bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENGARUH PENEMPATAN KERJA, KEAHLIAN ( SKILL ) DAN KEPUASAN KERJA TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KINERJA KARYAWAN PADA PT. OSI ELECTRONICS BATAM
Authors: Yona Mira
Published: February 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh penempatan kerja  terhadap peningkatan  kinerja karyawan, pengaruh keahlian (skill) terhadap peningkatan  kinerja karyawan, pengaruh kepuasan kerja terhadap peningkatan kinerja karyawan, pengaruh penempatan kerja,keahlian (skill), dan kepuasan  kerja secara bersama – sama terhadap peningkatan kinerja karyawan. Penelitian ini termasuk jenis penelitian deskriptif kuantitatif dengan pengujian hipotesis. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah sampel dari populasi karyawan bagian PT. Osi Electronics Batam, yang berjumlah 95 orang dengan teknik sampel acak sederhana (random sampling). Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner dan diuji validitas serta reliabilitasnya. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah uji F, uji t serta uji (R)2.Hasil perhitungan statistic menunjukan nilai F hitung sebesar 124.188 > F table 3,10 dengan tingkat signifikan 0,000 lebih kecil dari 0.05 maka kesimpulannya Ha diterima, Ho ditolak  yaitu secara bersama-sama antara variable Penempatan Kerja,Keahlian (Skill) dan Kepuasan Kerja  terdapat  pengaruh yang positif dan signifikan terhadap variable Peningkatan Kinerja. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penempatan kerja, keahlian (slill) dan kepuasan kerja secara bersama-sama mempunyai pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap peningkatan kinerja kayawan. Sehingga untuk meningkatkan kinerja karyawan PT. Osi Electronics Batam harus memberikan penempatan kerja, keahlian (slill) dan kepuasan kerja secara bersama-sama sehingga kinerja kayawan akan meningkat. Kata Kunci : Penempatan Kerja, Keahlian (Skill), Kepuasan Kerja, Peningkatan Kinerja Karyawan
ANALISIS UJI KOMPETENSI BERBASIS SKKNI MANAJEMEN SDM Studi Kasus Uji Kompetensi berbasis SKKNI MSDM pertama di Provinsi Kepri.
Authors: Hadi Moch Aminudin
Published: February 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk secara komprehensif menganalisis uji kompetensi bidang Manajemen Sumber Daya Manusia yang pertama dilakukan di Provinsi Kepri. Tujuan yang lebih spesifik ialah untuk mengetahui peranan pelatihan berbasis kompetensi (PBK) terhadap uji kompetensi, unit kompetensi yang cenderung dikuasai dan yang cenderung kurang dikuasai peserta, serta tingkat upaya yang diperlukan peserta dalam mengumpulkan portofolio.  Metode yang digunakan ialah analisis diskriptif, dengan populasi sebesar 20 peserta uji dan dilakukan sensus.  Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa PBK memberikan kontribusi yang baik pada keberhasilan uji kompetensi. Unit kompetensi pada klaster Strategi perencanaan pengelolaan SDM, Pengembangan Organisasi, Manajemen Talenta, Pengelolaan Karir dan Pengelolaan kerja dan Remunerasi cenderung menyulitkan peserta; sedangkan unit kompetensi pada klaster pengadaan pekerja, pembelajaran dan pengembangan karyawan, Hubungan Industrial dan Layanan Administrasi dan Sistem Informasi Pekerja cenderung mudah bagi peserta. Dari penelitian ini, peneliti memberikan rekomendasi diperlukannya pelatihan berbasis kompetensi yang menitikberatkan pada klaster  Strategi perencanaan pengelolaan SDM, Manajemen Talenta, Pengelolaan Karir dan Pengelolaan kerja dan Remunerasi.  Kontribusi penelitian ini terhadap dunia kerja ialah memberikan gambaran utuh peta kompetensi sesuai SKKNI MSDM dan informasi yang dapat digunakan sebagai pengembangan kurikulum pada program studi yang relevan dengan manajemen sumber daya manusia. Kata Kunci:SKKNI MSDM, BNSP, LSP, LDP, PBK, Skema Sertifikasi SDM.
EFEK LINGKUNGAN KERJA DAN KOMPENSASI TERHADAP MOTIVASI KERJA PADA SEKOLAH WIDYA BATAM
Authors: Lubis Lutfi Erwin
Published: February 2020

