bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESPON PETANI JAGUNG HIBRIDA TERHADAP KEBIJAKAN HARGA PEMBELIAN PEMERINTAH (HPP) JAGUNG DI KABUPATEN KONAWE
Authors: Halim Muhammad , Baka La Rianda , Abdullah Weka Gusmiarty
Published: July 2019

The development of hybrid corn is a national program in order to achieve the target of corn self-sufficiency. One of the government supports is the issuance of the Government Purchase Price Policy (HPP) through the Minister of Trade Regulation Number 27 / M-DAG/PER / 5/2017 concerning Reference Price for Purchasing Corn. This HPP policy aims to maintain corn availability, price stability and certainty so that the price of corn at the farm level does not fall when the harvest is overflowing. This study was conducted in Konawe District, which is one of the areas of hybrid corn development in Southeast Sulawesi. The aim was to determine the response of hybrid corn farmers to the Government Purchase Price (HPP) policy in Konawe District. The result is the response of hybrid corn farmers to the Government Purchasing Price (HPP) policy in corn in Konawe. Regency is less than or equal to 50% which has a high response because farmers are still uncertain about the certainty of Bulog's purchase of corn and farmers prefer to sell their crops to the farm collectors who provide convenience to corn farmers include not applying water content requirements and purchases made directly to farmers.Keywords: response; price policy; corn
Pengaruh Ekstrak Daun Mangrove (Avicennia marina) terhadap Ketahanan Tubuh Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei )
Authors: Samuria Sitti Asna , Nur Indriyani , Hamzah Muhaimin
Published: July 2019

This study aims to determine the optimum dose of mangrove leaf extract (A. marina) which is able to improve the resistance of vaname shrimp (L. vannamei). The stages in this study consisted of : (1) extraction of mangrove leaves and, (2) Immunostimulation of shrimp with extracts orally, (3) analysis of shrimp resistance to defend against Vibrio alginolitycus bacterial infection through challange test. The treatment was conducted in different doses of extract in feed (10, 15, 20 g/kg), and the control treatment was pellets without extract. Feeding with the addition of the extract was carried out for 40 days, then tested against the bacterium V.alginolitycus. The parameter observed in this study was Survival Rate (SR) and clinical signs. In the treatment of 20 g showed an optimal increase in the vaname shrimp immune response with significantly different result compared to other treatments. Keywords : Vannamei,  Mangrove  Leaves,  V. alginolyticus,  Immunity
Depredación de las larvas del erizo verdiblanco Lytechinus variegatus por Metanophrys sp.
Authors: Santos-Mella Francisco , García-Gómez Vasti , Hierro-Santos Karina , Feliz-Feliz Nabab , Solano Argenis
Published: July 2019

En esta comunicación se refuta el estado de comensalismo entre Metanophrys sp. y el erizo verdiblanco Lytechinus variegatus, debido al comportamiento depredador del ciliado contra las larvas del erizo. Para este trabajo, los erizos de mar se colocaron en botellas con 1 L de agua de mar esterilizada, destinadas al desove con la parte oral hacia arriba. Se aplicó una inyección de 5 ml de KCl al celoma. Se muestrearon 32 erizos de mar para completar 30 botellas con ambos tipos de gametos. Después de una hora de fertilización, Metanophrys sp. se encontró en algunas botellas. Después de 72 horas, 24 de las 30 botellas tenían ciliados con una proporción de aproximadamente 25 individuos por larva de erizo, observándose la depredación de éstas por Metanophrys sp. Debido al comportamiento depredador de Metanophrys sp. contra L. variegatus, con respecto a la ecología de la especie no deben considerarse comensales.
Infrared Thermography Applied to Tree Health Assessment: A Review
Authors: Vidal Daniele , Pitarma Rui
Published: July 2019

The tree is a fundamental living being. It contributes to nature and climate behaviour, as well to urban greening. It is also a source of wealth and employment. Most tree health inspection techniques are invasive or even destructive. Infrared thermography (IRT) is not invasive, and it has shown advantages when applied for inspection to trees and wood to detect deterioration or voids that could compromise its structure, stability, and durability. This study reviews the literature about IRT applied to a tree health inspection. It is framed in the context of the importance of trees for the balance of ecosystems, and the different techniques to detect tree deterioration. It highlights the difference when applied to wood or trees and the main factors that have been proven to cause disturbances in the thermal pattern of trees. The IRT, as other non-destructive methods, does not distinguish what type of damage it is, nor its causative agent. However, it enables identifying healthy and deteriorated tissues. The technology is very promising since it reveals that is efficient, fast, economical, and sustainable.
Screening Cultivated Eggplant and Wild Relatives for Resistance to Bacterial Wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum)
Authors: Namisy Ahmed , Chen Jaw-Rong , Prohens Jaime , Metwally Elmahdy , Elmahrouk Mohammed , Rakha Mohamed
Published: July 2019

Bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is highly diverse and the identification of new sources of resistance for the incorporation of multiple and complementary resistance genes in the same cultivar is the best strategy for durable and stable resistance. The objective of this study was to screen seven accessions of cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and 40 accessions from 12 wild relatives for resistance to two virulent R. solanacearum strains (Pss97 and Pss2016; phylotype I, race 1, biovar 3). The resistant or moderately resistant accessions were further evaluated with Pss97 in a second trial under high temperatures (and also with Pss2016 for S. anguivi accession VI050346). The resistant control EG203 was resistant to Pss97, but only moderately resistant to Pss2016. One accession of S. sisymbriifolium (SIS1) and two accessions of S. torvum (TOR2 and TOR3) were resistant or moderately resistant to Pss97 in both trials. Solanum anguivi VI050346, S. incanum accession MM577, and S. sisymbriifolium (SIS1 and SIS2) were resistant to Pss2016 in the first trial. However, S. anguivi VI050346 was susceptible in the second trial. These results are important for breeding resistant rootstocks and cultivars that can be used to manage this endemic disease.
Yield, Quality and Physiological Traits of Red Beet Under Different Magnesium Nutrition and Light Intensity Levels
Authors: D’Egidio Sara , Galieni Angelica , Stagnari Fabio , Pagnani Giancarlo , Pisante Michele
Published: July 2019

The effects of light intensity and Magnesium (Mg) supply on quality traits, yield and macronutrient assimilation of red beet plants were studied in two greenhouse experiments (in 2017 and 2018). According to a split-plot design, we compared two photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) levels (100% PAR, Full Light, FL and 50% PAR, Light Reduction, LR) as the main factor and three Mg application rates (0, 30, and 60 kg Mg ha−1: MG_0, MG_30 and MG_60, respectively) as the secondary factor. Yield and dry matter accumulations were principally affected by Mg. In both growing seasons, storage root dry weight (DW) increased about 5-fold in MG_60 with respect to MG_0; the highest leaves DW was achieved with the “LR × MG_60” treatment. Nitrogen and Mg contents in leaves and storage roots increased as Mg availability increased; also, the highest chlorophyll content was obtained combining LR and a high Mg rate. Moreover, the reflectance-derivative Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI670) and Chlorophyll Index (CI) allowed for discriminating the Mg sub-optimal supply in red beet plants. Sucrose was found to be the most abundant sugar in both the leaves and storage organs and was affected by Mg supply. Total phenolic content and betalains in storage roots at harvest were affected by both PAR and Mg application rates. Our results highlight the potential of Mg nutrition in ensuring good yield and quality of red beet crops.
l-Lactate Dehydrogenase B Chain Associated with Milk Protein Content in Dairy Cows
Authors: Wang Tao , Jeon Seung Woo , Jung U Suk , Kim Min Jeong , Lee Hong Gu
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to explore genes associated with milk protein content in dairy cows and their relationships with l-leucine. Ten primiparous Holstein cows (93.8 ± 11.56 milking days) fed the same diet were divided into two groups depending on their milk protein contents (group High, 3.34 ± 0.10%; and group Low, 2.86 ± 0.05%). Milk epithelial cells (MECs) were isolated from the collected morning milk and differentially expressed proteins in MECs were explored by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Then, the mRNA expression of these proteins was detected by real time PCR in MAC-T cells incubated with three different media named positive control (PC), negative control (NC), and l-leucine depletion (NO-leu). Results showed that ten proteins were differentially expressed in MECs from cows in group High. They included seven down-regulated ones (heat shock protein beta-1 (HSPB1), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP-78), l-lactate dehydrogenase B chain (LDH-B), malate dehydrogenase, cytoplasmic (MDH1), annexin I (ANXA1), cytokeratin-7 (CK-7), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH)), and three up-regulated ones (prohibitin (PHB), beta casein (CSN2), and alpha S1 casein (CSN1S1)). When l-leucine was depleted from the medium, not only proteins content was lowered (p < 0.05), but also the LDH-B mRNA expression was decreased in MAC-T cells (p < 0.05). In conclusion, LDH-B is negatively associated with the milk protein content of dairy cows and has a positive association with l-leucine.
Detection of Bovine TMEM95 p.Cys161X Mutation in 13 Chinese Indigenous Cattle Breeds
Authors: Zhang Sihuan , Peng Kun , Zhang Guoliang , Cao Yang , Zhang Meng , Chen Hong , Lei Chuzhao , Lan Xianyong , Zhao Yumin
Published: July 2019

Chinese indigenous cattle breeds have abundant genetic resources, which are valuable for the molecular breeding of cattle around the world. Thus, identifying important candidate genes and their genetic markers is very important for cattle molecular breeding. A previous study found that a nonsense mutation (rs378652941, c.483C > A, p.Cys161X) in the bovine transmembrane protein 95 gene (TMEM95) seriously reduced the reproductive performance in bulls, but few studies have detected this mutation in Chinese indigenous cattle breeds. Since the mutation c.483C > A may serve as a potential genetic marker for selecting higher fertility bulls, in the present study, using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (T-ARMS-PCR), forced PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (forced PCR-RFLP), and DNA sequencing methods, the mutation c.483C > A was detected in 765 individuals from 13 Chinese cattle breeds. However, the results showed that this mutation did not exist at this locus in our analyzed breeds. Interestingly, we identified a newly frameshift insertion/deletion (indel) mutation (NC_037346.1: g.27056998_27057000delCT) in the bovine TMEM95 gene in 11 cattle breeds, which changed the location of the termination codon and changed the 16 amino acids in the C-terminal to 21 amino acids. Combined with previous studies, our study provides evidence that in Chinese cattle breeds the mutation c.483C > A cannot be used as a genetic marker in molecular breeding.
Effect of Nanofluids on Boiling Heat Transfer Performance
Authors: Yao Shouguang , Teng Zecheng
Published: July 2019

