sangchul , Park Jung Jun , Nha Hyunchul
Published: June 2020

We investigate the quantum thermodynamics of two quantum systems, a two-level system and a four-level quantum photocell, each driven by photon pulses as a quantum heat engine. We set these systems to be in thermal contact only with a cold reservoir while the heat (energy) source, conventionally given from a hot thermal reservoir, is supplied by a sequence of photon pulses. The dynamics of each system is governed by a coherent interaction due to photon pulses in terms of the Jaynes-Cummings Hamiltonian together with the system-bath interaction described by the Lindblad master equation. We calculate the thermodynamic quantities for the two-level system and the quantum photocell including the change in system energy, the power delivered by photon pulses, the power output to an external load, the heat dissipated to a cold bath, and the entropy production. We thereby demonstrate how a quantum photocell in the cold bath can operate as a continuum quantum heat engine with a sequence of photon pulses continuously applied. We specifically introduce the power efficiency of the quantum photocell in terms of the ratio of output power delivered to an external load with current and voltage to the input power delivered by the photon pulse. Our study indicates a possibility that a quantum system driven by external fields can act as an efficient quantum heat engine under non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
Didactic Visualization of Routing Problems
Authors: Gansterer Margaretha , Klug Veronika
Published: June 2020

The Traveling Salesman and Vehicle Routing Problems are integral parts of bachelor and master programs related to Operations Research/Management Science. This is due to their relevance in both practical applications and research. For students, it is essential to gain a deep understanding of the problems’ inherent complexity. For this, several tools are available online. A systematic classification of both the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) and Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) teaching material is provided and discussed. This classification takes target groups as well as learning objectives into account. Recommended choices depending on the teaching context are provided. A special focus lies on interactive visualizations, which seem to be most useful for supporting students in their solution-oriented competencies. We observe that didactic visualization tools for vehicle routing are scarce. This is surprising since, in practice, this problem is prevalent.
Eucalyptus Are Unlikely to Escape Plantations and Invade Surrounding Forests Managed with Prescribed Fire in Southeastern US
Authors: Toledo Fábio Henrique , McIntosh Tyler , Knothe Candice , Aubrey Douglas P.
Published: June 2020

Woody biomass production can increase through establishment of non-native tree species exhibiting greater growth potential than traditional native species. Interest in growing Eucalyptus in the southeastern US has raised concern over its potential spread and invasion, which could impact ecosystem properties and functions. Within the matrix of land use where Eucalyptus establishment is being considered in the southeastern US, surrounding pine forests managed with fire represent a likely pathway for invasion. We used greenhouse and field experiments to evaluate the potential invasion risk of Eucalyptus benthamii. We were specifically interested in determining if seeds could successfully germinate in fire-maintained pine forests and if fire-return intervals influenced germination through impacts on litter accumulation and light availability. The greenhouse experiment investigated the influence of light availability on germination success, whereas the field study investigated the influence of time since fire, and thus litter accumulation and light availability, on germination success. Percent germination was similar under non-shaded controls and moderate shade, but complete shade resulted in low germination rates. Germination was lower in the field compared to the greenhouse and was influenced by litter and light availability, which varied according to fire-return intervals. Litter increased, and light availability decreased, with time since burn. Germination was negatively related to litter depth and positively related to light availability, thereby decreasing with time since fire. Germination increased with litter removal but remained positively related to light availability after litter removal. Higher germination with litter removal suggests germination is influenced by litter, but higher germination with increased light availability, regardless of raking, suggests germination is also influenced by light availability. Despite these relationships, no seedlings persisted through the growing season. The low germination rates under a variety of field conditions coupled with the lack of persistence suggests establishment may be unlikely, regardless of the surrounding land matrix.
Validating the Adoption of Heterogeneous Internet of Things with Blockchain
Authors: AlSuwaidan Lulwah , Almegren Nuha
Published: June 2020

Emerging technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain have affected the digital transformation. Blockchain, on the one hand, was initially developed for the purpose of financial trading due to its robustness especially for fault tolerance and cryptographic security in addition to its decentralized architecture. IoT, on the other hand, is an open interconnected network of smart devices able to communicate simultaneously. This arises a challenge in privacy and security, specifically for the data being exchanged. To overcome this, studies have focused on the blockchain to resolve the security and privacy issues of IoT. Indeed, limited studies have proposed to assess blockchain’s viability for IoT and the associated challenges. In this paper, a conceptual model has proposed to identify the crucial factors affecting the adoption of blockchain in IoT. The model consists of four dimensions of factors that we assume will affect the adoption of the two technologies. The dimensions are: attitude-related factors, social influence related factors, data-related factors, and security-related factors. This model is validated through a survey that was distributed between professionals in blockchain and IoT. The findings show a significant impact of data-related factors on the adoption of blockchain in IoT and the intention to use them. The model can play an important role in the development of strategies, standards, and performance assessment.
Time
Authors: Qasmiyeh Yousif M.
Published: June 2020