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui dan menganalisa pengaruh lingkungan kerja dan kompensasi terhadap motivasi kerja di Sekolah Widya Batam.Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode survei dengan teknik kausal karena pengaruh beberapa variabel terhadap motivasi kerja. Populasi penelitian adalah guru di Sekolah Widya Batam sebesar 137 orang guru. Ukuran sampel yang di ambil adalah sebesar 102 orang guru, dengan teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan rumus slovin. Penelitian ini menggunakan instrumen kuesioner untuk mengukur tiga variabel: lingkungan kerja, kompensasi, dan motivasi. Instrumen ini telah dicoba sebelum digunakan untuk mengumpulkan data, dan hasil masing-masing instrumen valid dan dapat diandalkan. Teknik analisis data menggunakan analisis jalur, yang digunakan untuk menguji signifikansi masing-masing koefisien jalur.Hasil penelitian ini adalah ada pengaruh langsung yang signifikan antara lingkungan kerja terhadap Motivasi, dan kompensasi terhadap motivasi. Motivasi adalah variabel terikat. Lingkungan kerja dan  kompensasi sebagai variabel penting yang mempengaruhi motivasi, oleh karena itu disarankan lingkungan kerja dan kompensasi sebaiknya mendapat perhatian dari para pemimpin di Sekolah Widya dalam rangka meningkatkan motivasi kerja guru.
PENGARUH SKEMA INSENTIF TURNAMEN TERHADAP ESKALASI KOMITMEN DENGAN PERNYATAAN DIRI SEBAGAI VARIABEL PEMODERASI
Authors: Sari Wanda Novita
Published: February 2020

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk melihat pengaruh skema insentif turnamen terhadap esklasi komitmen, pengaruh pernyataan diri terhadap eskalasi komitmen, dan pengaruh moderasi pernyataan diri terhadap hubungan antara skema insentif turnamen terhadap eskalasi komitmen. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian eksperimen lab dengan desain faktorial 2x2 antar subjek. Partisipan yang digunakan adalah mahasiswa strata 1 (S1) dari Fakultas Ekonomika dan Bisnis Universitas Gajah Mada sebanyak 104 Partisipan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa eskalasi komitmen lebih besar dalam kondisi skema insentif turnamen periode tunggal dibandingkan skema insentif periode berulang, pernyataan diri tidak berpengaruh terhadap eskalasi komitmen, dan pernyataan diri tidak memoderasi hubungan antara skema insentif turnamen terhadap eskalasi komitmen.
Model Kepuasan Konsumen Provider PT. Indosat Berbasis Kualitas Layanan, Kualitas Fungsional dan Karakteristik Produk di Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam
Authors: Anggraini Dini , Aznedra Aznedra
Published: February 2020

Bisnis penyediaan layanan telekomunikasi, kini berada pada persaingan yang cukup ketat. Persaingan yang timbul sebagai akibat banyaknya operator penyedia layanan telekomunikasi nirkabel yang melibatkan diri dengan penawaran harga dan tarif (pulsa) yang murah kepada konsumennya, mengarahkan para operator penyedia layanan telekomunikasi tersebut berjuang untuk mempertahankan kelangsungan bisnisnya dalam jumlah marjin keuntungan yang kurang menarik atau kecil bila hanya mengandalkan tarif murah tersebut sebagai satu-satunya strategi dalam merebut pasar.Data yang dianalisis adalah data primer yang diperoleh melalui penyebaran kuesioner. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah nonprobability sampling dengan menggunakan jenis purposive sampling. Jumlah sampel dalam penelitian berjumlah 73 orang responden yaitu pengguna Indosat di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam. Analisis dilakukan dengan menggunakan analisis regresi linier berganda, sedangkan pengujian hipotesis dilakukan dengan uji F dan uji t.Hasil pembahasan dapat disimpulkan bahwa Kualitas layanan, kualitas fungsional, dan karakteristik produk secara bersama-sama berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kepuasan konsumen Indosat di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam, Kualitas layanan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan konsumen Indosat di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam, Kualitas fungsional berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan konsumen Indosat di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam, Karakteristik produk berpengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap kepuasan konsumen Indosat di Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Riau Kepulauan Batam
ANALISIS EFEKTIVITAS DAN EFISIENSI PENERAPAN SISTEM INFORMASI AKUNTANSI PENGGAJIAN PADA PT. CICOR PANATEC
Authors: Saputri Loli , Siregar Yentina
Published: February 2020