At present, there are many applications of nanofluids whose research results are fruitful. Nanofluids can enhance the critical heat flux, but the effect on boiling heat transfer performance still has disagreement. Base liquids with higher viscosity improve the boiling heat transfer performance of nanofluids. When the base liquid is a multicomponent solution, the relative movement between the different solutions enhances the microscopic movement of the nanoparticles due to the different evaporation order during the boiling process, so that the boiling heat transfer performance is enhanced. Compared with the thermal conductivity of the heated surface, the deposition of the low thermal conductivity nanoparticles reduces the heat dissipation rate of the heated surface and improves the wall superheat. Then the enhancement of the boiling heat transfer coefficient should be attributed to the thermal conductivity improvement of base fluid and the bubble disturbance resulted from the nanoparticle’s microscopic motion.
Industry 4.0 for the Construction Industry—How Ready Is the Industry?
Authors: Maskuriy Raihan , Selamat Ali , Ali Kherun Nita , Maresova Petra , Krejcar Ondrej
Published: July 2019

Technology and innovations have fueled the evolution of Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution. Industry 4.0 encourages growth and development through its efficiency capacity, as documented in the literature. The growth of the construction industry is a subset of the universal set of the gross domestic product value; thus, Industry 4.0 has a spillover effect on the engineering and construction industry. In this study, we aimed to map the state of Industry 4.0 in the construction industry, to identify its key areas, and evaluate and interpret the available evidence. We focused our literature search on Web of Science and Scopus between January 2015 and May 2019. The search was dependent on the following keywords: “Industry 4.0” OR “Industrial revolution 4.0” AND TOPIC: “construction” OR “building”. From the 82 papers found, 20 full-length papers were included in this review. Results from the targeted papers were split into three clusters: technology, security, and management. With building information modelling (BIM) as the core in the cyber-physical system, the cyber-planning-physical system is able to accommodate BIM functionalities to improve construction lifecycle. This collaboration and autonomous synchronization system are able to automate the design and construction processes, and improve the ability of handling substantial amounts of heterogeneity-laden data. Industry 4.0 is expected to augment both the quality and productivity of construction and attract domestic and foreign investors.
Experimental Study of High-Strength Concrete-Steel Plate Composite Shear Walls
Authors: Jiang Dongqi , Xiao Congzhen , Chen Tao , Zhang Yuye
Published: July 2019

Shear walls are effective lateral load resisting elements in high-rise buildings. This paper presents an experimental study of the seismic performance of a composite shear wall system that consists of high-strength concrete walls with the embedded steel plate. Two sets of wall specimens with different aspect ratios (height/width, 1.5 and 2.7) were constructed and tested under quasi-static reversed cyclic loading, including five reinforced concrete shear walls (RCSW) and six reinforced concrete-steel plate shear walls (RCSPSW). The progression of damage, failure modes, and load-displacement responses of test specimens were studied and compared based on experimental observations. The test results indicated that high-strength (HS) RCSPSW system showed superior lateral load strength and acceptable deformation capability. The axial compressive load was found to have an indispensable effect on the ductility of both RCSW and RCSPSW, and an upper limit of axial compression ratio (0.5) is recommended for the application of HS RCSPSW in engineering practices. In addition, the design strength models were suggested for predicting the shear and flexure peak strength values of RCSPSW systems, and their applicability and reliability were verified by comparing with test results.
Corrosion of α-Brass in Solutions Containing Chloride Ions and 3-Mercaptoalkyl-5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazoles
Authors: Kozaderov Oleg , Shikhaliev Khidmet , Prabhakar Chetti , Tripathi Anuj , Shevtsov Dmitry , Kruzhilin Alexei , Komarova Ekaterina , Potapov Andrei , Zartsyn Ilya , Kuznetsov Yuri
Published: July 2019

The protective effect of 3-mercaptoalkyl derivatives of 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole against corrosion of α-brass in a chloride media was studied using polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and full-scale corrosion testing. The brass electrode remains passive up to the activation potential, which is much higher than in solutions without organic additives, and it increases with the concentration of the inhibitor. The protection degree of all the studied inhibitors reaches its maximum of over 99% in solutions with the concentration of the inhibitor Cinh ≥ 0.10 mM. The protective effect increases with the length of the alkyl chain. All the studied derivatives are effective against atmospheric corrosion of α-brass. A protective film is formed on the brass surface, and it most probably includes oxides as well as complex compounds of zinc and copper with the molecules of the inhibitors. The impedance spectroscopy demonstrated that the presence of the inhibitor results in a decrease in the double-layer capacitance and an increase in the polarization resistance, which proves that the protective film actually forms on the brass surface. The quantum chemical analysis of the optimized molecular structures demonstrates that all the studied inhibitors should have a similar protective effect, which agrees with the experimental results.
Design and Isokinetic Training Control Method of Leg Press Training Device
Authors: Yu Hongfei , Wang Hongbo , Du Yaxin , Hu Xinyu , Liao Ziyu
Published: July 2019

