bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Vitamin D and Calcium Fortified Yogurts on Gait, Cognitive Performances, and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in Older Community-Dwelling Females: Results from the GAit, MEmory, Dietary and Vitamin D (GAME-D2) Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Beauchet Olivier , Launay Cyrille , Galery Kevin , Vilcocq Christine , Dontot-Payen Flore , Rousseau Brigitte , Benoit Valérie , Allali Gilles
Published: November 2019

Background: Vitamin D3 fortified food may improve serum vitamin D level, suggesting that the prevention of adverse consequences of hypovitaminosis D is possible with food fortification. The aim of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to examine the effects of vitamin D and calcium fortified yogurt on spatiotemporal gait parameters, cognitive performance, handgrip strength, and serum 25OHD levels in healthy older females. Methods: Forty older community-dwelling females were recruited in a single-blind, randomized, controlled, superiority clinical trial in two parallel groups (20 participants in the intervention group and 20 in the control group) with intent-to-treat. The intervention group took fortified yogurts daily (i.e., 400 UI of vitamin D3 and 800 mg calcium) for 3 months. The non-fortified yogurts contained similar proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, as well as a lower dose of calcium (300 mg) and no vitamin D3 supplementation. Spatiotemporal gait parameters (mean value and coefficient of variation) were assessed using a computerized walkway. Handgrip strength was measured with hydraulic dynamometers. Cognitive performances, including global cognitive functioning assessed with the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) were recorded. All the outcomes were assessed at baseline and at the end of follow-up. The primary outcome was the coefficient of variation of stride time. Results: The intervention group maintained its global cognitive performance and serum 25OHD concentrations, whereas these outcomes decreased (i.e., worst performance) in the control group. The changes in the MMSE score (p = 0.022) and serum 25OHD concentrations were different (p ≤ 0.001) with better values reported in the intervention group compared to the control group. There was no significant change in gait parameters (p ≥ 0.518) and handgrip strength (p ≥ 0.600). Conclusions: Fortified yogurts with vitamin D (i.e., 200 IU) and calcium (i.e., 400 mg) twice a day maintained global cognitive performance and vitamin D status in older females, but not gait performances, signifying that they mainly prevent hypovitaminosis D-related extra-skeletal disorders.
PCL/Mesoglycan Devices Obtained by Supercritical Foaming and Impregnation
Authors: Franco Paola , Belvedere Raffaella , Pessolano Emanuela , Liparoti Sara , Pantani Roberto , Petrella Antonello , De Marco Iolanda
Published: November 2019

In this work, a one-shot process for the simultaneous foaming of polycaprolactone (PCL) and impregnation of mesoglycan (MSG) into the porous structure was successfully attempted. Supercritical carbon dioxide plays the role of the foaming agent with respect to PCL and of the solvent with respect to MSG. The main objective is to produce an innovative topical device for application on skin lesions, promoting prolonged pro-resolving effects. The obtained device offers a protective barrier to ensure a favorable and sterilized environment for the wound healing process. The impregnation kinetics revealed that a pressure of 17 MPa, a temperature of 35 °C, and a time of impregnation of 24 h assured a proper foaming of PCL in addition to the impregnation of the maximum amount of MSG; i.e., 0.22 mgMSG/mgPCL. After a preliminary study conducted on PCL granules used as brought, the MSG impregnation was performed at the optimized process conditions also on a PCL film, produced by compression molding, with the final goal of producing medical patches. Comparing the dissolution profiles in phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS) of pure MSG and MSG impregnated on foamed PCL, it was demonstrated that the release of MSG was significantly prolonged up to 70 times. Next, we performed functional assays of in vitro wound healing, cell invasion, and angiogenesis to evaluate the biological effects of the PCL-derived MSG. Interestingly, we found the ability of this composite system to promote the activation of human keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, as the main actors of tissue regeneration, confirming what we previously showed for the MSG alone.
Debating the Devil’s Clergy. Demonology and the Media in Dialogue with Trials (14th to 17th Century)
Authors: Voltmer Rita
Published: November 2019

In comparison with the estimated number of about 60,000 executed so-called witches (women and men), the number of executed and punished witch-priests seems to be rather irrelevant. This statement, however, overlooks the fact that it was only during medieval and early modern times that the crime of heresy and witchcraft cost the life of friars, monks, and ordained priests at the stake. Clerics were the largest group of men accused of practicing magic, necromancy, and witchcraft. Demonology and the media (in constant dialogue with trials) reveal the omnipresence of the devil’s cleric with his figure possessing the quality of a ‘super-witch’, labelled as patronus sagarum. In Western Europe, the persecution of Catholic priests played at least two significant roles. First, in confessional debates, it proved to Catholics that Satan was assaulting post-Tridentine Catholicism, the only remaining bulwark of Christianity; for Protestants on the other hand, the news about the devil’s clergy proved that Satan ruled popedom. Second, in the Old Reich and from the start of the 17th century, the prosecution of clerics as the devil’s minions fueled the general debates about the legitimacy of witchcraft trials. In sketching these over-lapping discourses, we meet the devil’s clergy in Catholic political demonology, in the media and in confessional debates, including polemics about Jesuits being witches and sorcerers. Friedrich Spee used the narratives about executed Catholic priests as vital argument to end trials and torture. Inter alia, battling the devil’s clergy played a vital role in campaigns of internal Catholic church reform and clerical infighting. Studying the debates about the devil’s clergy thus provides a better understanding of how the dynamics of the Reformation, counter-Reformation, Catholic Reform, and confessionalization had an impact on European witchcraft trials.
The Role of Ontology in Religious Tourism Education—Exploring the Application of the Postmodern Cultural Paradigm in European Religious Sites
Authors: Thouki Alexis
Published: November 2019