Abstrak. Penelitian ini bersifat deskriptif kualitatif yang bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektivitas dan efisiensi penerapan sistem informasi akuntansi penggajian pada PT. Cicor Panatec sudah sesuai dengan standar operasional prosedur penggajian. Penulis menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dengan jumlah informan sebanyak 5 (lima) orang yang berkaitan langsung dengan proses penggajian dan uji kepatuhan atau compliance test dengan model attribute sampling untuk mengetahui efektivitas sistem informasi akuntansi penggajian pada PT. Cicor Panatec. Dengan ketentuan apabila AUPL ≤ DUPL = efektif, AUPL > DUPL = belum efektif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah wawancara, dokumentasi dan observasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sistem informasi akuntansi penggajian yang diterapkan pada PT. Cicor Panatec telah terkomputerisasi. Dari hasil open kuesioner yang dilakukan hasilnya dapat disimpulkan bahwa penerapan sistem informasi akuntansi penggajian pada PT. Cicor Panatec telah berjalan sesuai dengan standar operasional prosedur (SOP) penggajian, layak dan efefisien. Dengan melakukan uji kepatuhan didapat nilai AUPL=DUPL dengan kesalahan yang terjadi sama dengan 0 (nol) sehingga sistem akuntansi penggajian pada PT. Cicor Panatec telah efektif.
PENGARUH DISIPLIN KERJA, LINGKUNGAN KERJA,DAN PENILAIAN PRESTASI KERJA TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN PADA PT. VMC FISHING TACKLE INDONESIA
Authors: Ariyati Yannik , Primasari Leni
Published: February 2020

Didalam dunia industri pengembangan MSDM  sangat perlu dilakukan mengingat adanya revolusi industri 4.0 dan yang mana akan terus berkembang. Tujuian meneliti adalah apakah pengaruh disiplin, lingkungan, dan penilaiam prestasi kerja untuk kinerja setiap karyawan di PT. VMC Fishing Tackle Indonesia. Penelitian ini memakai sebuah metode penelitian secara kuantitatif. Populasi penelitian ini ialah seluruh karyawan PT. VMC Fishing Tackle Indonesia berjumlah 98 orang. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan teknik Sampling Jenuh. Data didapat menggunakan angket yang telah diuji validitas dan reliabilitas. Maka didapatkan hasil: adanya pengaruh untuk disiplin, lingkungan, dan penilaian prestasi kerja pada kinerja setiap karyawan, hal ini bisa di lihat dari hasil Variabel Disiplin Kerja, dari Lingkungan Kerja T hitung = -0,861 < t tabel = (1,66055), T hitung = 4,535> T tabel = 1,66055, dan dari Penilaian Prestasi Kerja T hitung = 2,128> T tabel = 1,66055.
PENYEBAB WANITA KARIR DEWASA MADYA TERLAMBAT MENIKAH
Authors: Hasibuan Wilda Fasim
Published: February 2020