Lower-limb function in elderly people gradually degenerates with age, and poor rehabilitation conditions preventing the elderly from receiving scientific rehabilitation training result in the decline of social labor force and the increased economic burden of the elderly. Aiming at the characteristics of the single function and the complex structure of an existing telescopic leg trainer combined with the needs of the application group, a new type of leg-stretching training device with multiple training modes for lower extremity extension and flexion of the elderly is proposed. A new mechanical structure and electrical system is designed. At the same time, the anti-resistance training man–machine model is analyzed, aiming at the isokinetic resistance training mode, and a training controller strategy based on a fuzzy synovial algorithm is proposed. Finally, the feasibility of the designed controller strategy and the proposed leg training device are verified by prototype experiments, which will guide further research.
Development of a Novel Hybrid Intelligence Approach for Landslide Spatial Prediction
Authors: Nguyen Phong Tung , Tuyen Tran Thi , Shirzadi Ataollah , Pham Binh Thai , Shahabi Himan , Omidvar Ebrahim , Amini Ata , Entezami Hersh , Prakash Indra , Phong Tran Van , Vu Thao Ba , Thanh Tran , Saro Lee , Bui Dieu Tien
Published: July 2019

We proposed an innovative hybrid intelligent approach, namely, the multiboost based naïve bayes trees (MBNBT) method for the spatial prediction of landslides in the Mu Cang Chai District of Yen Bai Province, Vietnam. The MBNBT, which is an ensemble of the multiboost (MB) and naïve bayes trees (NBT) base classifier, has rarely been applied for landslide susceptibility mapping around the world. For the modeling, we selected 248 landslide locations in the hilly terrain of the study area. Fifteen landslide conditioning factors were selected for the construction of the database based on the one-R attribute evaluation (ORAE) technique. Model validation was done using statistical metrics, namely, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Performance of the hybrid model was evaluated and compared with popular soft computing benchmark models, namely, multiple perceptron neural network (MLPN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and single NBT. Results indicated that the proposed MBNBT (AUC = 0.824) model outperformed the popular models, namely, the MLPN (AUC = 0.804), SVM (AUC = 0.804), and NBT (AUC = 0.800) models. Analysis of the model results also suggested that the MB meta classifier ensemble model could enhance the prediction power of the NBT model. Therefore, the MBNBT is a suitable method for the assessment of landslide susceptibility in landslide prone areas.
Complex-Eigenfrequency Band Structure of Viscoelastic Phononic Crystals
Authors: Wang Ting-Ting , Laude Vincent , Kadic Muamer , Wang Yan-Feng , Wang Yue-Sheng
Published: July 2019

The consideration of material losses in phononic crystals leads naturally to the introduction of complex valued eigenwavevectors or eigenfrequencies representing the attenuation of elastic waves in space or in time, respectively. Here, we propose a new technique to obtain phononic band structures with complex eigenfrequencies but real wavevectors, in the case of viscoelastic materials, whenever elastic losses are proportional to frequency. Complex-eigenfrequency band structures are obtained for a sonic crystal in air, and steel/epoxy and silicon/void phononic crystals, with realistic viscous losses taken into account. It is further found that the imaginary part of eigenfrequencies are well predicted by perturbation theory and are mostly independent of periodicity, i.e., they do not account for propagation losses but for temporal damping of Bloch waves.
A Review of Photothermal Detection Techniques for Gas Sensing Applications
Authors: Krzempek Karol
Published: July 2019

Photothermal spectroscopy (PTS) is a technique used for determining the composition of liquids, solids and gases. In PTS, the sample is illuminated with a radiation source, and the thermal response of the analyte (e.g., refractive index) is analyzed to gain information about its content. Recent advances in this unique method of detecting gaseous samples show that photothermal gas spectroscopy can be an interesting alternative to commonly used absorption techniques. Moreover, if designed properly, sensors using PTS detection technique can not only reach sensitivities comparable with other, more complex techniques, but can significantly simplify the design of the sensor. In this review, recent developments in photothermal spectroscopy of gases will be summarized and discussed.
Special Issue “Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)”
Authors: Mierlo Joeri Van
Published: July 2019

Climate change, urban air quality, and dependency on crude oil are important societal challenges. In the transportation sector especially, clean and energy-efficient technologies must be developed. Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have gained a growing interest in the vehicle industry. Nowadays, the commercialization of EVs and PHEVs has been possible in different applications (i.e., light duty, medium duty, and heavy duty vehicles) thanks to the advances in energy-storage systems, power electronics converters (including DC/DC converters, DC/AC inverters, and battery charging systems), electric machines, and energy efficient power flow control strategies. This Special Issue is focused on the recent advances in electric vehicles and (plug-in) hybrid vehicles that address the new powertrain developments and go beyond the state-of-the-art (SOTA).
Behavior of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Confined High-Strength Concrete under Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) Impact Compression
Authors: Xie Zhihong , Duan Zhijian , Guo Yongchang , Li Xiang , Zeng Junjie
Published: July 2019

