bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug Delivery Strategies for Enhancing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Toxin-Derived Anti-Diabetic Peptides
Authors: Amatya Reeju , Park Taehoon , Hwang Seungmi , Yang JaeWook , Lee Yoonjin , Cheong Heesun , Moon Cheol , Kwak Hyun Duck , Min Kyoung Ah , Shin Meong Cheol
Published: May 2020

Toxin peptides derived from the skin secretions of amphibians possess unique hypoglycemic activities. Many of these peptides share cationic and amphipathic structural similarities and appear to possess cell-penetrating abilities. The mechanism of their insulinotropic action is yet not elucidated, but they have shown great potential in regulating the blood glucose levels in animal models. Therefore, they have emerged as potential drug candidates as therapeutics for type 2 diabetes. Despite their anti-diabetic activity, there remain pharmaceutical challenges to be addressed for their clinical applications. Here, we present an overview of recent studies related to the toxin-derived anti-diabetic peptides derived from the skin secretions of amphibians. In the latter part, we introduce the bottleneck challenges for their delivery in vivo and general drug delivery strategies that may be applicable to extend their blood circulation time. We focus our research on the strategies that have been successfully applied to improve the plasma half-life of exendin-4, a clinically available toxin-derived anti-diabetic peptide drug.
The Use of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Chronic Joint Pain: Clinical and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Blanshan Nicole , Krug Hollis
Published: May 2020

Chronic osteoarthritis pain is an increasing worldwide problem. Treatment for osteoarthritis pain is generally inadequate or fraught with potential toxicities. Botulinum toxins (BoNTs) are potent inhibitors of neuropeptide release. Paralytic toxicity is due to inhibition at the neuromuscular junction, and this effect has been utilized for treatments of painful dystonias. Pain relief following BoNT muscle injection has been noted to be more significant than muscle weakness and hypothesized to occur because of the inhibition of peripheral neuropeptide release and reduction of peripheral sensitization. Because of this observation, BoNT has been studied as an intra-articular (IA) analgesic for chronic joint pain. In clinical trials, BoNT appears to be effective for nociceptive joint pain. No toxicity has been reported. In preclinical models of joint pain, BoNT is similarly effective. Examination of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the central nervous system has shown that catalytically active BoNT is retrogradely transported by neurons and then transcytosed to afferent synapses in the brain. This suggests that pain relief may also be due to the central effects of the drug. In summary, BoNT appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of chronic joint pain. The long-term effects of IA BoNT are still being determined.
Verotoxin-1-Induced ER Stress Triggers Apoptotic or Survival Pathways in Burkitt Lymphoma Cells
Authors: Debernardi Justine , Pioche-Durieu Catherine , Le Cam Eric , Wiels Joëlle , Robert Aude
Published: May 2020

Shiga toxins (Stxs) expressed by the enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli and enteric Shigella dysenteriae 1 pathogens are protein synthesis inhibitors. Stxs have been shown to induce apoptosis via the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways in many cell types (epithelial, endothelial, and B cells) but the link between the protein synthesis inhibition and caspase activation is still unclear. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by the inhibition of protein synthesis may be this missing link. Here, we show that the treatment of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) cells with verotoxin-1 (VT-1 or Stx1) consistently induced the ER stress response by activation of IRE1 and ATF6—two ER stress sensors—followed by increased expression of the transcription factor C/REB homologous protein (CHOP). However, our data suggest that, although ER stress is systematically induced by VT-1 in BL cells, its role in cell death appears to be cell specific and can be the opposite: ER stress may enhance VT-1-induced apoptosis through CHOP or play a protective role through ER-phagy, depending on the cell line. Several engineered Stxs are currently under investigation as potential anti-cancer agents. Our results suggest that a better understanding of the signaling pathways induced by Stxs is needed before using them in the clinic.
A Pharmacokinetic Study Comparing the Clearance of Vancomycin during Haemodialysis Using Medium Cut-Off Membrane (Theranova) and High-Flux Membranes (Revaclear)
Authors: Allawati Hussain , Dallas Linda , Nair Sreejith , Palmer Janine , Thaikandy Shaiju , Hutchison Colin
Published: May 2020

