bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Undergroundista kohti valtavirtaa
Authors: Ilonen Sanna
Published: June 2019

Teos kuvaa suomalaisen start-up-yrittäjyysbuumin syntyä punoen kuvaukseen Aaltoes-opiskelijayrittäjyysyhteisön ja sen keskeisten toimijoiden tarinat. Lisäksi teoksessa ovat kansainvälisesti tunnettujen peliyritysten Supercellin ja Rovion ja vuosittaisen teknologia- ja kasvuyritystapahtuma Slushin synty- ja kasvutarinat.
Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran vuosikertomus ja tilinpäätös vuodelta 2018
Authors: Virtanen Susanna S
Published: June 2019

Seuran 135. toimivuosi
UNDERSTANDING CLASSIC, STRAUSSIAN, AND CONSTRUCTIVIST GROUNDED THEORY APPROACHES
Authors: Rakhmawati Windy
Published: June 2019

Grounded theory has been utilized in nursing research in order to develop theory from data. Since there are three approaches in the grounded theory methodology that consist of Classic grounded theory, Straussian grounded theory, and Constructivist grounded theory, thus understanding about perspective of each approach is needed. Those approaches have different points of views regarding the philosophical position, role of literature review, and coding process in data analysis. This review provides an understanding about the grounded theory approaches for researchers particularly the novice researchers, and selects an appropriate approach in their study.
“THIS IS 2019! BUT I STILL NEED TO WORK DOUBLE SHIFTS AND HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS TO KEEP ME ALIVE”: A PHENOMENON AMONG NURSES IN INDONESIA
Authors: Gunawan Joko
Published: June 2019

N/A
HUBUNGAN PENGETAHUAN DAN SIKAP DENGAN PERAN PERAWAT DALAM PENATALAKSANAAN LANJUTAN PASIEN STROKE ISKEMIK AKUT PASCA PEMBERIAN TERAPI rTPA DI RUANGAN ICU DAN HCU RSSN BUKITTINGGI TAHUN 2018
Authors: Yuliano Aldo , Argaen Okta , Suryati Ida
Published: June 2019

Acute ischemic stroke assosiated with disability has an event incidence 10 times higher than hemoragic. rTPA trombolysis therapy is the special management of acute ischemic stroke that intends to reperfusing the brain blood vessels to prevent the serious neurological damage if it do on the window time. The nurses leave mayor role in the stroke team, so the nurses that have duty in the stroke unit specially in IGD, ICU, and HCU should have knowledge and skills to care for stroke patients, especially for acute ischemic stroke patients after rTPA therapy.  This study aims to determine the relation between nurse knowledge and attitude with nurse role in advanced management of acute ischemic stroke patients after rTPA therapy in ICU and HCU room RSSN Bukittinggi in 2018. This research used cross sectional descriptive correlation design. The sample of this research were 42 nurses in ICU and HCU RSSN Bukittinggi. This research used non probality sampling method of sampling. nurse knowledge obtained p value = 0,040, nurse attitude obtained p value = 0,002 with OR = 12,600. It was concluded that nurse knowledge and nurse attitudes were statistically related to the role of nurses in the continued management of acute ischemic stroke patients post-rTPA therapy. It is recommended to RSSN Bukittinggi to provide training on the management of rTPA therapy.
Quenched: Five Fires for Thinking Extinction
Authors: Deer Jemma
Published: June 2019

By the light or remains of five fires, this paper considers how the current extinction crisis might be thought in relation to the future and the past, to speed and acceleration, to ir/reversibility, and to the evolution of human language and consciousness. The thought of extinction as the extinction of thought is elaborated through engagement with J.G. Ballard's The Drowned World, Jacques Derrida's ‘No Apocalypse, Not Now’ and ‘White Mythology’, and the October 2018 IPCC report. The paper concludes by speculating upon an answer to the following questions: if we know that there will be an end to thought, what will have been the end of thought? To what end do we think at all?
& co-graphy
Authors: Dutoit Thomas
Published: June 2019

& co-graphy names here writing experienced as differance of ‘now’ (‘the present’) and ‘then’ (‘the past’, ‘the future’), of memory and erasure called here ‘saw’ and ‘was’ and the rupture that constitutes them. & co-graphy also brings into dialogue Elizabeth Bowen's novel The Little Girls, explicitly writing the theme of extinction through reflection upon global-scaled destructions (World War 1, nuclear holocaust and winter, climate change), with poet W. S. Merwin's longstanding engagement with the ‘environment’ and disappearing forms of life and culture.
Experiences of Living with Dyspnea Among Taiwanese People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Lin Wei-Chun , Huang Tsuey-Yuan , Hwang Shiow-Li
Published: June 2019

Purpose: Dyspnea is the primary complaint among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is a subjective physical experience responsible for considerable distress in patients. However, to date, research has tended to focus on measuring the severity of dyspnea, with few studies considering the subjective experiences among people living with COPD. The current study explored the experiences of living with dyspnea among patients with COPD.