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) has become increasingly popular in repairing existing steel-reinforced concrete (RC) members or constructing new structures. Although the quasi-static axial compression performance of FRP-confined concrete (FCC) has been comprehensively studied, its dynamic compression performance is not well understood, especially the dynamic compressive behavior of FRP-confined high-strength concrete (FCHC). This paper presents an experimental program that consists of quasi-static compression tests and Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) impact tests on FRP-confined high-strength concrete. The effects of the FRP types, FRP confinement stiffness, and strain rate on the impact resistance of FCHC are carefully studied. The experimental results show that the strain rate effect is evident for FRP-confined high-strength concrete and the existence of the FRP greatly improves the dynamic compressive strength of high-strength concrete. An existing strength model is modified for impact strength of FCHC and the predicted results are compared with the test results. The results and discussions show that the proposed model is accurate and superior to the existing models.
A Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose-Based Solid Dispersion of Curcumin with Enhanced Bioavailability and Its Hepatoprotective Activity
Authors: Shin Myoung-Sook , Yu Jun Sang , Lee Jaemin , Ji Young Seok , Joung Hee Joung , Han Yu-Mee , Yoo Hye Hyun , Kang Ki Sung
Published: July 2019

Curcumin is a polyphenol compound derived from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa that exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. However, its low solubility in aqueous solutions, low absorption following oral administration, and rapid degradation limit its use as a functional food material. In this study, a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based solid dispersion of curcumin (DW-CUR 20) was prepared and its bioavailability was evaluated. In addition, its therapeutic efficacy as a hepatoprotective agent was investigated using the model of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced hepatocyte damage. The rat plasma pharmacokinetic study showed that the oral curcumin bioavailability of DW-CUR 20 significantly increased compared to that of non-formulated curcumin. DW-CUR 20 showed a concentration-dependent hepatocyte protective effect on t-BHP-induced HepG2 cells. DW-CUR 20 inhibited the release of lactate dehydrogenase and decreased apoptosis-related proteins such as Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, cleaved caspase-7 and cleaved caspase-8 on t-BHP-treated HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that DW-CUR 20 could be a promising formulation for enhancing the therapeutic efficiency of curcumin and for improving the safety.
Sorafenib with Transarterial Chemoembolization Achieves Improved Survival vs. Sorafenib Alone in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kok Victor , Chen Yu-Ching , Chen Yang-Yuan , Su Yu-Chieh , Ku Ming-Chang , Kuo Jung-Tsung , Yoshida Go
Published: July 2019

We hypothesized that sorafenib plus transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) would confer survival benefits over sorafenib alone for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). We investigated this while using the population-based All-Cancer Dataset to assemble a cohort (n = 3674; median age, 60; 83% men) of patients receiving sorafenib for aHCC (Child-Pugh A) with macro-vascular invasion or nodal/distant metastases. The patients were classified into the sorafenib-TACE group (n = 426) or the propensity score-matched sorafenib-alone group (n = 1686). All of the participants were followed up until death or the end of the study. Time-dependent Cox model and the Mantel–Byar test were used for survival analysis. During the median follow-ups of 221 and 133 days for the sorafenib-TACE and sorafenib-alone groups, 164 (39%) and 916 (54%) deaths occurred, respectively; the corresponding median overall survivals (OS) were 381 and 204 days, respectively (hazard ratio, HR: 0.74; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.63–0.88; p = 0.021). The one-year and six-month OS were 53.5% and 80.3% in the sorafenib-TACE group and 32.4% and 54.4% in the sorafenib-alone group, respectively. The major complications were comparable between the two groups. The addition of TACE to sorafenib improves survival, with a 26% reduction in mortality. These findings provide strong real-world evidence that supports this combination strategy for eligible Child-Pugh A aHCC patients.
Morin Hydrate Reverses Cisplatin Resistance by Impairing PARP1/HMGB1-Dependent Autophagy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Singh Mahendra Pal , Cho Hee Jun , Kim Jong-Tae , Baek Kyoung Eun , Lee Hee Gu , Kang Sun Chul
Published: July 2019