Medium cut-off membrane (MCO) dialysers have been shown to remove a range of middle molecules, which are associated with adverse outcomes in haemodialysis (HD) patients, more effectively than high-flux HD. Vancomycin is widely used in HD patients for treating a variety of infections. To avoid subtherapeutic trough concentrations, it is important to understand vancomycin clearance in patients undergoing HD with the MCO membrane. This open label single centre, cross-over clinical study compared the vancomycin pharmacokinetics in chronic HD patients using MCO membrane (Theranova) and high-flux membrane (Revaclear). Five patients established on chronic HD who were due to receive vancomycin were enrolled. The study used alternating Theranova and Revaclear dialysis membranes over six consecutive sessions. Vancomycin was administered over the last one to two hours of each HD session. The maintenance dose was adjusted based on pre-HD serum concentrations. Over the 210 study samples, vancomycin clearance was higher with MCO-HD compared to high-flux HD but not statistically significant. Median percentage of vancomycin removal at 120 min by MCO membrane was 39% (20.6–51.5%) compared with 34.1% (21.3–48.4%) with high-flux HD. MCO-HD removes a slightly higher percentage of vancomycin at 120 min into dialysis compared to high-flux membrane dialysis in HD patients with infections. Application of vancomycin during the last one to two hours of each dialysis is required to maintain therapeutic concentrations to minimise loss through the dialyser and maintain therapeutic levels.
Orally Administered Fumonisins Affect Porcine Red Cell Membrane Sodium Pump Activity and Lipid Profile without Apparent Oxidative Damage
Authors: Szabó András , Ali Omeralfaroug , Lóki Katalin , Balogh Krisztián , Mézes Miklós , Bartók Tibor , Horváth Levente , Kovács Melinda
Published: May 2020

Weaned piglets (n = 3 × 6) were fed 0, 15 and 30 mg/kg diet fumonisin (FB1, FB2 and FB3, i.e., FBs, a sphinganine analogue mycotoxin), from the age of 35 days for 21 days, to assess mycotoxin induced, dose-dependent changes in the red cells’ membrane. Ouabain sensitive Na+/K+ ATPase activity was determined from lysed red cell membranes, membrane fatty acid (FA) profile was analysed, as well as antioxidant and lipid peroxidation endpoints. Final body weight was higher in the 30 mg/kg group (vs. control), even besides identical cumulative feed intake. After 3 weeks, there was a difference between control and the 30 mg/kg group in red cell membrane sodium pump activity; this change was dose-dependent (sig.: 0.036; R2 = 0.58). Membrane FA profile was strongly saturated with non-systematic inter-group differences; pooled data provided negative correlation with sodium pump activity (all individual membrane n6 FAs). Intracellular antioxidants (reduced glutathione and glutathione peroxidase) and lipid peroxidation indicators (conj. dienes, trienes and malondialdehyde) were non-responsive. We suppose a ceramide synthesis inhibitor (FB1) effect exerted onto the cell membrane, proven to be toxin dose-dependent and increasing sodium pump activity, with only indirect FA compositional correlations and lack of lipid peroxidation.
Nematicidal Activity of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Assisted by Phytochemical Analysis
Authors: Ntalli Nikoletta , Kasiotis Konstantinos M. , Baira Eirini , Stamatis Christos L. , Machera Kyriaki
Published: May 2020

To date, there has been great demand for ecofriendly nematicides with beneficial properties to the nematode hosting plants. Great efforts are made towards the chemical characterization of botanical extracts exhibiting nematicidal activity against Meloidogyne spp., but only a small percentage of these data are actually used by the chemical industry in order to develop new formulates. On the other hand, the ready to use farmer produced water extracts based on edible plants could be a sustainable and economic solution for low income countries. Herein, we evaluate the nematicidal potential of Stevia rebaudiana grown in Greece against Meloidogyne incognita and Meloidogyne javanica, two most notorious phytoparasitic nematode species causing great losses in tomato cultivation worldwide. In an effort to recycle the plant’s remnants, after leaves selection for commercial use, we use both leaves and wooden stems to test for activity. In vitro tests demonstrate significant paralysis activity of both plant parts’ water extracts against the second-stage juvenile (J2) of the parasites; while, in vivo bioassays demonstrated the substantial efficacy of leaves’ powder (95% at 1 g kg−1) followed by stems. Interestingly, the incorporation of up to 50 g powder/kg of soil is not phytotoxic, which demonstrates the ability to elevate the applied concentration of the nematicidal stevia powder under high inoculum level. Last but not least, the chemical composition analyses using cutting edge analytical methodologies, demonstrated amongst components molecules of already proven nematicidal activity, was exemplified by several flavonoids and essential oil components. Interestingly, and to our knowledge, for the flavonoids, morin and robinin, the anthocyanidin, keracyanin, and a napthalen-2-ol derivative is their first report in Stevia species.
Usutu Virus Infection of Embryonated Chicken Eggs and a Chicken Embryo-Derived Primary Cell Line
Authors: Benzarti Emna , Rivas José , Sarlet Michaël , Franssen Mathieu , Moula Nassim , Savini Giovanni , Lorusso Alessio , Desmecht Daniel , Garigliany Mutien-Marie
Published: May 2020

Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, closely related to the West Nile virus (WNV). Similar to WNV, USUV may cause infections in humans, with occasional, but sometimes severe, neurological complications. Further, USUV can be highly pathogenic in wild and captive birds and its circulation in Europe has given rise to substantial avian death. Adequate study models of this virus are still lacking but are critically needed to understand its pathogenesis and virulence spectrum. The chicken embryo is a low-cost, easy-to-manipulate and ethically acceptable model that closely reflects mammalian fetal development and allows immune response investigations, drug screening, and high-throughput virus production for vaccine development. While former studies suggested that this model was refractory to USUV infection, we unexpectedly found that high doses of four phylogenetically distinct USUV strains caused embryonic lethality. By employing immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, we demonstrated that USUV was widely distributed in embryonic tissues, including the brain, retina, and feather follicles. We then successfully developed a primary cell line from the chorioallantoic membrane that was permissive to the virus without the need for viral adaptation. We believe the future use of these models would foster a significant understanding of USUV-induced neuropathogenesis and immune response and allow the future development of drugs and vaccines against USUV.
Perturbation Solution for Pulsatile Flow of a Non-Newtonian Fluid in a Rock Fracture: A Logarithmic Model
Authors: Daprà Irene , Scarpi Giambattista
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this work is to study the motion of a non-Newtonian fluid in a rock fracture, generated by a constant pressure gradient to which a pulsating component is superposed. The momentum equation is faced analytically by adopting a logarithmic constitutive law; the velocity is expressed as a power series of the amplitude of the pulsating component, up to the second order, easily usable for numerical calculations. The results obtained are compared with those provided in the past by the authors, using a three-parameter Williamson model. The comparison highlights that the value of the mean flow rate in a period differs by less than 10% even if the velocity profiles look quite different.
Machine Learning Methods for Improved Understanding of a Pumping Test in Heterogeneous Aquifers
Authors: Fan Yong , Hu Litang , Wang Hongliang , Liu Xin
Published: May 2020

Pumping tests are very important means for investigating aquifer properties; however, interpreting the data using common analytical solutions become invalid in complex aquifer systems. The paper aims to explore the potential of machine learning methods in retrieving the pumping tests information in a field site in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A newly planned mining site with a pumping test of three pumping wells and 28 observation wells over one month was chosen to analyze the significance of machine learning methods in the pumping test analysis. Widely used machine learning methods, including correlation, cluster, time-series analysis, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVR), random forest (RF) method, and linear regression, are all used in this study. Correlation and cluster analyses among wells provide visual pictures of possible hydraulic connections. The pathway with the best permeability ranges from the depth of 250 m to 350 m. Time-series analysis perfectly captured changes of drawdowns within the three pumping wells. The RF method is found to have the higher accuracy and the lower sensitivity to model parameters than ANN and SVR methods. The coupling of the linear regressive model and analytical solutions is applied to estimate hydraulic conductivities. The results found that ML methods can significantly and effectively improve our understanding of pumping tests by revealing inherent information hidden in those tests.
Adaptive Variations of Sediment Microbial Communities and Indication of Fecal-Associated Bacteria to Nutrients in a Regulated Urban River
Authors: Cao Xiaofeng , Wang Yajun , Xu Yan , Duan Gaoqi , Huang Miansong , Peng Jianfeng
Published: May 2020

Anthropogenic activities strongly influence river habitat conditions and surrounding landscape patterns. A major challenge is to understand how these changes impact microbial community composition and structure. Here, a comprehensive analysis combining physicochemical characteristics in sediment with sequencing targeting the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted to test the hypothesis that diverse habitat conditions induce dissimilarity of microbial community composition and structure in a regulated urban river. The results suggested that observed species richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity had a decreasing variation along the land use intensified gradient, while beta diversity also revealed significant separation of microbial community structure between headwaters and urban reaches. Total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and total organic carbon (TOC) in sediment were the dominant factors in structuring bacterial and archaeal community assemblages. Further analysis in dominant fecal-associated bacteria indicated that elevated nutrient concentrations may significantly (p < 0.05) increase the relative abundance of Clostridium and Acinetobacter in sediment. The findings highlight the pivotal roles of alpha diversity and fecal-associated bacteria in understanding the dynamics of microbial communities in a regulated urban river ecosystem.
Hydrodynamic Controls of Particulate Metals Partitioning Along the Lower Selenga River—Main Tributary of The Lake Baikal
Authors: Chalov Sergey , Moreido Vsevolod , Sharapova Ekaterina , Efimova Lyudmila , Efimov Vasyli , Lychagin Mikhail , Kasimov Nikolay
Published: May 2020

In this study, the downstream effects of pollutants spreading due to hydromorphological gradients and associated changes in sediment transport conditions along the braided-meandering and deltaic distributary reach of a large river downstream section are discussed. We demonstrate the significance of hydrodynamic control for sediment-associated metal partitioning along the river. Typically, the downward decline of the sediment and metals spreading towards Lake Baikal is observed due to buffer effects in the delta. During peak flow, the longitudinal gradients in heavy metal concentration along the distributary delta reach are neglected due to higher concentrations delivered from the upper parts of the river. In particular, significant variations of heavy metal concentrations associated with the river depth are related to sediment concentration and flow velocity profiles. Various particulate metal behavior in silt-sand delta channels and the sand–gravel Selenga main stem emphasize the importance of near-bottom exchange for particles spreading with the river flow. Using empirically derived Rouse numbers, we found quantitative relationships between the ratio of particulate metals sorting throughout depth in a single river channel and the hydrodynamic conditions of sediment transport.
The Impact of Reforestation Induced Land Cover Change (1990–2017) on Flood Peak Discharge Using HEC-HMS Hydrological Model and Satellite Observations: A Study in Two Mountain Basins, China
Authors: Kabeja Crispin , Li Rui , Guo Jianping , Rwatangabo Digne Edmond Rwabuhungu , Manyifika Marc , Gao Zongting , Wang Yipu , Zhang Yuxiang
Published: May 2020