The cultural and spiritual repository of religion is an indispensable resource for shaping public and cultural life in a post-secular era. Although the floods of culturally intrigued ‘pilgrims’ and spiritually ‘captivated’ tourists have marked religious sites on nationwide cultural maps, religious sites have yet to achieve a holistic interpretative experience which will reveal the deeper meanings of ecclesiastical art. The absence of ‘holistic interpretations’ from European Christian churches, addressing the tangible and intangible (faith) aspect of Christian tradition, run the risk of undermining both the cognitive and emotive aspects of visitors. Following a thematic analysis on interpretations found at Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches in Europe, this article investigates how religious sites adapt different interpretational strategies to communicate their stories. The findings are discussed with reference to heritage practices found at religious sites expressed through two coexisting cultural ideologies: the prominent postmodern cultural paradigm, expressed through New Museology, and the religious cultural paradigm, expressing religious tradition and vision. The research concludes that the more content a denomination appears to be over the postmodern cultural paradigm of New Museology, the more likely it is to experiment with postmodern interpretative strategies. In this context, the article raises the question of whether museum theory is applicable to religious settings. The bottom line is that stakeholders’ ontological presuppositions are the catalyst of how religious history, tradition, and faith, are negotiated and presented in religious settings.
Tree Species Classification Based on Hybrid Ensembles of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Random Forest Classifiers
Authors: Knauer Uwe , von Rekowski Cornelius Styp , Stecklina Marianne , Krokotsch Tilman , Pham Minh Tuan , Hauffe Viola , Kilias David , Ehrhardt Ina , Sagischewski Herbert , Chmara Sergej , Seiffert Udo
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we evaluate different popular voting strategies for fusion of classifier results. A convolutional neural network (CNN) and different variants of random forest (RF) classifiers were trained to discriminate between 15 tree species based on airborne hyperspectral imaging data. The spectral data was preprocessed with a multi-class linear discriminant analysis (MCLDA) as a means to reduce dimensionality and to obtain spatial–spectral features. The best individual classifier was a CNN with a classification accuracy of 0.73 +/− 0.086. The classification performance increased to an accuracy of 0.78 +/− 0.053 by using precision weighted voting for a hybrid ensemble of the CNN and two RF classifiers. This voting strategy clearly outperformed majority voting (0.74), accuracy weighted voting (0.75), and presidential voting (0.75).
A Preliminary Study of Three-Point Onboard External Calibration for Tracking Radiometric Stability and Accuracy
Authors: Aksoy Mustafa , Racette Paul E.
Published: November 2019

Absolute calibration of radiometers is usually implemented onboard using one hot and one cold external calibration targets. However, two-point calibration methods are unable to differentiate calibration drifts and associated errors from fluctuations in receiver gain and offset. Furthermore, they are inadequate to characterize temporal calibration stability of radiometers. In this paper, a preliminary study with linear radiometer systems has been presented to show that onboard external three-point calibration offers the means to quantify calibration drifts in the radiometer systems, and characterize associated errors as well as temporal stability in Earth and space measurements. Radiometers with three external calibration reference targets operating two data processing paths: i.e., (1) measurement path and (2) calibration validation path have been introduced. In the calibration validation data processing path, measurements of one known calibration target is calibrated using the other two calibration references, and temporal calibration stability and possible calibration temperature drifts are analyzed. In the measurement data processing path, the impact of the calibration drifts on Earth and space measurements is quantified and bounded by an upper limit. This two-path analysis is performed through calibration error analysis (CEA) diagrams introduced in this paper.
Deriving Individual-Tree Biomass from Effective Crown Data Generated by Terrestrial Laser Scanning
Authors: Zheng Yujie , Jia Weiwei , Wang Qiang , Huang Xu
Published: November 2019