Penelitian ini membahas tentang penyebab wanita karir dewasa madya terlambat menikah. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode Kualitatif dengan pendekatan Naratif. Tujuan dalam penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui penyebab wanita karir dewasa mady dengan usia 45-60 tahun terlambat menikah.Penelitian ini telah dilaksanakan dari bulan April sampai dengan juni 2017. Dengan subjek penelitian wanita yang berumur 45 tahun dan bekerja di salah satu perusahaan di Batam. Teknik pengumpulan data  dalam penelitian ini menggunakan wawancara non partisipan dengan metode wawancara semi terstruktur, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Dari data yang peneliti peroleh didapat bahwa penyebab wanita karir dewasa madya terlambat menikah adalah karena perceraian orang tua, pola asuh ganda yaitu penelantaran dari orang tua kandung dan otoriter dari bibik, yang menyebabkan tugas perkembangan pada masa dewasa awal hingga dewasa madya tidak terlewati dengan baik. Sehingga sampai subjek memasuki usia 45 tahun ia belum mendapatkan pasangan hidup.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA PENYESUAIAN DIRI DENGAN PRESTASI BELAJAR PADA MAHASISWA BARU FAKULTAS KEGURUAN ILMU PENDIDIKAN UNIVERSITAS RIAU KEPULAUAN
Authors: Yanizon Ahmad , Syarwendah Ryan
Published: February 2020

Belajar di perguruan tinggi membutuhkan penyesuaian yang lebih, terutama bagi mahasiswa tahun pertama. Kesulitan dalam menyesuaikan diri di perguruan tinggi, yaitu terkait dengan tugas-tugas perkuliahan, pengaturan waktu untuk belajar dan melakukan aktivitas lain. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat hubungan antara penyesuaian diri dengan prestasi belajar mahasiswa baru FKIP UNRIKA kota Batam. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan Korelasional. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan proportional random sampling. Pengumpulan data menggunakan  angket, kemudian dianalisis dengan menggunakan korelasi Product Moment dari Pearson. Temuan penelitian yang diperoleh adalah adanya korelasi yang signifikan antara penyesuaian diri dengan prestasi belajar pada mahasiswa baru Fakultas Keguruan Ilmu pendidikan Universitas Riau Kepulauan
Individual variation in residency and regional movements of reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in a large marine protected area
Authors: Andrzejaczek S , Chapple TK , Curnick DJ , Carlisle AB , Castleton M , Jacoby DMP , Peel LR , Schallert RJ , Tickler DM , Block BA
Published: February 2020

Mobulid populations are declining on a global scale as a result of both targeted fisheries and indirect anthropogenic threats. In order to implement effective conservation strategies for species of this taxa, it is crucial that movement patterns at a range of spatiotemporal scales are defined. To gain insight into such patterns, we deployed a combination of acoustic (n = 21) and satellite (n = 12) tags on reef manta rays Mobula alfredi in the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area (BIOT MPA) annually from 2013 through 2016. An extensive array of acoustic receivers (n = 52) were deployed across the archipelago to record the movements of mantas throughout the MPA. Data revealed large individual variation in horizontal movement patterns, ranging from high local site fidelity (<10 km) for up to 3 yr, to large-scale regional movements (>200 km) around the entire MPA. Depth time-series data recorded vertical movement patterns consistent with other epipelagic elasmobranch species, including oscillatory diving and deep dives to greater than 500 m. Though no individuals were directly recorded departing the MPA throughout the study, the gaps in detections and estimated travel speeds documented here indicate that movement of individuals outside of the BIOT MPA cannot be discounted. Collectively, our data suggests that, with effective enforcement, the current size of the BIOT MPA is providing substantial protection to its reef manta ray population. Characterization of movement patterns across ontogenetic classes, however, is required to fully characterize the spatial ecology of this species and ensure protection across all cohorts of the population.
Sacred groves in conservation of biodiversity in Odisha
Authors: Panda Taranisen , Mishra Nirlipta , Pradhan Bikram K. , Rahimuddin Shaik , Mohanty Rajballav
Published: February 2020

Phytodiversity survey of
sacred groves was carried out for a period of two years (2016-2018) in Bhadrak
district of Odisha, India. A total of 42 plant species belonging to 39 genera
under 26 families are recorded from 20 selected sacred groves of the district.
Moraceae represents the dominant family. The respondents affirmed that the
plants inside these sites are never cut or harmed and some plant like neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), banyan (Ficus
benghalensis L.) and peepal (Ficus
religiosa L.) present in the sacred groves are more than a century old. The present study
indicates the role of sacred groves in biodiversity conservation through faith,
belief, religious activity and community participation
Crystal Structure of the Chloroplastic Glutamine Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate Amidotransferase GPRAT2 From Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Cao Xueli , Du Bowen , Han Fengjiao , Zhou Yu , Ren Junhui , Wang Wenhe , Chen Zeliang , Zhang Yi
Published: February 2020