Understanding the effect of land use and land cover (LULC) type change on watershed hydrological response is essential for adopting applicable measures to control floods. In China, the Grain to Green Program (GTGP) and the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) have had a substantial impact on LULC. We investigate the effect of these conservation efforts on flood peak discharge in two mountainous catchments. We used a series of Landsat images ranging from 1990 to 2016/2017 to evaluate the LULC changes. Further to this, the hydrological responses at the basin and sub-basin scale were generated by the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) under four LULC scenarios. Between 1990 and 2016/2017, both catchments experienced an increase in forest and urban land by 18% and 2% in Yanhe and by 16% and 8% in Guangyuan, respectively. In contrast, the agricultural land decreased by approximately 30% in Yanhe and 24% in Guangyuan, respectively. The changes in land cover resulted in decrease in flood peak discharge ranging from 14% in Yanhe to 6% in Guangyuan. These findings provide a better understanding on the impact of reforestation induced LULC change on spatial patterns of typical hydrological responses of mountainous catchment and could help to mitigate flash flood hazards in other mountainous regions.
The Effect of Sedimentin Yellow River on Hydraulic Characteristics of Spray Sprinkler
Authors: Zhang Yisheng , Guo Jinjun , Wang Huiliang
Published: May 2020

The water shortage has become a great challenge for Yellow River irrigation regions; for the high level of suspended sediment in Yellow River, sprinkler irrigation, which has achieved superior anti-clogging performance, can be an effective solution for water conservation in agriculture management. For the direct utilization of the Yellow River water resource in irrigation land as irrigated by movable sprinkler irrigation systems, a series of experiments about the effect of sediment-water on the hydraulic performance of fixed spray plate sprinkler was conducted. The results showed that peak water precipitation rate appeared as both clean and sediment-water jetting from the groove, and the differences were that sediment-water minimized peak value of water application rate and increased wetted radius efficiently. The water distribution of an individual sprinkler resembled lotus shape with different working conditions, and the application rate nearby sprinkler increased with the increase insediment concentration, resulting in higher water distribution uniformity. In addition, sediment-water increased the spray distance remarkably with a maximum increasing ratio of 7.79%; meanwhile, it led to the transfer of peak application region to the edge of the wetted circle and, consequently, the wetted area increased. The calculation result of the water diffusion coefficient indicated that sediment-water contributed to splintering water jet effectively, but the analysis of variance showed that no significant change was obtained with increasing sediment concentration. All these results suggested that the sediment-water in Yellow River could be directly utilized in agriculture irrigation with superior hydraulic performance, and it would be helpful to protect and maximize the utilization of the Yellow River resource.
Geomorphic Effects of a Dammed Pleistocene Lake Formed by Landslides along the Upper Yellow River
Authors: Guo Xiaohua , Wei Jiuchuan , Lu Yudong , Song Zhaojun , Liu Huimin
Published: May 2020

In a previous study two pairs of paleo-landslides within an 8 km reach of the upper Yellow River were studied and dated back to ca. 80 ka, however the relationship between these two pairs of paleo-landslides were not explored. This study inferred that the initial pair of landslides (Dehenglong and Suozi) appearing contiguously and forming an upstream 46 km-long lake along the river may be triggered by earthquake events from nearby capable faults. Subsequently, backwater inundating the valley floor as the dammed lake formed may cause shear stress of sediments lowered on steep slopes adjacent to the River, and eventually induce the other two additional landslides (Xiazangtan and Kangyang) ~8 km upstream. This could be inferred from two optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples yielding ca. 80 ka also, which were collected from asymmetric folds 10 to 30 cm in amplitude within the bedding plane between lake/lakeshore sediment and landslide mass at the front lobes of the two additional landslides. We estimated the maximum volume of this dammed lake was 38 km3 and may generate an outburst flood with an estimated peak discharge of 6.1 × 105 m3/s, which may cause massive geomorphic effects and potential disasters upstream and downstream. It is important to better understand the geomorphic process of this damming event in mountainous area with respect to reflecting tectonic uplift, paleoclimatic change and forecast and mitigate hazards on the northeast Tibetan Plateau.
Historical Changes in the Ecological Connectivity of the Seine River for Fish: A Focus on Physical and Chemical Barriers Since the Mid-19th Century
Authors: Le Pichon Céline , Lestel Laurence , Courson Emeric , Merg Marie-Line , Tales Evelyne , Belliard Jérôme
Published: May 2020