Chemoresistance is a major obstacle that limits the benefits of cisplatin-based chemotherapy in various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma. De-regulation of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)/high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) signaling pathway has been proposed as an important mechanism involved in cisplatin-resistance. In this study, we investigated therapeutic potential of a natural flavonoid Morin hydrate against cisplatin-induced toxicity using the HepG2DR multi-drug resistant cell line, which is derived from the HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. HepG2DR cells were exposed to cisplatin and Morin hydrate alone or together after which autophagy and apoptotic signaling pathways were monitored by fluorometric assay and Western blot analysis. Xenograft mouse models were performed to confirm the in vitro effect of Morin hydrate. PARP1 was hyper activated in cisplatin-resistant HepG2DR cells. Cisplatin-induced PARP1 activation resulted in chemoresistance via increased autophagy. The cisplatin/Morin hydrate combination was effective in the reversal of the HepG2DR cell resistance via suppression of PARP1-mediated autophagy by regulating the HMGB1 and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3) I/II. Moreover, PARP1 inhibition by 4-amino-1,8-naphthalimide or autophagy inhibition by a knockdown of the autophagy-related 5 (ATG5) gene resulted in sensitizing the HepG2DR cells to cisplatin (CP) through activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. In a mouse xenograft model, the treatment of cisplatin with Morin hydrate reversed the increased expression of PARP and HMGB1 and significantly suppressed tumor growth. These findings indicate dysregulated expression of PARP1 confers cisplatin-resistance via autophagy activation in HepG2DR cells. Morin hydrate inhibits cisplatin-mediated autophagy induction, resulting in increased susceptibility of HepG2DR cells to cisplatin cytotoxicity. The combination of Morin hydrate with cisplatin may be a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs.
Interplay between Zika Virus and Peroxisomes during Infection
Authors: Wong Cheung Pang , Xu Zaikun , Hou Shangmei , Limonta Daniel , Kumar Anil , Power Christopher , Hobman Tom C.
Published: July 2019

Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged as an important human pathogen that can cause congenital defects in the fetus and neurological conditions in adults. The interferon (IFN) system has proven crucial in restricting ZIKV replication and pathogenesis. The canonical IFN response is triggered by the detection of viral RNA through RIG-I like receptors followed by activation of the adaptor protein MAVS on mitochondrial membranes. Recent studies have shown that a second organelle, peroxisomes, also function as a signaling platforms for the IFN response. Here, we investigated how ZIKV infection affects peroxisome biogenesis and antiviral signaling. We show that ZIKV infection depletes peroxisomes in human fetal astrocytes, a brain cell type that can support persistent infection. The peroxisome biogenesis factor PEX11B was shown to inhibit ZIKV replication, likely by increasing peroxisome numbers and enhancing downstream IFN-dependent antiviral signaling. Given that peroxisomes play critical roles in brain development and nerve function, our studies provide important insights into the roles of peroxisomes in regulating ZIKV infection and potentially neuropathogenesis.
Overview of Extracellular Vesicles, Their Origin, Composition, Purpose, and Methods for Exosome Isolation and Analysis
Authors: Doyle Laura , Wang Michael
Published: July 2019

The use of extracellular vesicles, specifically exosomes, as carriers of biomarkers in extracellular spaces has been well demonstrated. Despite their promising potential, the use of exosomes in the clinical setting is restricted due to the lack of standardization in exosome isolation and analysis methods. The purpose of this review is to not only introduce the different types of extracellular vesicles but also to summarize their differences and similarities, and discuss different methods of exosome isolation and analysis currently used. A thorough understanding of the isolation and analysis methods currently being used could lead to some standardization in the field of exosomal research, allowing the use of exosomes in the clinical setting to become a reality.
Deposition of TiO2 Thin Films on Wood Substrate by an Air Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet
Authors: Jnido Ghiath , Ohms Gisela , Viöl Wolfgang
Published: July 2019

In the present work, titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings were deposited on wood surfaces by an atmospheric pressure plasma jet using titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as a precursor to improve the wood’s stability against ultraviolet (UV) light and its moisture resistance capability. The surface topology and morphology of the wood specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface chemical compositions of the specimens were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The wettability of the coated wood was investigated by measuring the sessile contact angle. SEM and AFM showed the presence of small globules of TiO2 with some areas agglomerated on the coated wood surface. The coated surface roughness increased with increasing deposition time. FTIR analysis showed the existence of a Ti–O–Ti band at 800–400 cm−1 on the coated wood surfaces. The results obtained from FTIR were confirmed by XPS measurements. The hydrophilic wood surfaces were transformed to become hydrophobic or superhydrophobic after coating with TiO2, depending on the deposition parameters. The changes of colour during UV-exposure for both uncoated and coated wood specimens were measured using the CIELab colour system. The TiO2 coated wood became more resistant to colour change after UV radiation exposure than did untreated wood.
The Effect of Point Defects on the Electronic Density of States of ScMN2-Type (M = V, Nb, Ta) Phases
Authors: Pilemalm Robert , Simak Sergei , Eklund Per
Published: July 2019

ScMN2-type (M = V, Nb, Ta) phases are layered materials that have been experimentally reported for M = Ta and Nb. They are narrow-bandgap semiconductors with potentially interesting thermoelectric properties. Point defects such as dopants and vacancies largely affect these properties, motivating the need to investigate these effects. In particular, asymmetric peak features in the density of states (DOS) close to the highest occupied state is expected to increase the Seebeck coefficient. Here, we used first principles calculations to study the effects of one vacancy or one C, O, or F dopant on the DOS of the ScMN2 phases. We used density functional theory to calculate formation energy and the density of states when a point defect is introduced in the structures. In the DOS, asymmetric peak features close to the highest occupied state were found as a result of having a vacancy in all three phases. Furthermore, one C dopant in ScTaN2, ScNbN2, and ScVN2 implies a shift of the highest occupied state into the valence band, while one O or F dopant causes a shift of the highest occupied state into the conduction band.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Solubility Analysis of a Famotidine Cocrystal
Authors: Zhang Yan , Yang Zhao , Zhang Shuaihua , Zhou Xingtong
Published: July 2019