Methods: In this qualitative descriptive study, we examined 12 purposively sampled outpatients with COPD from the Pulmonary Medicine Department. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted to collect information. Data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing that three-step method was adopted to analyze the data.

Results: Based on interview data analysis, 6 themes were devised regarding the dyspnea experiences of participants: (a) internal urgent situation signal resulting from a life-threatening incapability to respire; (b) triggering and straining; (c) constraints in life caused by insufficient inhalation; (d) immediate self-rescue strategies; (e) awareness of maintain health in daily life; and (f) coexistence with the disease and redefine self-concept.

Conclusions: As COPD progresses, people living with COPD experienced discomfort and developed self-rescue strategies by identifying the risk factors for dyspnea as well as measures for symptom deterioration. Most participants experienced loss of activity or physical functions in their daily lives, prompting them to begin reposition themselves. To maintain the existing functions of the patients is the main goal for both medical staffs and patients. The findings of this study can serve as a reference for medical teams to devise self-management plans for patients with COPD.
The effect of organizational and economic mechanism regulation in the conditions of the competitive environment and innovative development of aquaculture and modernization of the data collection system
Authors: Mykhalchyshyna Larysa , Vdovenko Nataliia , Sharilo Yriy
Published: June 2019

Subject of research – a set of relations that are formed in the process of improving the organizational and economic mechanism for regulating the innovative development of aquaculture in Ukraine. The proposals to ensure a competitive environment in the field and modernization of the data collection system are practical used. The purpose of the article. Development of scientific and methodological and practical proposals to ensure organizational and economic regulation of the aquaculture sector in a competitive environment and innovative aquaculture development and modernization of the data collection system. The methodology of the work. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the system of both general scientific and special methods of scientific knowledge, the fundamental positions of modern economic theory and practice. The scientific work uses such methods as monographic – in the formulation of approaches that establishes a coherent set of rules for regulating the collection of information on the state of the environment, technical and socio-economic parameters of the sectors of aquaculture and fish processing, economic and statistical – in determining and calculating the main indicators of production aquaculture. The results of the work – proposed to use in practice the results of the developed system of information gathering, which establishes an agreed set of rules for regulating the collection of information on the state of the environment, technical and socio-economic parameters of the aquaculture and fish processing sectors. Conclusions. The modern measures and tools of the organizational and economic regulation mechanism are proposed for solving problematic aspects of the development of the fish industry in order to provide a competitive environment and modernize the data collection system. The competitive advantages of linen, pike perch and mines are substantiated. It is proposed to adapt the measures to create an effective system for monitoring the quality and safety of products of aquaculture and its origin, as well as to modernize the existing data collection system based on the provisions of the Data Collection Regulation (DCR) No. 1543/2000 dated June 29, 2000 and the Data Acquisition System (DCF), support of fisheries science and education to ensure the competitive development of Ukraine’s fisheries. The instruments of aquaculture regulation are proposed to create a competitive environment. It is proved that it is necessary to introduce such rules that would meet the interests of the authorities, aquaculture business and society.
Complement Evasion in Borrelia spirochetes: Mechanisms and Opportunities for Intervention
Authors: Locke Jonathan W.
Published: June 2019

Lyme disease (LD) is an increasingly prevalent, climate change-accelerated, vector-borne infectious disease with significant morbidity and cost in a proportion of patients who experience ongoing symptoms after antibiotic treatment, a condition known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Spirochetal bacteria of Borrelia species are the causative agents of LD. These obligate parasites have evolved sophisticated immune evasion mechanisms, including the ability to defeat the innate immune system’s complement cascade. Research on complement function and Borrelia evasion mechanisms, focusing on human disease, is reviewed, highlighting opportunities to build on existing knowledge. Implications for the development of new antibiotic therapies having the potential to prevent or cure PTLDS are discussed. It is noted that a therapy enabling the complement system to effectively counter Borrelia might have lower cost and fewer side-effects and risks than broad-spectrum antibiotic use and could avert the need to develop and administer a vaccine.
Blockchain-Based Applications in Education: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alammary Ali , Alhazmi Samah , Almasri Marwah , Gillani Saira
Published: June 2019

Recently, blockchain technology has gained considerable attention from researchers and practitioners. This is mainly due to its unique features including decentralization, security, reliability, and data integrity. Despite this growing interest, little is known about the current state of knowledge and practice regarding the use of blockchain technology in education. This article is a systematic review of research investigating blockchain-based educational applications. It focuses on three main themes: (1) educational applications that have been developed with blockchain technology, (2) benefits that blockchain technology could bring to education, and (3) challenges of adopting blockchain technology in education. A detailed results analysis of each theme was conducted as well as an intensive discussion based on the findings. This review also offers insight into other educational areas that could benefit from blockchain technology.
Electrowetting on Dielectric (EWOD) Device with Dimple Structures for Highly Accurate Droplet Manipulation
Authors: Mogi Katsuo , Adachi Shungo , Takada Naoki , Inoue Tomoya , Natsume Tohru
Published: June 2019