To understand the long-term fate of fish assemblages in the context of global change and to design efficient restoration measures in river management, it is essential to consider the historical component of these ecosystems. The human-impacted Seine River Basin is a relevant case that has experienced the extinction of diadromous fishes over the last two centuries and has recently witnessed the recolonization of some species. One key issue is to understand the historical evolution of habitat accessibility for these migratory species. Thanks to the unique availability of historical, mainly hand-written sources of multiple types (river engineering projects, navigation maps, paper-based databases on oxygen, etc.), we documented and integrated, in a geographic information system-based database, the changes to physical and chemical barriers in the Seine River from the sea to Paris for three time periods (1900s, 1970s, and 2010s). The potential impact of these changes on the runs of three migratory species that have different migratory behaviors—Atlantic salmon, allis shad, and sea lamprey—was evaluated by ecological connectivity modeling, using a least-cost approach that integrates distance, costs, and risks related to barriers. We found that accessibility was contrasted between species, emphasizing the crucial role of the migration type, period, and level of tolerance to low dissolved oxygen values. The highest disruption of ecological connectivity was visible in the 1970s, when the effects of large hypoxic areas were compounded by those of impassable navigation weirs (i.e., without fish passes). As the approach was able to reveal the relative contribution of physical and chemical barriers on overall functional connectivity, it may constitute a model work in assessing the functioning of large river ecosystems.
Reducing of Bend Scour by Setting Spurs in a Curved Channel
Authors: Shih Dong-Sin , Lai Tzu-Yi
Published: May 2020

In Taiwan, the rivers not only are fast-flowing with high discharge, but they badly erode their beds during the typhoon seasons. In addition, erosion on the concave bank in a meandering channel is the primary cause of levee break. Therefore, the study conducted a down-scale experiment on erosion induced by oblique flow in a laboratory. It was similar to number 27–34 cross sections of the Fengshan river of Hsinchu County, Taiwan. The region was chosen because there are some special attacking angles of water flow and historical precedents of levee break. The study adopted the discharges of return periods of 10 and 20 years and measured the flow field by laser doppler velocimetry (LDV). Then the protective effects with different spur types were examined. The results indicate that increasing velocity induces side erosion when the flow impacts with the adjacent angle on the concave bank. However, the decreasing of velocity causes deposition of sediment on the concave bank. Furthermore, based on the vertical velocity profile of water flow, a higher flow rate is measured in the downstream on the concave bank. After the spurs are installed, the velocity at the spurs in the downstream is reduced, and the cross section with the larger velocity is moved to upstream. In addition, after setting the spurs, the reduction rates in volume of scour are 7.97% of a 10 year return period and 4.65% of a 20 year return period, respectively. That demonstrates the scour is effectively reduced as long as the spurs are set. Although the erosion mitigation rate and protection effect are decreased when the velocity is high, there is still a good protection effect at the bank. The setting of spurs has the following effects: First, the maximum scour depth generates in the front spur, while the maximum scour position keeps away from the bank. Then, the overall flow rate can be reduced to approximately 35%–40% comparing with the original flow field. Lastly, the spur on the slope of 1/30 degrees demonstrated the best function of stretching the distance from the embankment.
Sand Content Prediction in Urban WWTPs Using MARS
Authors: Mateo Pérez Vanesa , Mesa Fernández José Manuel , Ortega Fernández Francisco , Morán Palacios Henar
Published: May 2020

The pre-treatment stage of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), where most of the larger waste, including sand and fat, is removed, is of great importance for the performance and durability of these plants. This work develops a model that predicts the sand content that reaches the plant. For this purpose, data were collected from one operation year of the Villapérez Wastewater Treatment Plant located in the northeast of the city of Oviedo (Asturias, Spain) and the MARS (Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines) method was used for modelling. The accuracy of the MARS model developed using the determination coefficient is R2 = 0.74 for training data and R2 = 0.70 in validation data. These results indicate that it is possible to predict trend changes in sand production as a function of input variables changes such as flow rate, pH, ammonia, etc. This will prevent the plant from possible operational problems, as actions could be taken, such as starting up more pre-treatment lines or emptying the containers, so that the arrival of the sand can be assumed without any problem. In this way, the possibility of letting sand contents over the established limits pass that could affect the following processes of the treatment plant is avoided.
Evaluating Maize Drought and Wet Stress in a Converted Japanese Paddy Field Using a SWAP Model
Authors: Hamada Kosuke , Inoue Hisayoshi , Mochizuki Hidetoshi , Asakura Mayuko , Shimizu Yuta , Takemura Takeshi
Published: May 2020