Biomass reflects the state of forest management and is critical for assessing forest benefits and carbon storage. The effective crown is the region above the lower limit of the forest crown that includes the maximum vertical distribution density of branches and leaves; this component plays an important role in tree growth. Adding the effective crown to biomass equations can enhance the accuracy of the derived biomass. Six sample plots in a larch plantation (ranging in area from 0.06 ha to 0.12 ha and in number of trees from 63 to 96) at the Mengjiagang forest farm in Huanan County, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province, China, were analyzed in this study. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used to obtain three-dimensional point cloud data on the trees, from which crown parameters at different heights were extracted. These parameters were used to determine the position of the effective crown. Moreover, effective crown parameters were added to biomass equations with tree height as the sole variable to improve the accuracy of the derived individual-tree biomass estimates. The results showed that the minimum crown contact height was very similar to the effective crown height, and an increase in model accuracy was apparent (with

R
a
2

increasing from 0.846 to 0.910 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) decreasing from 0.372 kg to 0.286 kg). The optimal model for deriving biomass included tree height, crown length from minimum contact height, crown height from minimum contact height, and crown surface area from minimum contact height. The novelty of the article is that it improves the fit of individual-tree biomass models by adding crown-related variables and investigates how the accuracy of biomass estimation can be enhanced by using remote sensing methods without obtaining diameter at breast height.
Modified Search Strategies Assisted Crossover Whale Optimization Algorithm with Selection Operator for Parameter Extraction of Solar Photovoltaic Models
Authors: Xiong Guojiang , Zhang Jing , Shi Dongyuan , Zhu Lin , Yuan Xufeng , Yao Gang
Published: November 2019

Extracting accurate values for involved unknown parameters of solar photovoltaic (PV) models is very important for modeling PV systems. In recent years, the use of metaheuristic algorithms for this problem tends to be more popular and vibrant due to their efficacy in solving highly nonlinear multimodal optimization problems. The whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is a relatively new and competitive metaheuristic algorithm. In this paper, an improved variant of WOA referred to as MCSWOA, is proposed to the parameter extraction of PV models. In MCSWOA, three improved components are integrated together: (i) Two modified search strategies named WOA/rand/1 and WOA/current-to-best/1 inspired by differential evolution are designed to balance the exploration and exploitation; (ii) a crossover operator based on the above modified search strategies is introduced to meet the search-oriented requirements of different dimensions; and (iii) a selection operator instead of the “generate-and-go” operator used in the original WOA is employed to prevent the population quality getting worse and thus to guarantee the consistency of evolutionary direction. The proposed MCSWOA is applied to five PV types. Both single diode and double diode models are used to model these five PV types. The good performance of MCSWOA is verified by various algorithms.
A CMOS Low Pass Filter for SoC Lock-in-Based Measurement Devices
Authors: Pérez-Bailón Jorge , Calvo Belén , Medrano Nicolás
Published: November 2019

This paper presents a fully integrated Gm–C low pass filter (LPF) based on a current steering Gm reduction-tuning technique, specifically designed to operate as the output stage of a SoC lock-in amplifier. To validate this proposal, a first-order and a second-order single-ended topology were integrated into a 1.8 V to 0.18 µm CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) process, showing experimentally a tuneable cutoff frequency that spanned five orders of magnitude, from tens of mHz to kHz, with a constant current consumption (below 3 µA/pole), compact size (<0.0140 mm2/pole), and a dynamic range better than 70 dB. Compared to state-of-the-art solutions, the proposed approach exhibited very competitive performances while simultaneously fully satisfying the demanding requirements of on-chip portable measurement systems in terms of highly efficient area and power. This is of special relevance, taking into account the current trend towards multichannel instruments to process sensor arrays, as the total area and power consumption will be proportional to the number of channels.
Tracking Control for Wheeled Mobile Robot Based on Delayed Sensor Measurements
Authors: Guechi El-Hadi , Belharet Karim , Blažič Sašo
Published: November 2019

This paper proposes a novel Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy predictor observer to tackle the problem of the constant and known delay in the measurements. The proposed observer is developed for a trajectory-tracking problem of a wheeled mobile robot where a parallel-distributed compensation control is used to control the robot. The L2-stability of the proposed observer is also proven in the paper. Both, the control and the observer gains are obtained by solving the proposed system of linear matrix inequalities. To illustrate the efficiency of the proposed approach, an experimental comparison with another predictor observer was done.
A Novel Online Approach for Drift Covariance Estimation of Odometries Used in Intelligent Vehicle Localization
Authors: Osman Mostafa , Hussein Ahmed , Al-Kaff Abdulla , García Fernando , Cao Dongpu
Published: November 2019

Localization is the fundamental problem of intelligent vehicles. For a vehicle to autonomously operate, it first needs to locate itself in the environment. A lot of different odometries (visual, inertial, wheel encoders) have been introduced through the past few years for autonomous vehicle localization. However, such odometries suffers from drift due to their reliance on integration of sensor measurements. In this paper, the drift error in an odometry is modeled and a Drift Covariance Estimation (DCE) algorithm is introduced. The DCE algorithm estimates the covariance of an odometry using the readings of another on-board sensor which does not suffer from drift. To validate the proposed algorithm, several real-world experiments in different conditions as well as sequences from Oxford RobotCar Dataset and EU long-term driving dataset are used. The effect of the covariance estimation on three different fusion-based localization algorithms (EKF, UKF and EH-infinity) is studied in comparison with the use of constant covariance, which were calculated based on the true variance of the sensors being used. The obtained results show the efficacy of the estimation algorithm compared to constant covariances in terms of improving the accuracy of localization.
Pilot Study of the EncephaLog Smartphone Application for Gait Analysis
Authors: Tchelet Keren , Stark-Inbar Alit , Yekutieli Ziv
Published: November 2019