Chloroplastic glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (GPRATase) catalyzes the first committed step of de novo purine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana, and DAS734 is a direct and specific inhibitor of AtGPRAT, with phytotoxic effects similar to the leaf beaching phenotypes of known AtGPRAT genetic mutants, especially cia1 and atd2. However, the structure of AtGPRAT and the inhibition mode of DAS734 still remain poorly understood. In this study, we solved the structure of AtGPRAT2, which revealed structural differences between AtGPRAT2 and bacterial enzymes. Kinetics assay demonstrated that DAS734 behaves as a competitive inhibitor for the substrate phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP) of AtGPRAT2. Docking studies showed that DAS734 forms electrostatic interactions with R264 and hydrophobic interactions with several residues, which was verified by binding assays. Collectively, our study provides important insights into the inhibition mechanism of DAS734 to AtGPRAT2 and sheds light on future studies into further development of more potent herbicides targeting Arabidopsis GPRATases.
Approximation and Uncertainty Quantification of Systems with Arbitrary Parameter Distributions Using Weighted Leja Interpolation
Authors: Loukrezis Dimitrios , De Gersem Herbert
Published: February 2020

Approximation and uncertainty quantification methods based on Lagrange interpolation are typically abandoned in cases where the probability distributions of one or more system parameters are not normal, uniform, or closely related distributions, due to the computational issues that arise when one wishes to define interpolation nodes for general distributions. This paper examines the use of the recently introduced weighted Leja nodes for that purpose. Weighted Leja interpolation rules are presented, along with a dimension-adaptive sparse interpolation algorithm, to be employed in the case of high-dimensional input uncertainty. The performance and reliability of the suggested approach is verified by four numerical experiments, where the respective models feature extreme value and truncated normal parameter distributions. Furthermore, the suggested approach is compared with a well-established polynomial chaos method and found to be either comparable or superior in terms of approximation and statistics estimation accuracy.
Ovulatory Response of Weaned Sows to an Altered Ratio of Exogenous Gonadotrophins
Authors: Manjarín Rodrigo , García Jose Carlos , Hoving Lia , Soede Nicoline M. , Maj Magdalena , Dominguez de Tejerina Juan Carlos , Kirkwood Roy N.
Published: February 2020

At weaning, 33 mixed parity Hypor sows received either an injection of 400 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin and 200 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) (PG600; n = 13), PG600 with an additional 200 IU hCG 24 h later (Gn800; n = 11), or served as non-injected controls (n = 9). All gonadotrophin treated sows received an injection of 750 IU hCG at 80 h after weaning to induce ovulation (designated as time 0 h). At 0, 24, 36, 40, 44, 48, and 60 h, all sows were subject to transrectal ultrasonography to determine numbers and sizes of large (>6 mm) follicles and time of ovulation. The interval from injection of 750 IU hCG to ovulation was shorter in Gn800 compared to PG600 sows (p = 0.02), and more Gn800 sows had ≥9 preovulatory follicles compared to PG600 and controls (p = 0.02 and 0.003, respectively). Follicular cysts were evident in both PG600 and Gn800 sows.
Energy Sustainability of Bio-Based Building Materials in the Cold and Severe Cold Regions of China—A Case Study of Residential Buildings
Authors: Guo Haibo , Zhou Siyuan , Qin Tongyu , Huang Lu , Song Wenjie , Yin Xunzhi
Published: February 2020