Japanese government recommend farmers to cultivate upland crops in paddy fields (“converted fields”) to suppress the overproduction of rice. Converted fields are subject to excessively wet and dry conditions that reduce the yield of non-rice crops. Drought and wet stresses are critical to crop growth within specific growth periods. To provide data for use in mitigating crop yield reduction, we evaluated drought and wet stresses in maize (Zea mays L.). A SWAP (soil–water–atmosphere–plant) model was applied to a converted maize field. Observations were carried out in 2019 and 2018 for model calibration and validation. Thereafter, we evaluated the water stress of maize in 2019 (actual conditions) and at a tillage depth 11 cm deeper (scenario conditions). We found that (1) drought and wet stresses occurred within the relevant critical growth periods under actual conditions; (2) in the critical periods, the drought and wet stresses under scenario conditions were 33%–75% and 10%–82%, respectively, of those under actual conditions; (3) water stress at depths of 10 and 20 cm was lower under the scenario conditions than under the actual conditions. These results indicate that deeper tillage may mitigate both drought and wet stresses and can be used to reduce water stress damage in converted fields.
A Two-Stage LP-NLP Methodology for the Least-Cost Design and Operation of Water Distribution Systems
Authors: Qiu Mengning , Housh Mashor , Ostfeld Avi
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a two-stage method for simultaneous least-cost design and operation of looped water distribution systems (WDSs). After partitioning the network into a chord and spanning trees, in the first stage, a reformulated linear programming (LP) method is used to find the least cost design of a WDS for a given set of flow distribution. In the second stage, a non-linear programming (NLP) method is used to find a new flow distribution that reduces the cost of the WDS operation given the WDS design obtained in stage one. The following features of the proposed two-stage method make it more appealing compared to other methods: (1) the reformulated LP stage can consistently reduce the penalty cost when designing a WDS under multiple loading conditions; (2) robustness as the number of loading conditions increases; (3) parameter tuning is not required; (4) the method reduces the computational burden significantly when compared to meta-heuristic methods; and (5) in oppose to an evolutionary “black box” based methodology such as a genetic algorithm, insights through analytical sensitivity analysis, while the algorithm progresses, are handy. The efficacy of the proposed methodology is demonstrated using two WDSs case studies.
Implementing a Statewide Deficit Analysis for Inland Surface Waters According to the Water Framework Directive—An Exemplary Application on Phosphorus Pollution in Schleswig-Holstein (Northern Germany)
Authors: Ta Phuong , Tetzlaff Björn , Trepel Michael , Wendland Frank
Published: May 2020

Deficit analysis—which principally deals with the question “how big are the gaps between current water status and good ecological status?”—has become an essential element of the river basin management plans prescribed by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). In a research project on behalf of the Ministry of Energy, Agriculture, the Environment, Nature and Digitalization Schleswig-Holstein (MELUND), a deficit analysis based on distributed results from the water balance and phosphorus emission model system GROWA-MEPhos at high spatial resolution was performed. The aim was, inter alia, to identify absolute and relative required reduction in total phosphorus at any river segment or lake within the state territory as well as to highlight significant emission sources. The results of the deficit analysis were successfully validated and show an exceedance of the phosphorus target concentrations in 60% of the analyzed subcatchments. Statewide, 269 tons of phosphorus needs to be reduced yearly, which corresponds to approximately 31% of the total emission. Detailed data as well as maps generated by the deficit analysis benefit the planning and implementation of regionally efficient measures, which are indispensable with regard to meeting the environmental quality objectives set by the WFD.
The Influence of Design and Operational Factors on the Removal of Personal Care Products by Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Ilyas Huma , Hullebusch Eric D. van
Published: May 2020

This research presents the correlation analysis of selected design and operational factors (depth, area, hydraulic and organic loading rate, and hydraulic retention time), and physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen) of constructed wetlands (CWs) with the removal efficiency of personal care products (PCPs). The results demonstrated that the removal efficiencies of the studied PCPs exhibit a significant correlation with two or more of these factors. The role of plants in the removal of PCPs is demonstrated by the higher performance of planted compared with unplanted CWs due to direct uptake of PCPs and their aerobic biodegradation. The enhanced removal of PCPs was achieved with the use of substrate material of high adsorption capacity and with high surface area in CWs. The removal efficiency of almost all of the studied PCPs revealed seasonal differences, but significant difference was established in the case of galaxolide and methyl dihydrojasmonate. Most of the examined PCPs demonstrated adsorption and/or sorption as their most dominant removal mechanism followed by biodegradation and plant uptake. Therefore, the efficient removal of PCPs demands the integrated design ensuring suitable environment for the occurrence of these processes along with the optimal values of design and operational factors, and physicochemical parameters.
To the Issue of the Methodology of Formation of Shipbuilding Programs in Russia
Authors: Alekhin M. Yu. , Titov A. V.
Published: May 2020

The presented study addresses the need to change approaches to the formation of long-term shipbuilding programs in the Russian Federation and determines the place of such programs in the system of strategic management of the national economy.

Aim. The study identifies efficient approaches to the formation of long-term shipbuilding programs in Russia with allowance for international experience and current political and economic conditions.

Tasks. The authors analyze the existing methodological framework for the formation of shipbuilding programs in the Russian Federation; examine the shipbuilding development experience of South Korea, China, the US, and Ukraine; address the issue of improving the investment climate in the shipbuilding industry by changing the institutional conditions in closely related industries.