Digital microfluidics based on electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) devices has potential as a fundamental technology for the accurate preparation of dangerous reagents, the high-speed dispensing of rapidly deteriorating reagents, and the fine adjustment of expensive reagents, such as the preparation of for positron emission tomography (PET). To allow single substrate type EWODs to be practically used in an automatic operation system, we developed a dimple structure as a key technique for a highly accurate droplet manipulation method. The three-dimensional shape of the dimple structure is embossed onto a disposable thin sheet. In this study, we confirmed that the dimple structure can suppress unintended droplet motion caused by unidentified factors. In addition, the stability of the droplets on the dimple structures was evaluated using a sliding experiment. On a flat substrate, the success rate of a droplet motion was lower than 70.8%, but on the dimple structure, the droplets were able to be moved along the dimple structures correctly without unintended motion caused by several environmental conditions. These results indicated that the dimple structure increased the controllability of the droplets. Hence, the dimple structure will contribute to the practical application of digital microfluidics based on single substrate type EWODs.
A Review of Tunable Orbital Angular Momentum Modes in Fiber: Principle and Generation
Authors: Feng Lipeng , Li Yan , Wu Sihan , Li Wei , Qiu Jifang , Guo Hongxiang , Hong Xiaobin , Zuo Yong , Wu Jian
Published: June 2019

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) beams, a new fundamental degree of freedom, have excited a great diversity of interest due to a variety of emerging applications. The scalability of OAM has always been a topic of discussion because it plays an important role in many applications, such as expanding to large capacity and adjusting the trapped particle rotation speed. Thus, the generation of arbitrary tunable OAM mode has been paid increasing attention. In this paper, the basic concepts of classical OAM modes are introduced firstly. Then, the tunable OAM modes are categorized into three types according to the orbital angular momentums and polarization states of mode carrying. In order to understand the OAM evolution of a mode intuitively, three kinds of Poincaré spheres (PSs) are introduced to represent the three kinds of tunable OAM modes. Numerous methods generating tunable OAM modes can be roughly divided into two types: spatial and fiber-based generation methods. The principles of fiber-based generation methods are interpreted by introducing two mode bases (linearly-polarized modes and vector modes) of the fiber. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of each generation method are pointed out and the key challenges for tunable OAM modes are discussed.
Chitosan Nanocomposite Coatings for Food, Paints, and Water Treatment Applications
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Ye Fei , Dobretsov Sergey , Dutta Joydeep
Published: June 2019

Worldwide, millions of tons of crustaceans are produced every year and consumed as protein-rich seafood. However, the shells of the crustaceans and other non-edible parts constituting about half of the body mass are usually discarded as waste. These discarded crustacean shells are a prominent source of polysaccharide (chitin) and protein. Chitosan is a de-acetylated form of chitin obtained from the crustacean waste that has attracted attention for applications in food, biomedical, and paint industries due to its characteristic properties, like solubility in weak acids, film-forming ability, pH-sensitivity, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. We present an overview of the application of chitosan in composite coatings for applications in food, paint, and water treatment. In the context of food industries, the main focus is on fabrication and application of chitosan-based composite films and coatings for prolonging the post-harvest life of fruits and vegetables, whereas anti-corrosion and self-healing properties are the main properties considered for antifouling applications in paints in this review.
Autonomous Robotics for Identification and Management of Invasive Aquatic Plant Species
Authors: Patel Maharshi , Jernigan Shaphan , Richardson Rob , Ferguson Scott , Buckner Gregory
Published: June 2019

Invasive aquatic plant species can expand rapidly throughout water bodies and cause severely adverse economic and ecological impacts. While mechanical, chemical, and biological methods exist for the identification and treatment of these invasive species, they are manually intensive, inefficient, costly, and can cause collateral ecological damage. To address current deficiencies in aquatic weed management, this paper details the development of a small fleet of fully autonomous boats capable of subsurface hydroacoustic imaging (to scan aquatic vegetation), machine learning (for automated weed identification), and herbicide deployment (for vegetation control). These capabilities aim to minimize manual labor and provide more efficient, safe (reduced chemical exposure to personnel), and timely weed management. Geotagged hydroacoustic imagery of three aquatic plant varieties (Hydrilla, Cabomba, and Coontail) was collected and used to create a software pipeline for subsurface aquatic weed classification and distribution mapping. Employing deep learning, the novel software achieved a classification accuracy of 99.06% after training.
Faster-than-Nyquist Signal Processing Based on Unequal Error Probability for High-Throughput Wireless Communications
Authors: Baek Chang-Uk , Jung Ji-Won
Published: June 2019

Faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) signal processing, which transmits signals faster than the Nyquist rate, is a representative method for improving throughput efficiency sacrificed performance degradation due to inter-symbol interference. To overcome this problem, this paper proposed FTN signal processing based on the unequal error probability to improve performance. The unequal error probability method divides encoded bits into groups according to priority, and FTN interference rates are differently applied to each group. A lower FTN interference ratio is allocated to the group to which high-priority encoded bits belong and a higher FTN interference ratio is allocated to the group to which low-priority encoded bits belong, thus performance improvement can be obtained compared to the conventional FTN method, with the same interference ratio. In addition, we applied the proposed FTN signal processing, based on the unequal error probability method, to the OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) system in multipath channel environments. In the simulations, the performance of the proposed method was better than that of the conventional FTN method by about 0.2 dB to 0.3 dB, with an interference ratio of 20%, 30%, and 40%. In addition, in multipath channels, we confirmed that by applying the proposed unequal error probability, the OFDM-FTN method improves performance to a larger extent than the conventional OFDM-FTN method.
Sorption of Pb(II) from Aqueous Solutions by Acid-Modified Clinoptilolite-Rich Tuffs with Different Si/Al Ratios
Authors: Abatal Mohamed , Córdova Quiroz Atl V. , Olguín María T. , Vázquez-Olmos América R. , Vargas Joel , Anguebes-Franseschi Francisco , Giácoman-Vallejos German
Published: June 2019

The removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by acid-modified clinoptilolite-rich tuff was investigated in this work. Clinoptilolite-rich tuff samples were treated using H2SO4 at different concentrations. Prior to and following acid treatment, the samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The pH of the point of zero charge (pHPZC) was also determined as part of this characterization. Batch studies were studied to investigate Pb(II) removal as a function of contact time, initial Pb(II) concentration, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH. The results of the XRD and SEM techniques showed that clinoptilolite is the main mineral of the non- and acid-treated natural zeolite samples. However, EDS analysis indicated that the Si/Al ratio increases as the exchangeable ions decrease with increasing acid concentrations. The optimum conditions for Pb(II) removal for samples with 4.37 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 7.9 were found to be as follows: Contact time of 60–360 min, pH: 6–8, and adsorbent dose of 6 mg g−1; whereas for acid-modified clinoptilolite-rich tuffs with 9.01 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 9.52, these conditions were as follows: Contact time of 1440 min, pH: 8–10, and adsorbent dose of 10 mg g−1. The experimental data were analyzed by kinetic and isotherms models. The results showed that the sorption of Pb(II) on samples with Si/Al ratios of 4.37, 5.31, and 7.91 were in agreement with the pseudo-second order and Langmuir isotherm with qm = 48.54, 37.04, and 14.99 mg g−1, respectively, while the kinetic data and isotherm for samples with 9.01 ≤ Si/Al ≤ 9.52 were found to fit the pseudo-first order and Freundlich model.
Sound Source Localization Fusion Algorithm and Performance Analysis of a Three-Plane Five-Element Microphone Array
Authors: Xing Hongyan , Yang Xu
Published: June 2019

To reduce the negative effect on sound source localization when the source is at an extreme angle and improve localization precision and stability, a theoretical model of a three-plane five-element microphone array is established, using time-delay values to judge the sound source’s quadrant position. Corresponding judgment criteria were proposed, solving the problem in which a single-plane array easily blurs the measured position. Based on sound source geometric localization, a formula for the sound source azimuth calculation of a single-plane five-element microphone array was derived. The sinusoids and cosines of two elevation angles based on two single-plane arrays were introduced into the sound source spherical coordinates as composite weighted coefficients, and a sound source localization fusion algorithm based on a three-plane five-element microphone array was proposed. The relationship between the time-delay estimation error, elevation angle, horizontal angle, and microphone array localization performance was discussed, and the precision and stability of ranging and direction finding were analyzed. The results show that the measurement precision of the distance from the sound source to the array center and the horizontal angle are improved one to threefold, and the measurement precision of the elevation angle is improved one to twofold. Although there is a small error, the overall performance of the sound source localization is stable, reflecting the advantages of the fusion algorithm.
Black Carbon and Particulate Matter Concentrations in Eastern Mediterranean Urban Conditions: An Assessment Based on Integrated Stationary and Mobile Observations
Authors: Hussein Tareq , Saleh Shatha , dos Santos Vanessa , Abdullah Huthaifah , Boor Brandon
Published: June 2019

There is a paucity of comprehensive air quality data from urban areas in the Middle East. In this study, portable instrumentation was used to measure size-fractioned aerosol number, mass, and black carbon concentrations in Amman and Zarqa, Jordan. Submicron particle number concentrations at stationary urban background sites in Amman and Zarqa exhibited a characteristic diurnal pattern, with the highest concentrations during traffic rush hours (2–5 × 104 cm−3 in Amman and 2–7 × 104 cm−3 in Zarqa). Super-micron particle number concentrations varied considerably in Amman (1–10 cm−3). Mobile measurements identified spatial variations and local hotspots in aerosol levels within both cities. Walking paths around the University of Jordan campus showed increasing concentrations with proximity to main roads with mean values of 8 × 104 cm−3, 87 µg/m3, 62 µg/m3, and 7.7 µg/m3 for submicron, PM10, PM2.5, and black carbon (BC), respectively. Walking paths in the Amman city center showed moderately high concentrations (mean 105 cm−3, 120 µg/m3, 85 µg/m3, and 8.1 µg/m3 for submicron aerosols, PM10, PM2.5, and black carbon, respectively). Similar levels were found along walking paths in the Zarqa city center. On-road measurements showed high submicron concentrations (>105 cm−3). The lowest submicron concentration (<104 cm−3) was observed near a remote site outside of the cities.
The Hunt for Degrons of the 26S Proteasome
Authors: Ella Hadar , Reiss Yuval , Ravid Tommer
Published: June 2019