Gait disorders and falls are common in elders and in many clinical conditions, yet they are typically infrequently and subjectively evaluated, limiting prevention and intervention. Completion-time of the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test is a well-accepted clinical biomarker for rating mobility and prediction of falls risk. Using smartphones’ integral accelerometers and gyroscopes, we already demonstrated that TUG completion-time can be accurately measured via a smartphone app. Here we present an extended app, EncephaLogTM, which provides gait analysis in much more detail, offering 9 additional gait biomarkers on top of the TUG completion-time. In this pilot, four healthy adults participated in a total of 32 TUG tests; simultaneously recorded by EncephaLog and motion sensor devices used in movement labs: motion capture cameras (MCC), pressure mat; and/or wearable sensors. Results show high agreement between EncephaLog biomarkers and those measured by the other devices. These preliminary results suggest that EncephaLog can provide an accurate, yet simpler, instrumented TUG (iTUG) platform than existing alternatives, offering a solution for clinics that cannot afford the cost or space required for a dedicated motion lab and for monitoring patients at their homes. Further research on a larger study population with pathologies is required to assess full validity.
Implementation of Simultaneous Multi-Parameter Monitoring Based in LC-Type Passive Wireless Sensing with Partial Overlapping and Decoupling Coils
Authors: Sancho Juan Ignacio , Perez Noemí , De Nó Joaquin , Mendizabal Jaizki
Published: November 2019

Inductor–capacitor (LC) passive wireless sensors are widely used for remote sensing. These devices are limited in applications where multiparameter sensing is required, because of the mutual coupling between neighboring sensors. This article presents two effective decoupling techniques for multiparameter sensing, based on partially overlapped sensors and decoupling coils, which, when combined, reduce the mutual coupling between sensors to near zero. A multiparameter LC sensor prototype with these two decoupling mechanisms has been designed, simulated, and measured. This prototype is capable of simultaneously measuring four parameters. The measurements demonstrate that the changes in capacitance in one individual sensor do not affect the measurements of the other sensors. This principle has been applied to simultaneous wear sensing using four identical wear sensors.
Corporate Environmental Management for the Textile Industry: Toward an Empirical Typology
Authors: Boffelli Albachiara , Dotti Stefano , Gaiardelli Paolo , Carissimi Giorgia , Resta Barbara
Published: November 2019

The increasing attention of stakeholders regarding environmental issues is pushing companies to question their own environmental strategies and to consequently adopt coherent practices. The textile industry appears to be particularly affected because of its heavy impact on the environment. Despite many companies in this industry having developed integrated environmental management systems to make their environmental strategies more effective, the alignment of environmental practices with these strategies is not yet completely evident. This paper aims to fill this gap through a three-step research process. First of all, a reference model built upon an in-depth analysis of the literature provides a summary of the main strategies and practices for corporate environmental management. The model is then used to support an online survey aimed at understanding the level of adoption of environmental management practices in the textile industry. Subsequently, a cluster analysis identifies three different types of companies characterized by three strategic configurations: “committed”, “prone”, and “subjected” to environmental sustainability. Then, each type of company is characterized in terms of practices. Finally, the achieved results are used to derive some considerations (e.g., engaging with stakeholders, looking back to align practice with strategy, looking forward to become environmental leaders) that companies can consider to move forward in their environmental sustainability journey.
Identifying and Predicting the Expenditure Level Characteristics of Car-Sharing Users Based on the Empirical Data
Authors: Sai Qiuyue , Bi Jun , Xie Dongfan , Guan Wei
Published: November 2019

Car-sharing plays a positive role in reducing vehicle ownership and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the developmental contradictions between high investment and low revenues hinder the development of the car-sharing industry. Fully understanding car-sharing users can effectively ensure the healthy development of car-sharing companies and promote the development of the entire industry. To this end, this study attempts to develop a user management method that is based on user layering and prediction methods. By using order data from the Lan Zhou car-sharing company in China, this paper develops a clustering method for layering car-sharing users. A multi-layer perceptron model is also developed to categorize these users into different expenditure level categories while considering periodic features. Results show that new users can be divided into three categories according to their expenditures to car-sharing companies within 84 days. After 5 weeks of observation, the 84-day category of new users can be predicted with an accuracy of over 85%. These results provide scientific decision support for the user management and profitability of car-sharing companies.
Numerical Method for Dirichlet Problem with Degeneration of the Solution on the Entire Boundary
Authors: Rukavishnikov Viktor A. , Rukavishnikova Elena I.
Published: November 2019