Methods. This study’s scientific methodology is based on using general scientific methods of cognition, a systems approach to the problem, and comprehensive consideration of the issues of formation of industry programs with allowance for the specific features of shipbuilding.

Results. Over the past decades, shipbuilding programs in the Russian Federation have been formed according to a methodological framework of questionable depth and insufficient sophistication. Successful development of shipbuilding in the world’s leading countries is largely due to the achievement of the required level of competence and technological advancement accumulated through the development of the domestic market, which is impossible without active state participation. Based on the analysis of positive and negative shipbuilding development experience of different countries and current trends in the Russian shipbuilding industry, it is possible to conclude that the success of shipbuilding development largely depends on the rules (institutional conditions) established by the state.

Conclusions. The efficiency of investment processes in the industry can be improved by integrating the shipbuilding development program into a global program for the development of the marine economic complexes of the Russian Federation.
Pengaruh Return On Asset (Roa), Current Ratio (Cr) Dan Debt Equity Ratio (Der) terhadap Firm Value pada Perusahaan Manufaktur Otomotif di Bursa Efek Indonesia
Authors: Fitri Yuliya , Romli Harsi
Published: May 2020

The company's policy on financial decisions taken by the company will determine the company's performance reflecting in the results of performance ratios will ultimately increase or decrease the firm value. The manufacturing sector in financial decisions is taken by manager focused on improving the company's internal performance and measured through profitability risk ratios through the Return on Assets (ROA) ratio, liquidity risk ratio through Current Ratio (CR), and leverage ratios through the Debt Equity Ratio (DER) so that achievement of the three ratios is expected to increase investor trust to increase the company value. This research was aimed to determine the ROA, CR and DER of Firm Value (FV). The population of this research was the automotive manufacturing company listed on the IDX. The method of determining the sample used purposive sampling based on the criteria determined with 12 automotive manufacturing companies as the sample. The secondary data research data was obtained from IDX (www. Idx.co.id). The hypothesis testing used was multiple analysis techniques with the SPSS version 23 application. The data testing used was t test, that ROA had a negative effect on FV with t count -4.333 <t table 2.0141, CR had a negative effect on FV with -5.632 <2.0141 and DER had an effect on FV with 9,289> 2.0141 and ROA, CR, and DER had an effect on FV with F count 51,872> F table 4.0670. The results proved that partially ROA had a negative effect on FV, CR hada negative effect on FV, DER had a positive effect on FV. While simultaneously ROA, CR and DER had an effect on FV.
Efficientamento ed efficientare sono efficienti!
Authors: Coletti Vittorio
Published: May 2020

Sono giunte molte domande sulla correttezza e ammissibilità di efficientamento (‘miglioramento, potenziamento di una funzione, di un servizio, di un congegno, di un’azienda ecc.’) e della sua ipotetica base efficientare (‘rendere più efficiente’), di non piccola fortuna da qualche anno a questa parte.
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Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, . .
Published: May 2020

There are 391 natrural medicines in “Four Hundred Song Fu for Natural Medicines ≪藥性歌括四百味≫” that was written for readers to memorize easily. Each medicine consists of four tables, and one table involves four letters. First table explains the character(氣) and flavor (味) of medicine. There are four types of explanation in first table; character(205), flavor(90), character and flavor(80), non-character or flavor(18). Following three tables are divided into two types; with predicate, without predicate. With predecates are 305, 212, and 357 respectively. The reason why the number of fourth table with predicate is larger than that of second, third tables is that the fourth is the last one, and author wants to finish each sonnet with explicit descriptions. The grammar constructions of three tables are diverse, among them predicate+object+predicate+object is the largest type, 344 out of 1173 altogether (approximately 29%). The grammatical analysis of Sonf Fu can help readers to learn traditional medicine with effect.
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Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, . .
Published: May 2020

Up to the present time, research of travel notes of China has been mainly focused on analyzing the contents of the work and studying geography or customs about the travel destinations in the work. In addition, in this research trend, the author of travel notes has been mainly focused on personal life and literary style separated from his work. This study attempts to access travel notes with a critical mind as to how actively the author reveals his personal point of view as he transits his experience of travel into the record, and in what ways the author becomes a subject who leads the narrative. To prove this, this study first explored why the authors in the Song dynasty chose the genre of travel notes as a style best fit for their writings modeled after their own face, and examined in what form their self‐perception was revealed in the real works through representative travel notes at the time of Song dynasty, such as Lu You’s ≪Rushuji≫ and Fan Chengda’s ≪Wuchuanlu≫. In the middle of the course of a dynamic journey, Lu You and Fan Chengda ceaselessly observed, felt, and recorded their small daily lives, their honest feelings, and their interests in the works. Although the way of description did not yet escape from coarseness and monotony, this extraordinary and peculiar experience could have led them to the ‘completion of the journey’ of regaining themselves.
Research on the Construction of Modern Male Psychology in Shi Zhecun's Novel
Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, Wang Mingzhen
Published: May 2020