Since the discovery of ubiquitin conjugation as a cellular mechanism that triggers proteasomal degradation, the mode of substrate recognition by the ubiquitin-ligation system has been the holy grail of research in the field. This entails the discovery of recognition determinants within protein substrates, which are part of a degron, and explicit E3 ubiquitin (Ub)-protein ligases that trigger their degradation. Indeed, many protein substrates and their cognate E3′s have been discovered in the past 40 years. In the course of these studies, various degrons have been randomly identified, most of which are acquired through post-translational modification, typically, but not exclusively, protein phosphorylation. Nevertheless, acquired degrons cannot account for the vast diversity in cellular protein half-life times. Obviously, regulation of the proteome is largely determined by inherent degrons, that is, determinants integral to the protein structure. Inherent degrons are difficult to predict since they consist of diverse sequence and secondary structure features. Therefore, unbiased methods have been employed for their discovery. This review describes the history of degron discovery methods, including the development of high throughput screening methods, state of the art data acquisition and data analysis. Additionally, it summarizes major discoveries that led to the identification of cognate E3 ligases and hitherto unrecognized complexities of degron function. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and what still needs to be accomplished towards achieving the goal of understanding how the eukaryotic proteome is regulated via coordinated action of components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
Advantages of an Interdisciplinary Approach to the Sustainable Development of Two Scenarios in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Klaric Sanela , Korjenic Azra , Hollands Jutta , Subasic Lamija
Published: June 2019

Presently, almost all human activities (agriculture, transport, industry, construction sector, etc.) have an adverse impact on the environment. The construction sector in the EU alone accounts for a big part of the total energy consumption and emission of CO2. Two-thirds of the energy used in the construction sector in Europe goes to housing. As the number of residents grows, the requirements for new housing increase, causing an additional increase in energy consumption and new CO2 emissions for construction, maintenance, lighting, ventilation, cooling, and heating. Benefits of detailed planning of sustainable development of the construction sector are manifold. The most important benefits are sustainable use of resources, economic and social development of communities, increasing employment rates, improvements of living conditions and protection of the environment. Two scenarios for the development of an energy-efficient construction sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a focus on housing facilities are developed, in order to address the needs and benefits of detailed planning. Both scenarios analyze the effects on job creation, the impact of used construction materials on the environment and eco balance of local products. The difference in the solutions confirms the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to the planning of sustainable systems so that not only technical, but also economic and social benefits can be evaluated thanks to the combination of methods used.
Regulation of RhoB Gene Expression during Tumorigenesis and Aging Process and Its Potential Applications in These Processes
Authors: Gutierrez Eutiquio , Cahatol Ian , Bailey Cedric , Lafargue Audrey , Zhang Naming , Song Ying , Tian Hongwei , Zhang Yizhi , Chan Ryan , Gu Kevin , Zhang Angel , Tang James , Liu Chunshui , Connis Nick , Dennis Phillip , Zhang Chunyu
Published: June 2019

RhoB, a member of the Ras homolog gene family and GTPase, regulates intracellular signaling pathways by interfacing with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Ras, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt to modulate responses in cellular structure and function. Notably, the EGFR, Ras, and PI3K/Akt pathways can lead to downregulation of RhoB, while simultaneously being associated with an increased propensity for tumorigenesis. Functionally, RhoB, part of the Rho GTPase family, regulates intracellular signaling pathways by interfacing with EGFR, RAS, and PI3K/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and MYC pathways to modulate responses in cellular structure and function. Notably, the EGFR, Ras, and PI3K/Akt pathways can lead to downregulation of RhoB, while simultaneously being associated with an increased propensity for tumorigenesis. RHOB expression has a complex regulatory backdrop consisting of multiple histone deacetyltransferase (HDACs 1 and 6) and microRNA (miR-19a, -21, and -223)-mediated mechanisms of modifying expression. The interwoven nature of RhoB’s regulatory impact and cellular roles in regulating intracellular vesicle trafficking, cell motion, and the cell cycle lays the foundation for analyzing the link between loss of RhoB and tumorigenesis within the context of age-related decline in RhoB. RhoB appears to play a tissue-specific role in tumorigenesis, as such, uncovering and appreciating the potential for restoration of RHOB expression as a mechanism for cancer prevention or therapeutics serves as a practical application. An in-depth assessment of RhoB will serve as a springboard for investigating and characterizing this key component of numerous intracellular messaging and regulatory pathways that may hold the connection between aging and tumorigenesis.
Hedgehog Pathway as a Potential Intervention Target in Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Wang Da , Nagle Peter , Wang Helena , Smit Justin , Faber Hette , Baanstra Mirjam , Karrenbeld Arend , Chiu Roland , Plukker John , Coppes Robert
Published: June 2019

Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Treatment resistance is a major challenge in successful anti-cancer therapy. Pathological complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) is low, thus requiring therapy optimization. The Hedgehog (HH) pathway has been implicated in therapy resistance, as well as in cancer stemness. This article focusses on the HH pathway as a putative target in the treatment of EC. Immunohistochemistry on HH members was applied to EC patient material followed by modulation of 3D-EC cell cultures, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and gene expression analysis after HH pathway modulation. Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) and its receptor Patched1 (PTCH1) were significantly enriched in EC resection material of patients with microresidual disease (mRD) after receiving nCRT, compared to the control group. Stimulation with SHH resulted in an up-regulation of cancer stemness in EC sphere cultures, as indicated by increased sphere formation after sorting for CD44+/CD24− EC cancer stem-like cell (CSC) population. On the contrary, inhibiting this pathway with vismodegib led to a decrease in cancer stemness and both radiation and carboplatin resistance. Our results strengthen the role of the HH pathway in chemoradiotherapy resistance. These findings suggest that targeting the HH pathway could be an attractive approach to control CSCs.
High-Efficiency Visible Light Responsive Sulfide KSb5S8 Photocatalyst with a Layered Crystal Structure
Authors: Li Yuanyuan , Wu Meijun , Wang Qiang , Wang Kun , Zhang He , Quan Xuejun , Zhang Bin , Yang Dingfeng
Published: June 2019

The development of efficient photocatalysts for degrading environmental pollutants in wastewater has drawn considerable attention due to their great potential in industrial applications. Herein, we used a solvothermal method to prepare KSb5S8 with a layered crystal structure. The crystal structure of the as-synthesized samples was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope imaging. Our UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy results indicated that KSb5S8 could absorb visible light, and its optical band gap was 1.62 eV. The photocatalytic activity of KSb5S8 was evaluated in the degradation of methyl orange. A degradation of 73% within 180 min was achieved under visible light irradiation, which was considerably higher than that of commercial P25 and g-C3N4. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that KSb5S8 was an indirect band gap semiconductor. The estimated effective mass of holes ( m h * ) was approximately two times greater than that of electrons ( m e * ) . The large ratio of m h * / m e * might promote separation of photo-induced carriers during the photocatalytic process. On the basis of the layered crystal structure and large m h * / m e * value, KSb5S8 was a high-performance photocatalyst capable of harvesting visible light. This study provides valuable insight that will aid the design of improved sulfide photocatalytic materials with layered crystal structures.
The Ubiquitin Proteasome System Is a Key Regulator of Pluripotent Stem Cell Survival and Motor Neuron Differentiation
Authors: Bax Monique , McKenna Jessie , Do-Ha Dzung , Stevens Claire H. , Higginbottom Sarah , Balez Rachelle , Cabral-da-Silva Mauricio e Castro , Farrawell Natalie E. , Engel Martin , Poronnik Philip , Yerbury Justin J. , Saunders Darren N. , Ooi Lezanne
Published: June 2019

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in regulating numerous cellular processes, and a dysfunctional UPS is thought to contribute to motor neuron disease. Consequently, we sought to map the changing ubiquitome in human iPSCs during their pluripotent stage and following differentiation to motor neurons. Ubiquitinomics analysis identified that spliceosomal and ribosomal proteins were more ubiquitylated in pluripotent stem cells, whilst proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism and the cytoskeleton were specifically ubiquitylated in the motor neurons. The UPS regulator, ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1 (UBA1), was increased 36-fold in the ubiquitome of motor neurons compared to pluripotent stem cells. Thus, we further investigated the functional consequences of inhibiting the UPS and UBA1 on motor neurons. The proteasome inhibitor MG132, or the UBA1-specific inhibitor PYR41, significantly decreased the viability of motor neurons. Consistent with a role of the UPS in maintaining the cytoskeleton and regulating motor neuron differentiation, UBA1 inhibition also reduced neurite length. Pluripotent stem cells were extremely sensitive to MG132, showing toxicity at nanomolar concentrations. The motor neurons were more resilient to MG132 than pluripotent stem cells but demonstrated higher sensitivity than fibroblasts. Together, this data highlights the important regulatory role of the UPS in pluripotent stem cell survival and motor neuron differentiation.
Hyperosmotic Stress Response Memory is Modulated by Gene Positioning in Yeast
Authors: Ben Meriem Zacchari , Khalil Yasmine , Hersen Pascal , Fabre Emmanuelle
Published: June 2019