This time sequence opens with a soliloquy, or more precisely, a submission to time, in the form of personal lamentations, and is followed by irregular stanzas spanning unidentified episodes of journeying, the intention to do so, or total stasis. Throughout, time is continuously prodded by the intimate journey within one’s own time, by its linguistic and haptic promise, through the name and naming, the names passed on from parents to their child. In this sense, the poem queries the inward pact signed in journeying, between the son on the one hand, and the father and mother on the other, constituting the announcement of history through intersecting times of refugeeness, but equally in the context of humanity and inhumanity as a whole. As time is incessantly probed in this poem, so is journeying within it. In particular, time, as it branches out onto subjective (and non-subjective) times, is conveyed initially through the journeying from I/We to They in the poem, ushering in competing pronouns in an attempt to blur time itself and those inside and outside it. The premise of this poem, or body of poems, is not in any way to locate time with precision, physically or historically, but to repeat a question which seldom finds a place and time; that is, “where is time” to witness the future?
How to Prioritize Energy Efficiency Intervention in Municipal Public Buildings to Decrease CO2 Emissions? A Case Study from Italy
Authors: Pietrapertosa Filomena , Tancredi Marco , Giordano Michele , Cosmi Carmelina , Salvia Monica
Published: June 2020

The European Union 2050 climate neutrality goal and the climate crisis require coordinated efforts to reduce energy consumption in all sectors, and mainly in buildings greatly affected by the increasing temperature, with relevant CO2 emissions due to inefficient end-use technologies. Moreover, the old building stock of most countries requires suited policies to support renovation programs aimed at improving energy performances and optimize energy uses. A toolbox was developed in the framework of the PrioritEE project to provide policy makers and technicians with a wide set of tools to support energy efficiency in Municipal Public Buildings. The toolbox, available for free, was tested in the partners’ communities, proving its effectiveness. The paper illustrates its application to the Potenza Municipality case study in which the online calculator DSTool (the core instrument of the toolbox) was utilized to select and prioritize the energy efficiency interventions in public buildings implementable in a three-year action plan in terms of costs, energy savings, CO2 emissions’ reduction and return on investments. The results highlight that improvements in the building envelopes (walls and roofs), heating and lighting and photovoltaic systems allow reducing CO2 emission approximately 644 t/year and saving about 2050 MWh/year with a total three-year investment of 1,728,823 EUR.
Parental and Peer Support are Associated with Physical Activity in Adolescents: Evidence from 74 Countries
Authors: Khan Shanchita R. , Uddin Riaz , Mandic Sandra , Khan Asaduzzaman
Published: June 2020

Although parental and peer support can influence adolescents’ physical activity (PA), these associations have not been fully examined through a global assessment. This study examined the associations of parental and peer support with PA among adolescents from 74 countries. The Global School-based Student Health Survey data from 250,317 adolescents aged 11–17 years (48.8% girls), collected between 2007 and 2016, were analysed. Adolescents were asked how many days/week they were physically active and about their parental and peer support. Meta-analysis showed that adolescents who had high parental or peer support had higher odds of attaining sufficient PA (odds ratio (OR): 1.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.34–1.46; OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.49–1.65, respectively). Pooled estimates of association were significant across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions and country-income categories with the highest estimate from the low-income countries. The Western Pacific region showed the highest association between parental support and adolescents’ PA (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.41–1.59), while South-East Asia exhibited the highest association between peer support and adolescents’ PA (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.59–2.04). Country-level estimates of associations are presented. Future studies should use robust assessment of PA and PA-specific parental and peer support with emphasis on qualitative investigation to understand the complexity of the relationships.
Influence of Implant Design and Under-Preparation of the Implant Site on Implant Primary Stability. An In Vitro Study
Authors: Herrero-Climent Mariano , Lemos Bernardo Ferreira , Herrero-Climent Federico , Falcao Carlos , Oliveira Helder , Herrera Manuela , Gil Francisco Javier , Ríos-Carrasco Blanca , Ríos-Santos José-Vicente
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different implant sites an under-preparation sequence associated with two different implant designs on implant primary stability measured by two parameters: insertion torque (IT) and implant stability quotient (ISQ). It used two different implants: one cylindrical as a control and another one with a tapered design. The implants were inserted in type III fresh humid bovine bone and four drilling sequences were used: one control, the one proposed by the implant company (P1), and three different undersized (P2, P3 and P4). P2 was the same as P1 without the cortical drill, P3 was without the last pilot drill and P4 was without both of them. The sample size was n = 40 for each of the eight groups. Final IT was measured with a torquemeter and the ISQ was measured with Penguin resonance frequency analysis. Results showed that both ISQ and IT have a tendency to increase as the preparation technique reduces the implant site diameter when compared with the standard preparation, P1. The preparations without cortical drill, P2 and P4, showed the best results when compared with the ones with a cortical drill. Tapered implants always showed higher or the same ISQ and IT values when compared with the cylindrical implants. Giving the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that reducing implant preparation can increase IT and ISQ values. Removing the cortical drill and the use of a tapered design implant are also effective methods of increasing primary implant stability.