Shi Zhecun sharply analyzed the theory of modernism in the West and put the reality and emotions of contemporary era into the novel with his own original spirits. All of his pioneering novels are infused with his modern ideas. In this sense, Shi Zhecun is a pioneer in Chinese modernist literary thought. Shi Zhecun is also characterized by a keen sense of any object, and, especially, frankly describing a set of factual essences that arise in the process of psychological change in modern men. In his short stories there are a wide range of male modern psychology, such as unrestrained anxiety, the entzauberung from the feudal altar, and the broad minds which admire the beautiful city landscape and embrace both East and West cultures. Therefore, this paper examines the modern psychological aspects of the male characters in Shi Zhecun`s articles and attempts to analyze the essential causes of these modern psychological characteristics.
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Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, . .
Published: May 2020

In this paper, I investigated the cultural phenomena formed in China's modern society, in which the tradition of Chinese culture was clearly displayed. I studied the two most striking aspects of modern Chinese society, namely the ideological and cultural and artistic aspects, which are believed to be maintaining and expanding traditionalism. First, I reviewed the consistent aspects of the political guiding ideology of modern Chinese society, especially under the influence of Confucian ideology, and then, from the cultural and artistic sides, I noted the Shaoxing opera that brought the young audience to the modern and novel stage, and the colorful presentness of traditional plays that combine with the new generation game characters in line with the digital age. Aside from the question of the dynamics of the national power and cultural market, I tried to objectively look at the phenomenon of the recovery of traditional culture and the actual relationship of the 'the government' and 'the people'. Regardless of the intention and purpose, the restoration of Confucian ideology or the revival of traditional performances confirmed that traditional culture was carried forward into modern culture with distinct period. In addition, I could identify that some kind of political power and cultural market exist in the existence of traditional culture in support of 'the government' and 'the people' drive. In retrospect, tradition in China is always a value that guarantees one's power, given that China's view of history or literature has been the process of repeating its return to retro. Perhaps that is why the restoration of traditional culture seems to be the best remedy for promoting confidence as a Chinese nation. In addition, the present nature of traditional culture is not just a matter of succession, but it is related to the establishment of national and national identity. Therefore, the succession of traditional culture should always be the present progressive form. In this regard, at least China may not have to bow before history.
Comparative Study of Korean-China Female moral books Focusing on 《Yeopbeom(女範)》and 《Yeopbeomchubrok(女範捷錄)》
Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, Lee Youngran
Published: May 2020

The study refines the expressions of women's feelings through the traditional female education moral books “Yeopbeom” and “Yeopbeomchubrok” of Chosun and China Among the women’s edicts are “Yeopbeom,” written by Yeongbin of Joseon, and “Yeopbeomchubrok” written by Yu, a royal priest of the Qing dynasty. If the “Yeopbeomchubrok” classified the total number of subjects a woman should have into a broad system, “Yeopbeom” was a person-centered classification that highlighted the practical lesson. “Yeopbeom” is the story of more than half of Chinese virgin and virtuous woman compared to “Yeopbeomchubrok” in the Chinese Qing dynasty. Youngbin Lee could not have completely abandoned her maternal side, so she would have published a number of stories in her book in order to justify her actions, not her will. However, Mrs. Youngbin did not forget his role as king's wife. Mrs. Yu, the Incision woman of the Qing dynasty, also makes up the story of maternal instincts in the “Yeopbeomchubrok” with stories of the Queen’s internal dentistry, filial piety at the expense of oneself, which he hopes to keep in a painful and intense manner. However, Yoo also tried to bring women out of the world by forming a story about the country-conscious Chung. Both female moral books consisted of the story of life that conforms to the feminine image, or in the life of the times, that man wants in a patriarchal society, but it also shows the story as a woman in it.
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Authors:   The Society For Chinese Humanities In Korea, . . , . . , . . , . .
Published: May 2020

The purpose of this study is to compare the image and meaning of “train” in three different countries of East Asia such as China, Japan, and Korea. We choose three films of each country, 『Oh, Xiangxue(哦，香雪)』, 『Tokyo Story(東京物語)』, and 『Train to Busan(釜山行)』, each of which shows the characteristics of the modernity through the train. The thing which the study focuses on is that train is a representative symbol of the modernity and that especially these three movies well demonstrate the “violence” of the modern through the attitude towards train and the modes of life related with it. Each film has about a decade time gaps, but has also common ground in that it reveals the isolation and desolation of the soul emanated from the modernity and the industrialization. Concretely, the train of 『Oh, Xiangxue』 symbolizes the coexistence of primitive nature and modern civilization, because it was based on the collapse of traditional society and community values from the emergence of the train. On the other hand, the trains in the 『Tokyo Story』 were related to the image of conflict of values and reconciliation between traditional perspective and modern mode of life. In addition, 『Train to Busan』 transfigured the external social network as showing the disconnection, distrust and selfishness of modern people in the era of highly industrial capitalism. In spite that these three movies have different backgrounds, we can find common perspective which is the violence caused by changes by the modern mobility. As a result, this study is meaningful in that it analyzes how the trains were described in the movies as a means of violence.