Cellular memory is a critical ability that allows microorganisms to adapt to potentially detrimental environmental fluctuations. In the unicellular eukaryote Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cellular memory can take the form of faster or slower responses within the cell population to repeated stresses. Using microfluidics and fluorescence time-lapse microscopy, we studied how yeast responds to short, pulsed hyperosmotic stresses at the single-cell level by analyzing the dynamic behavior of the stress-responsive STL1 promoter (pSTL1) fused to a fluorescent reporter. We established that pSTL1 exhibits variable successive activation patterns following two repeated short stresses. Despite this variability, most cells exhibited a memory of the first stress as decreased pSTL1 activity in response to the second stress. Notably, we showed that genomic location is important for the memory effect, since displacement of the promoter to a pericentromeric chromatin domain decreased the transcriptional strength of pSTL1 and led to a loss of memory. This study provides a quantitative description of a cellular memory that includes single-cell variability and highlights the contribution of chromatin structure to stress memory.
Relevance of the Preparation of the Target for PLD on the Magnetic Properties of Films of Iron-Doped Indium Oxide
Authors: Albargi Hasan B. , Alshammari Marzook S. , Museery Kadi Y. , Heald Steve M. , Jiang Feng-Xian , Saeedi Ahmad M. A. , Fox A. Mark , Gehring Gillian A.
Published: June 2019

This paper concerns the importance of the preparation of the targets that may be used for pulsed laser deposition of iron-doped indium oxide films. Targets with a fixed concentration of iron are fabricated from indium oxide and iron metal or one of the oxides of iron, FeO, Fe3O4 and Fe2O3. Films from each target were ablated onto sapphire substrates at the same temperature under different oxygen pressures such that the thickness of the films was kept approximately constant. The films were studied using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption (both XANES and EXAFS), optical absorption and magnetic circular dichroism. The magnetic properties were measured with a SQUID magnetometer. At the lowest oxygen pressure, there was evidence that some of the iron ions in the films were in the state Fe2+, rather than Fe3+, and there was also a little metallic iron; these properties were accompanied by a substantial magnetisation. As the amount of the oxygen was increased, the number of defect phases and the saturation magnetisation was reduced and the band gap increased. In each case, we found that the amount of the oxygen that had been included in the target from the precursor added to the effect of adding oxygen in the deposition chamber. It was concluded that the amount of oxygen in the target due to the precursor was an important consideration but not a defining factor in the quality of the films.
Experimental Implementation and Theoretical Investigation of a Vanadium Dioxide Optical Filter for Bit Error Rate Enhancement of Enhanced Space Shift Keying Visible Light Communication Systems
Authors: Manousou Dimitra K. , Stassinakis Argyris N. , Syskakis Emmanuel , Nistazakis Hector E. , Gardelis Spiros , Tombras George S.
Published: June 2019

Visible Light Communication (VLC) systems use light-emitting diode (LED) technology to provide high-capacity optical links. The advantages they offer, such as the high data rate and the low installation and operational cost, have identified them as a significant solution for modern networks. However, such systems are vulnerable to various exogenous factors, with the background sunlight noise having the greatest impact. In order to reduce the negative influence of the background noise effect, optical filters can be used. In this work, for the first time, a low-cost optical vanadium dioxide (VO2) optical filter has been designed and experimentally implemented based on the requirements of typical and realistic VLC systems in order to significantly increase their performance by reducing the transmittance of background noise. The functionality of the specific filter is investigated by means of its bit error rate (BER) performance estimation, taking into account its experimentally measured characteristics. Numerous results are provided in order to prove the significant performance enhancement of the VLC systems which, as it is shown, reaches almost six orders of magnitude in some cases, using the specific experimental optical filter.
Student Absenteeism in Mathematics Lessons: Social Variables in the PGS of Namibe
Authors: Chaves-Barboza Eduardo , Marín-Marín José-Antonio , Sarmento-dos-Santos Ana-Paula , Trujillo-Torrres Juan-Manuel
Published: June 2019

This article analyses social variables that cause student absenteeism from mathematics classes. It contrasts teachers’ perceptions with the perceptions of students undertaking their second and third levels of a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Chemistry at the Pedagogical Graduate School (PGS) of Namibe, Angola. To perform this analysis, a Likert scale questionnaire was undertaken and descriptive and inferential statistical tests, a correlation analysis, a variance analysis, and a multivariate factorial analysis were carried out on the data. The results showed that lack of financial and emotional support from students’ families and the students’ discomfort upon moving to the educational centre were reasons behind absenteeism in mathematics lessons.
Uncovering Types of Knowledge in Concept Maps
Authors: Kinchin Ian M. , Möllits Aet , Reiska Priit
Published: June 2019