The finite element method (FEM) with a special graded mesh is constructed for the Dirichlet boundary value problem with degeneration of the solution on the entire boundary of the two-dimensional domain. A comparative numerical analysis is performed for the proposed method and the classical finite element method for a set of model problems in symmetric domain. Experimental confirmation of theoretical estimates of accuracy is obtained and conclusions are made.
Polyphasic Assessment of Aflatoxin Production Potential in Selected Aspergilli
Authors: Akinola Stephen Abiola , Ateba Collins Njie , Mwanza Mulunda
Published: November 2019

This study investigated the aflatoxin production potentials of selected fungi using a polyphasic approach. Internally transcribed spacer region of the fungi was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Forty-five Aspergillus strains were further assessed for aflatoxin production using the conventional methods such as growth on yeast extract sucrose, β-cyclodextrin neutral red desiccated coconut agar (β-CNRDCA); expression of the aflatoxin regulatory genes and the use of both thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A large proportion (82.22%) of the isolates harbored the Nor-1 gene while 55.56%, 68.89%, and 80% possessed the ver-1, omt-A, and aflR genes, respectively. All 100% the isolates harbored the aflJ gene. Twenty-three isolates were positive for aflatoxin production based on the yeast extract sucrose medium (YES) test; ammonium vapor test (51%), yellow pigment production (75.5%), and β-CNRDCA tests; and blue/green fluorescence (57.7%). Based on TLC detection 42.2% produced aflatoxins while in the HPLC, total aflatoxin (AFTOT) production concentrations ranged from 6.77–71,453 µg/g. Detectable aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) concentrations obtained from the HPLC ranged between 3.76 and 70,288 µg/g; 6.77 and 242.50 µg/g for aflatoxin B2 (AFB2); 1.87 and 745.30 µg/g for aflatoxin G1 (AFG1); and 1.67 and 768.52 µg/g for aflatoxin G2 (AFG2). AFTOT contamination levels were higher than European Union tolerable limits (4 µg/kg). The regression coefficient was one (R2 = 1) while significant differences exist in the aflatoxin concentrations of Aspergillus (p ≤ 0.05). This study reports the potentials of Aspergillus oryzae previously known as a non-aflatoxin producer to produce AFG1, AFG2, AFB1, and AFB2 toxins. Aspergillus species in feedlots of animals reared for food are capable of producing aflatoxins which could pose hazards to health.
DI/LC–MS/MS-Based Metabolome Analysis of Plasma Reveals the Effects of Sequestering Agents on the Metabolic Status of Dairy Cows Challenged with Aflatoxin B1
Authors: Ogunade Ibukun , Jiang Yun , Pech Cervantes Andres
Published: November 2019

The study applied a targeted metabolomics approach that uses a direct injection and tandem mass spectrometry (DI–MS/MS) coupled with a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS)-based metabolomics of plasma to evaluate the effects of supplementing clay with or without Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) on the metabolic status of dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1. Eight healthy, lactating, multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation (64 ± 11 DIM) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a balanced 4 × 4 duplicated Latin square design with four 33 d periods. Treatments were control, toxin (T; 1725 µg aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)/head/day), T with clay (CL; 200 g/head/day), and CL with SCFP (YEA; 35 g of SCFP/head/day). Cows in T, CL, and YEA were dosed with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) from days 26 to 30. The sequestering agents were top-dressed from day 1 to 33. On day 30 of each period, 15 mL of blood was taken from the coccygeal vessels and plasma samples were obtained from blood by centrifugation and analyzed for metabolites using a kit that combines DI–MS/MS with LC–MS/MS-based metabolomics. The data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. The model included the effects of treatment, period, and random effects of cow and square. Significance was declared at p ≤ 0.05. Biomarker profiles for aflatoxin ingestion in dairy cows fed no sequestering agents were determined using receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) curves, as calculated by the ROCCET web server. A total of 127 metabolites such as amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, glycerophospholipids, and organic acids were quantified. Compared with the control, T decreased (p < 0.05) plasma concentrations of alanine, leucine, and arginine and tended to decrease that of citrulline. Treatment with CL had no effects on any of the metabolites relative to the control but increased (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of alanine, leucine, arginine, and that of citrulline (p = 0.07) relative to T. Treatment with YEA resulted in greater (p ≤ 0.05) concentrations of aspartic acid and lysine relative to the control and the highest (p ≤ 0.05) plasma concentrations of alanine, valine, proline, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine compared with other treatments. The results of ROC analysis between C and T groups revealed that the combination of arginine, alanine, methylhistidine, and citrulline had sufficient specificity and sensitivity (area under the curve = 0.986) to be excellent potential biomarkers of aflatoxin ingestion in dairy cows fed no sequestering agents. This study confirmed the protective effects of sequestering agents in dairy cows challenged with aflatoxin B1.
Highlighting of a LAGLIDADG and a Zing Finger Motifs Located in the pUL56 Sequence Crucial for HCMV Replication
Authors: Ligat Gaëtan , Couvreux Anthony , Cazal Raphaël , Alain Sophie , Hantz Sébastien
Published: November 2019