A novel cocrystal of the potent H2 receptor antagonist famotidine (FMT) was synthesized with malonic acid (MAL) to enhance its solubility. The cocrystal structure was characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction, and the asymmetry unit contains one FMT and one MAL connected via intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure is monoclinic with a P21/n space group and unit cell parameters a = 7.0748 (3) Å, b = 26.6502 (9) Å, c = 9.9823 (4) Å, α = 90, β = 104.2228 (12), γ = 90, V = 1824.42 (12) Å3, and Z = 4. The cocrystal had unique thermal, spectroscopic, and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) properties that differed from FMT. The solubility of the famotidine-malonic acid cocrystal (FMT-MAL) was 4.2-fold higher than FMT; the FAM-MAL had no change in FMT stability at high temperature, high humidity, or with illumination.
Layered Double Hydroxides: A Toolbox for Chemistry and Biology
Authors: Arrabito Giuseppe , Bonasera Aurelio , Prestopino Giuseppe , Orsini Andrea , Mattoccia Alessio , Martinelli Eugenio , Pignataro Bruno , Medaglia Pier
Published: July 2019

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are an emergent class of biocompatible inorganic lamellar nanomaterials that have attracted significant research interest owing to their high surface-to-volume ratio, the capability to accumulate specific molecules, and the timely release to targets. Their unique properties have been employed for applications in organic catalysis, photocatalysis, sensors, drug delivery, and cell biology. Given the widespread contemporary interest in these topics, time-to-time it urges to review the recent progresses. This review aims to summarize the most recent cutting-edge reports appearing in the last years. It firstly focuses on the application of LDHs as catalysts in relevant chemical reactions and as photocatalysts for organic molecule degradation, water splitting reaction, CO2 conversion, and reduction. Subsequently, the emerging role of these materials in biological applications is discussed, specifically focusing on their use as biosensors, DNA, RNA, and drug delivery, finally elucidating their suitability as contrast agents and for cellular differentiation. Concluding remarks and future prospects deal with future applications of LDHs, encouraging researches in better understanding the fundamental mechanisms involved in catalytic and photocatalytic processes, and the molecular pathways that are activated by the interaction of LDHs with cells in terms of both uptake mechanisms and nanotoxicology effects.
An Overview of AI Methods for in-Core Fuel Management: Tools for the Automatic Design of Nuclear Reactor Core Configurations for Fuel Reload, (Re)arranging New and Partly Spent Fuel
Authors: Nissan Ephraim
Published: July 2019

An important aspect of managing a nuclear reactor is how to design refuellings, and from the 1980s to the present different artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been applied to this problem. A section of the reactor core resembles a symmetrical grid; long fuel assemblies are inserted there, some of them new, some of them partly spent. Rods of “burnable poisons” dangle above, ready to be inserted into the core, in order to stop the reactor. Traditionally, manual design was made by shuffling positions in the grid heuristically, but AI enabled to automatically generate families of candidate configurations, under safety constraints, as well as in order to optimize combustion, with longer cycles of operation between shutdown periods, thus delaying the end-of-cycle point (except in France, where shutdown is on an annual basis, and Canada, where individual fuel assemblies are replaced, with no need for shutdown for rearranging the entire batch). Rule-based expert systems, the first being FUELCON,1 were succeeded by projects combining neural and rule-based processing (a symbolic-to-neural compilation of rules we did not implement), and later on, genetic algorithms in FUELGEN.2 In the literature, one also comes across the application of fuzzy techniques, tabu search, cellular automata and simulated annealing, as well as particle swarms. Safety regulations require simulating the results using a parameter prediction tool; this is done using either nodal algorithms, or neural processing.
Educational Services for Intellectual Capital Growth or Transmission of Culture for Transfer of Knowledge—Consumer Satisfaction at St. Petersburg Universities
Authors: Pokrovskaia Nadezhda N. , Ababkova Marianna Yu. , Fedorov Denis A.
Published: July 2019

Higher education has complex roles in society, the economy, and politics; it helps to transmit culture, transfer knowledge, and develop the personality of citizens. This diversity of roles is confronted with the limited resources that are related to the sources of financing, that is, students and their families, the national government, and local authorities, among others. The discussions related to the role of universities concern the economy of knowledge and the digital tools influencing education. The specific case of St. Petersburg universities simultaneously represents the impact of the deep socio-political transition from Soviet society to the liberal principles of a market economy, including the perception of higher education institutions as service sector companies. The services allowed by universities include research and training; however, from the consumer point of view, universities should create specific value: the increase of the intellectual components of human capital. These complex functions are interconnected. During 2017–2018, a survey in St. Petersburg was organised to ascertain the opinion of students, professors, and employers on the quality of education. The results of the survey demonstrate the impact of the exaggerated implementation of the liberal principles on education, both positive and negative. The positive effect is the renewing of content and innovative training techniques due to competition among universities. The negative impacts include the preference for popular disciplines and the opportunistic behavior of students that lose their passion for acquiring knowledge and choose instead the passive attitude of consumers of a competitive service. They are less interested in the sphere of their studies, in searching for a job, in the interaction with other social and economic actors, and even in the research and education options presented by the universities.
Educing AI-Thinking in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Education
Authors: How Meng-Leong , Hung Wei Loong David
Published: July 2019