Concept maps have been shown to have a positive impact on the quality of student learning in a variety of disciplinary contexts and educational levels from primary school to university by helping students to connect ideas and develop a productive knowledge structure to support future learning. However, the evaluation of concept maps has always been a contentious issue. Some authors focus on the quantitative assessment of maps, while others prefer a more descriptive determination of map quality. To our knowledge, no previous consideration of concept maps has evaluated the different types of knowledge (e.g., procedural and conceptual) embedded within a concept map, or the ways in which they may interact. In this paper we consider maps using the lens provided by the Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) to analyze concept maps in terms of semantic gravity and semantic density. Weaving between these qualitatively, different knowledges are considered necessary to achieve professional knowledge or expert understanding. Exemplar maps are used as illustrations of the way in which students may navigate their learning towards expertise and how this is manifested in their concept maps. Implications for curriculum design and teaching evaluation are included.
Efficient QC-LDPC Encoder for 5G New Radio
Authors: Nguyen Tram Thi Bao , Nguyen Tan Tuy , Lee Hanho
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a novel efficient encoding method and a high-throughput low-complexity encoder architecture for quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (QC-LDPC) codes for the 5th-generation (5G) New Radio (NR) standard. By storing the quantized value of the permutation information for each submatrix instead of the whole parity check matrix, the required memory storage size is considerably reduced. In addition, sharing techniques are employed to reduce the hardware complexity. The encoding complexity of the proposed method was analyzed, and indicated a substantial reduction in the required area as well as memory storage when compared with existing state-of-the-art encoding approaches. The proposed method requires only 61% gate area, and 11% ROM storage when compared with a similar LDPC encoder using the Richardson–Urbanke method. Synthesis results on TSMC 65-nm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology with different submatrix sizes were carried out, which confirmed that the design methodology is flexible and can be adapted for multiple submatrix sizes. For all the considered submatrix sizes, the throughput ranged from 22.1–202.4 Gbps, which sufficiently meets the throughput requirement for the 5G NR standard.
Influence of Parasitic Effects in Negative Differential Resistance Characteristics of Resonant Tunneling
Authors: Yang Chih Chin
Published: June 2019

A resonant tunneling electronic circuit (RTEC) with high and multiple peak-to-valley current density ratios (PVCDRs) exhibited in the negative differential resistance (NDR) curve has been proposed in this research. The PVCDR values in simulating research and experimental research of double PVCDR RTEC were respectively reached as high as 1.79 and 22 in average, which were obtained using the designed single PVCDR RTECs structure. Also, the peak current density (PCD) values of the last NDR in the double PVCDR RTEC structure in the simulation and experiment were respectively 1.85 A and 42 µA. Triple NDR characteristics also had been obtained with the PCD values reaching as high as 2.9 A and 46 µA, respectively, in simulating and experimental researches. The PVCDR values of triple NDR characteristic were respectively 1.5 and 4.6 in the simulation and experiment.
Exploring the Introduction of Plug-In Hybrid Flex-Fuel Vehicles in Ecuador
Authors: Arcentales Danilo , Silva Carla
Published: June 2019

In Europe, diesel combustion is being banned due to the NOx and PM2.5 emissions impact on air quality. The bus sector is being electrified and is increasing its use of alternative fuels, such as natural gas (in spark ignition engines) and bioethanol (in compression ignition engines), to reduce such harmful emissions. Even if a diesel bus is equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR), its NOx emissions are reduced its but produces more NH3 emissions that are PM2.5 precursors. In developing countries, the air quality is still barely monitored, however, the air quality issue is well known and is being addressed. Moreover, the Ecuadorian sugar cane industry is seeking ways to increase its ethanol production. This is the ideal framework to explore a new technology and energy source in developing economies such as Ecuador. This paper explores the impact of the Ecuadorian diesel bus fleet conversion to hybrid compression ignition ethanol (HEV-ED95), hybrid diesel and plug-in hybrid flex-fuel using electricity and internal combustion engine ICE-E20 and ICE-E100. The impacts are measured in terms of final energy consumption, criteria pollutant emissions (NH3, NOx, PM2.5) and 100 years global warming potential in a well-to-wheels framework. For the tank-to-wheels data the method follows the typical values of conversion efficiency from final to useful energy (cross checked with a microsimulation model), the Tier 2 European Environmental Agency approach combined with ethanol influence on compression ratio, lower heating value, criteria emissions taken from a literature review, and well-to-tank emission factors for electricity (10–58% thermal natural gas or coal powerplant contribution), for ethanol from banana industry wastes (ED95, E20 and E100), gasoline and diesel from US databases. A discussion on whether sugarcane biorefineries are necessary is highlighted in the results. All input parameters have an uncertainty range between a minimum and a maximum and the probability for each is giving by a uniform distribution.
An Analysis of a Reheater Failure and a Proposal to Upgrade the Device Design
Authors: Duda Piotr , Felkowski Łukasz , Zieliński Adam , Duda Andrzej
Published: June 2019

The aim of this paper is to present an example of damage to the reheater tubes and conduct the material and numerical analyses to establish the cause of the device failure. Cracks were observed on the first, second, and third tube row. Close to the damaged area, a ferritic structure could be observed with highly degraded bainite areas, characterized by coagulation and coalescence of precipitates. The cause of the damage was analysed using the finite element method (FEM). The big yield of the tube cross-section confirmed that the tube may get damaged during subsequent cycles of the boiler operation, which was also proved by the microstructure testing results. For the reheater under analysis, the tubes have to be lengthened to achieve a reduction in stresses, arising due to thermal loads to values lower than allowable stresses according to Standard EN 13480-3. The modelling results confirmed the correct operation for the upgraded system.