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) terminase complex is part of DNA-packaging machinery that delivers a unit-length genome into a procapsid. Sequence comparison of herpesvirus homologs allowed us to identify a potential LATLNDIERFL and zinc finger pattern in N-terminal part of pUL56. Recombinant viruses were generated with specific serine or alanine substitutions in these putative patterns. We identified a LATLNDIERFL pattern characteristic of LAGLIDADG homing endonucleases and a metal-binding pattern involving the cysteine and histidine residues C191-X2-C194-X22-C217-X-H219 (CCCH) close to the region conferring letermovir resistance. These patterns are crucial for viral replication, suggesting that they are essential for pUL56 structure and function. Thus, these patterns represent potential targets for the development of new antivirals such as small molecules or peptides and may allow to better understand the letermovir mechanism of action.
Insights into Innate Sensing of Prototype Foamy Viruses in Myeloid Cells
Authors: Bergez Maïwenn , Weber Jakob , Riess Maximilian , Erdbeer Alexander , Seifried Janna , Stanke Nicole , Munz Clara , Hornung Veit , König Renate , Lindemann Dirk
Published: November 2019

Foamy viruses (FVs) belong to the Spumaretrovirinae subfamily of retroviruses and are characterized by unique features in their replication strategy. This includes a reverse transcription (RTr) step of the packaged RNA genome late in replication, resulting in the release of particles with a fraction of them already containing an infectious viral DNA (vDNA) genome. Little is known about the immune responses against FVs in their hosts, which control infection and may be responsible for their apparent apathogenic nature. We studied the interaction of FVs with the innate immune system in myeloid cells, and characterized the viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and the cellular pattern recognition receptors and sensing pathways involved. Upon cytoplasmic access, full-length but not minimal vector genome containing FVs with active reverse transcriptase, induced an efficient innate immune response in various myeloid cells. It was dependent on cellular cGAS and STING and largely unaffected by RTr inhibition during viral entry. This suggests that RTr products, which are generated during FV morphogenesis in infected cells, and are therefore already present in FV particles taken up by immune cells, are the main PAMPs of FVs with full-length genomes sensed in a cGAS and STING-dependent manner by the innate immune system in host cells of the myeloid lineage.
Gendered Water Insecurity: A Structural Equation Approach for Female Headed Households in South Africa
Authors: Ngarava Saul , Zhou Leocadia , Monde Nomakhaya
Published: November 2019

Intricacies between women and water are central to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality and women empowerment is a key driver in ending hunger and poverty as well as improve water security the study sought to identify and provide pathways through which female-headed households were water insecure in South Africa. Secondary data collected during the 2016 General Household Survey (GHS) was utilised, with a sample of 5928 female-headed households. Principal Component Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling were used to analyse the data. The results show dynamic relationships between water characteristics and water treatment. There were also associations between water access and wealth status of the female-headed households. Association was also found between water access and water treatment as well as between wealth status and water treatment. The study concludes that there are dynamic relationships in water insecurity (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) for female-headed households in South Africa. The study recommends that a multi-prong approach is required in tackling exposures, sensitivities and adaptive capacities to water insecurity. This should include capacity–building and empowering women for wealth generation, improve access to water treatment equipment as well as prioritising improvement of infrastructure that brings piped and safe water to female-headed households.
Modified Index-Overlay Method to Assess Spatial–Temporal Variations of Groundwater Vulnerability and Groundwater Contamination Risk in Areas with Variable Activities of Agriculture Developments
Authors: Vu Tien-Duc , Ni Chuen-Fa , Li Wei-Ci , Truong Minh-Hoang
Published: November 2019

The groundwater vulnerability (GV) assessment for contamination is an effective technique for the planning, policy, and decision-making, as well as for sustainable groundwater resource protection and management. The GV depends strongly on local hydrogeological settings and land-use conditions that may vary in response to the activities of agricultural development. In this study, a modified DRASTIC model, which employs an additional factor of land use coupled with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) theory, was used to quantify the spatial and temporal variation of GV and groundwater contamination risk in the Pingtung groundwater basin. The results show that the GV slightly decreased due to the decrease in agricultural areas under the change of land use over two decades (1995–2017). The yearly changes or a shorter period of observations incorporated with the accurate land-use map in DRASTIC parameters could improve GV maps to obtain a better representation of site-specific conditions. Meanwhile, the maps of yearly contamination risk indicated that the counties of Jiuru and Ligang are at high risk of nitrate pollution since 2016. In other agriculture-dominated regions such as Yanpu, Changzhi, and Gaoshu in the Pingtung groundwater basin, the climate conditions influence less the temporal variations of groundwater contamination risk. The results of this study are expected to support policy-makers to adopt the strategies of sustainable development for groundwater resources in local areas.
Empirically Investigating Judicial Emotion
Authors: Maroney Terry A
Published: November 2019