In science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education, artificial intelligence (AI) analytics are useful as educational scaffolds to educe (draw out) the students’ AI-Thinking skills in the form of AI-assisted human-centric reasoning for the development of knowledge and competencies. This paper demonstrates how STEAM learners, rather than computer scientists, can use AI to predictively simulate how concrete mixture inputs might affect the output of compressive strength under different conditions (e.g., lack of water and/or cement, or different concrete compressive strengths required for art creations). To help STEAM learners envision how AI can assist them in human-centric reasoning, two AI-based approaches will be illustrated: first, a Naïve Bayes approach for supervised machine-learning of the dataset, which assumes no direct relations between the mixture components; and second, a semi-supervised Bayesian approach to machine-learn the same dataset for possible relations between the mixture components. These AI-based approaches enable controlled experiments to be conducted in-silico, where selected parameters could be held constant, while others could be changed to simulate hypothetical “what-if” scenarios. In applying AI to think discursively, AI-Thinking can be educed from the STEAM learners, thereby improving their AI literacy, which in turn enables them to ask better questions to solve problems.
Shunt Active Power Filter: A Review on Phase Synchronization Control Techniques
Authors: Hoon Yap , Mohd Radzi Mohd Amran , Mohd Zainuri Muhammad Ammirrul Atiqi , Zawawi Mohamad Adzhar Md
Published: July 2019

Owing to the destructive impacts of harmonic currents, the topic of reducing their impacts on power system has attracted tremendous research interests. In this regard, a shunt active power filter (SAPF) is recognized to be the most reliable instrument. It performs by first detecting the harmonic currents that are present in a harmonic-contaminated power system, and subsequently generates and injects corrective mitigation current back into the power system to cancel out all the detected harmonic currents. This means that other than the ability to generate corrective mitigation current itself, it is actually more important to make sure that the SAPF is able to operate in phase with the operating power system, so that the mitigation current can correctly be injected. Hence, proper synchronization technique needs to be integrated when designing the control algorithms of SAPF. This paper critically discusses and analyzes various types of existing phase synchronization techniques which have been applied to manage operation of SAPF; in terms of features, working principle, implementation and performance. The analysis provided can potentially serve as a guideline and provision of information on selecting the most suitable technique for synchronizing SAPF with the connected power system.
An Experimental and Numerical Case Study of Passive Building Cooling with Foundation Pile Heat Exchangers in Denmark
Authors: Poulsen Søren Erbs , Alberdi-Pagola Maria , Cerra Davide , Magrini Anna
Published: July 2019

Technologies for energy-efficient cooling of buildings are in high demand due to the heavy CO2 footprint of traditional air conditioning methods. The ground source heat pump system (GSHP) installed at the Rosborg Gymnasium in Vejle (Denmark) uses foundation pile heat exchangers (energy piles). Although designed for passive cooling, the GSHP is used exclusively for heating. In a five-week test during the summer of 2018, excess building heat was rejected passively to the energy piles and the ground. Measured energy efficiency ratios are 24–36 and the thermal comfort in conditioned rooms is improved significantly relative to unconditioned reference rooms. A simple model relating the available cooling power to conditioned room and ground temperatures is developed and calibrated to measured test data. Building energy simulation based estimates of the total cooling demand of the building are then compared to corresponding model calculations of the available cooling capacity. The comparison shows that passive cooling is able to meet the cooling demand of Rosborg Gymnasium except for 7–17 h per year, given that room temperatures are constrained to < 26 °C. The case study clearly demonstrates the potential for increasing thermal comfort during summer with highly efficient passive cooling by rejecting excess building heat to the ground.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles enabled IoT Platform for Disaster Management
Authors: Ejaz Waleed , Azam Muhammad Awais , Saadat Salman , Iqbal Farkhund , Hanan Abdul
Published: July 2019

Efficient and reliable systems are required to detect and monitor disasters such as wildfires as well as to notify the people in the disaster-affected areas. Internet of Things (IoT) is the key paradigm that can address the multitude problems related to disaster management. In addition, an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)-enabled IoT platform connected via cellular network can further enhance the robustness of the disaster management system. The UAV-enabled IoT platform is based on three main research areas: (i) ground IoT network; (ii) communication technologies for ground and aerial connectivity; and (iii) data analytics. In this paper, we provide a holistic view of a UAVs-enabled IoT platform which can provide ubiquitous connectivity to both aerial and ground users in challenging environments such as wildfire management. We then highlight key challenges for the design of an efficient and reliable IoT platform. We detail a case study targeting the design of an efficient ground IoT network that can detect and monitor fire and send notifications to people using named data networking (NDN) architecture. The use of NDN architecture in a sensor network for IoT integrates pull-based communication to enable reliable and efficient message dissemination in the network and to notify the users as soon as possible in case of disastrous situations. The results of the case study show the enormous impact on the performance of IoT platform for wildfire management. Lastly, we draw the conclusion and outline future research directions in this field.