The empirical study of judicial emotion has enormous but largely untapped potential to illuminate a previously underexplored aspect of judging, its processes, outputs, and impacts. After defining judicial emotion, this article proposes a theoretical taxonomy of approaches to its empirical exploration. It then presents and analyses extant examples of such research, with a focus on how the questions they ask fit within the taxonomy and the methods they use to answer those questions. It concludes by identifying areas for growth in the disciplined, data-based exploration of the many facets of judicial emotion.
POSITIONING PARIWISATA SYARIAH STUDI KASUS PADA HOTEL SOFYAN SYARIAH
Authors: Husen Tamitha Intassar , Zhafira Nabila Hilmy
Published: November 2019

Associated with the new government program announced in October 2013, Sharia Tourism. This study was conducted to analyze how much the tourism industry can flourish once sharia determine appropriate marketing development for Hotel Sofyan Betawi, which became one of the pioneers of sharia tourism in Indonesia. Since 1996 Sofyan Betawi Hotel had changed the concept of conventional management into the management of sharia. Although since 1996, the company's revenue management implementations always up and said to be quite good, but until now stand, consumers of Hotel Sofyan Betawi is not yet  fully know that the hotel management company under the auspices of sharia management. In addition, many consumers and communities who do not understand the meaning and essence of sharia in its application to business and management that is often misinterpreted.The preparation of the marketing plan, aims to continue the growth of existing products and develop the marketing area of sharia products provided by the company, came to the fore a clear targetKeywords: Tourism Sharia, Sharia Hotel, Business Sharia, Sharia Marketing, Marketing Plan, Environmental Analysis.
PENGARUH KONFLIK KERJA KELUARGA DAN MOTIVASI KERJA TERHADAP STRES KERJA PADA PERAWAT RUMAH SAKIT WULAN WINDY MEDAN
Authors: Insan Muhammad Yalzamul
Published: November 2019

Every staff are stressed at work. Organizational interventions were more effective if they improve management including the organization must be paid attention to all nurse. Nurses’ job stress is one of the factors which influence competitiveness among hospitals. Some factors which directly influence nurses’ job stress are the level of work to family conflict, and work motivation. The objective of this research was to find out and to analyze the influence of work to family conflict and motivation on nurses’ job stress at Wulan Windi Hospital. The research used descriptive quantitative and explanatory research method. The population was 54 nurses at Wulan Windi Hospital, and 43 of them were used as the samples, taken by using purposive sampling technique. The number of samples was based on the criteria: the respondents had been married and had children. The data were gathered by conducting interviews, questionnaires, and documentary study. Interval scale was used for measuring scales and the data were analyzed by using multiple linear regression analysis, while residual test and interaction test were used for moderating variable. The result of the research, in the first hypothesis, showed that, partially, work to family conflict had positive but significant influence on nurse’ job stress . The result of the second hypothesis showed that, partially, motivation had negative and significant influence on nurses’ job stress. The result of the third hypothesis showed that work to family conflict and motivation had significant influence on nurses’ job stress.  Keywords: Work to Family Conflict, Work Motivation, Nurses’ Job Stress
OPTIMALISASI MEDIA SOSIAL OLEH KOMUNITAS PENGGERAK HALAL DALAM MENYOSIALISASIKAN GAYA HIDUP HALAL KEPADA MASYARAKAT
Authors: Widyaningtyas Mia Dwianna
Published: November 2019

Artikel ini mendiskusikan tentang pemanfaatan media sosial oleh komunitas penggerak halal untuk menyosialisasikan gaya hidup halal kepada masyarakat. Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi realitas beberapa tahun terakhir dengan semakin tingginya kesadaran akan produk-produk halal yang menjadikan gaya hidup halal mulai mendapat tempat di hati masyarakat muslim. Sebagai negara dengan mayoritas penduduk beragama Islam, prinsip hidup halal memang sudah sepatutnya dijalankan. Seiring makin banyaknya yang menyadari pentingnya bergaya hidup halal, maka informasi akan produk halal baik itu makanan, kosmetik, atau barang-barang lain semakin dicari. Muslim yang mengadopsi gaya hidup halal jumlahnya memang masih jauh dari harapan. Apabila dibandingkan dengan total jumlah Muslim di Indonesia, mereka yang peduli untuk hidup halal belum menjadi mayoritas. Oleh karena itu komunitas-komunitas ini kemudian bergerak dengan menggunakan media sosial agar masyarakat muslim lebih terdidik mengenai produk halal. Dengan semakin meningkatnya penggunaan media sosial di kalangan komunitas, peneliti ingin mengetahui bagaimana komunitas halal mengoptimalkan media sosial dalam mensosialisasikan gaya hidup halal kepada masyarakat. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengidentifikasi media sosial yang digunakan dan pemanfaatan media sosial dalam sosialisasi produk halal. Teori yang digunakan sebagai acuan untuk pembahasan/diskusi adalah teori CMC dan konsep tentang fungsi media . Penelitian ini akan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan studi kasus pada komunitas-komunitas penggerak gaya hidup halal.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI KINERJA INSPEKTORAT KOTA TOMOHON
Authors: Ilat Cicilia , Saerang David P.E.
Published: November 2019

The results based on a count coefficient for the linear regression equation by 0.639. This suggests that in this equation the model of 0.639 explained by the influence of the independent variables (the competence, independence and experience) on the dependent variable (performance inspectorate), while the remaining 36.1% is explained by other factors that are not included in this model , After testing the hypothesis with the t-test, it was concluded that the independence (X2) and experience (X3) significantly affect the performance of the inspectorate, while competence does not significantly affect the performance of the inspectorate. Furthermore, the F-test, showed that competence (X1), independence (X2) and experience (X3) jointly affect the performance of the inspectorate. The degree of influence of each variable appears in the regression coefficient that is competence (X1) of 0.059; independence (X2), amounting to 0.748 and the regression coefficient of variable experience (X3) of 1.087.Implikasi findings of this study is to boost the performance of inspectorates to create good financial management with efforts to increase the independence, experience for inspectorates and with due regard to the competence of the inspectorate as a qualification for functional inspectorate. Increased capacity, all three factors the results of this study need to be done jointly for mutually complementary.
PENGARUH LOCUS OF CONTROL, SELF ESTEEM, EQUITY SENSITIVITY AUDITOR INTERNAL TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT DENGAN GENDER SEBAGAI VARIABEL MEDIASI
Authors: Poluan Margie Christanty , Sondakh Jullie J. , Karamoy Herman
Published: November 2019

The objective of this research is to find out the influence of locus of control, self esteem, and equity sensitivity of the internal auditor on auditing quality with gender as mediating variable at Inspectorate Division of North Sulawesi Province. The respondents are all the 64 internal auditors of North Sulawesi Province. Inferential statistic has been applied to test the hypothesis specifically the Structural Equation Model with Partial Least Square Analysis (SEM-PLS), while for testing mediating; Variance Accounted for (VAF) has been applied. The results show that Locus of Control, Self Esteem and Self Esteem are all influencing factors on auditing quality, but not gender. Thus, gender cannot mediate the three factors for auditing quality. It is recommended that government auditors to maintain their Locus of Control and emotional quotient to avoid deviation from their rules of conduct for qualified auditing. It also helps increase public trust on the internal auditor of the government as transparent and accountable. They also need to keep their self esteem and equity sensitivity high, maintain gender equality as part of the commitment and solidity in conducting their tasks as auditors. Keywords: locus of control, self esteem, equity sensitivity, auditing quality, gender.
Computation of Splicing Languages from DNA Splicing System Based on Sequences of Restriction Enzymes
Authors:   Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia., Ismail Nurul Izzaty , Fong Wan Heng ,   Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia., Sarmin Nor Haniza ,   Department of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
Published: November 2019

In DNA splicing systems, restriction enzymes and ligases cleave and recombine DNA molecules based on the cleavage pattern of the restriction enzymes. The set of molecules resulting from the splicing system depicts a splicing language. In this research, an algorithm for DNA splicing systems is developed using C++ visual programming. The splicing languages which have been characterised through some theorems based on the crossings and sequences of the restriction enzymes, are generated as the output from this computation. In order to generate the splicing languages, the algorithm detects and calculates the number of cutting sites of the restriction enzymes found in the initial molecules, determines whether the sequence of restriction enzyme is a palindrome or not, and if the restriction enzymes have the same or different crossings. The results from this research depict the splicing languages obtained from the manual computations, which contributes to the development of computational software in DNA computing.
Optimization of Antioxidant Extraction in Hylocereus polyrhizus Seed using Response Surface Methodology
Authors:   Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia., Zulkifli Siti Atikah , Gani Assoc. Prof. Madya Dr. Siti Salwa Abd ,   Halal Products Research Institute & Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia., Zaidan Dr. Uswatun Hasanah ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti PutraMalaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia., Halmi Dr. Izuan Effendi ,   Department of Land Management, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Published: November 2019

Seeds of red pitaya fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) are commonly left underutilized in the food industry. Thus, the objective of this present study was to optimize the extraction condition for the maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity of red pitaya fruit seed extract using response surface methodology (RSM). A Central Composite design was employed to determine the effects of the selected variables, comprising extraction time (30-90 min), extraction temperature (40-80 ℃) and ethanol concentration (60-80 %) on the DPPH scavenging activities. Data were analyzed by using Design Expert (version 10.0.1, Stat-Ease, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) statistical analysis software. The optimal extraction conditions for the highest antioxidant capacity were derived at 45 mins of extraction time, 70℃ extraction temperature and 80% ethanol concentration that resulted in 92.89 % of scavenging activity. The optimized model developed was verified by comparing the predicted and experimental value of response. The result of measured response agreed well with the predicted values, demonstrating that the model can be used for optimizing the conditions of RSP extract that ensure high recovery of DPPH radical scavenging activity.