The aim of this research is to investigate the energy sustainability of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and straw residential buildings in the Cold and Severe Cold Regions of China. In the study, three building materials, namely reinforced concrete (RC), CLT, and straw bale, are used separately to design the building envelope in reference residential buildings in different climate zones. The energy consumption during the operation phase of these buildings is then simulated using Integrated Environmental Solutions—Virtual Environment software (IES-VE). The results show that both CLT and straw buildings are more efficient than reinforced concrete with a reduction in energy consumption during the operational phase. Overall, the calculated heating energy-saving ratios for CLT buildings in Hailar, Harbin, Urumchi, Lanzhou, and Beijing are 3.04%, 7.39%, 7.43%, 12.69%, and 13.41%, respectively, when compared with RC. The calculated energy-saving ratios for heating in straw buildings in comparison with RC in these cities are 8.04%, 22.09%, 22.17%, 33.02%, and 34.28%, respectively. The results also reveal that a south orientation of the main building facade results in approximately 5% to 7% energy reduction in comparison with east or west orientations, and as the building height increases, energy consumption decreases gradually. Although RC is the most frequently used building material in Cold and Severe Cold regions in China, as bio-based building materials, there is great potential to promote CLT and straw bale construction in view of the energy sustainability features.
Marine UAV–USV Marsupial Platform: System and Recovery Technic Verification
Authors: Zhang Hongda , He Yuqing , Li Decai , Gu Feng , Li Qi , Zhang Mingxi , Di Chunlei , Chu Lingling , Chen Bo , Hu Yanming
Published: February 2020

Heterogeneous unmanned systems consisting of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) have great application potential in marine environments. At present, the fully autonomous recovery of UAVs is a key problem that restricts any significant application of a heterogeneous unmanned system. This paper presents a novel fully autonomous recovery system, covering the entire process of recovery of small fixed-wing UAVs on mobile platforms at sea. We describe methods or solutions for the key problems encountered by the current system, including active modeling of the UAV–USV heterogeneous platform motion model, accurate estimation of the highly dynamic relative motion of the heterogeneous platform, dynamic analysis of the arresting cable system, and compliance control of the manipulator recovery system. Based on these methods, a physical simulation platform for the fully autonomous recovery system, including an actively adjustable arresting cable, manipulator compliance recovery system, and other subsystems, is developed and verified through experiments. The experiments show that the system proposed in this study can achieve full autonomous recovery of a small ship-based fixed-wing UAV with a high success rate in a short period. This system is the foundation for practical applications of UAV–USV heterogeneous unmanned systems in the marine environment.
Investigations on the Influence of Chemical Compounds on Fog Microphysical Parameters
Authors: Ivanov Ognyan , Todorov Petar , Gultepe Ismail
Published: February 2020

Lab experiments related to artificial fog studies are limited due to instrument sensitivity to small fog and aerosol particles; therefore, the goal of this work is to evaluate aerosol solute effects on fog physical properties in a lab environment. To reach the goal, an automated fog-generating system was designed and that includes controlled chemical compounds dissolved in pure water. In the analysis, the impact of changing the mass concentration of potassium dihydrogen phosphate—KH2PO4, urea-CO(NH2)2, and potassium hexacyanoferrate trihydrate-K3(Fe(CN)6) on fog droplet size spectra is studied, because visibility is directly related to fog droplet spectra and aerosol composition. In the experiment, various microphysical conditions, including fog droplet size and volume concentration, were analyzed as a function of changing aerosol composition/spectra and fixed thermodynamic conditions. The results showed that fog droplet size spectra vary with the addition of chemical impurities to the pure water volume. For example, increasing KH2PO4 concentration compared to distilled water volume resulted in a higher mean particle size, which led to faster droplet settlement, and that resulted in cleaning air more efficiently compared to pure water fog. Overall, both issues and challenges of the experimental fog generating system with respect to water and aerosol solutions resembling CRBN (chemical, radiological, biological, and nuclear agents) characteristics are provided and evaluated.
A Perspective on Body Size and Abundance Relationships across Ecological Communities
Authors: Gjoni Vojsava , Glazier Douglas Stewart
Published: February 2020

Recently, several studies have reported relationships between the abundance of organisms in an ecological community and their mean body size (called cross-community scaling relationships: CCSRs) that can be described by simple power functions. A primary focus of these studies has been on the scaling exponent (slope) and whether it approximates −3/4, as predicted by Damuth’s rule and the metabolic theory in ecology. However, some CCSR studies have reported scaling exponents significantly different from the theoretical value of −3/4. Why this variation occurs is still largely unknown. The purpose of our commentary is to show the value of examining both the slopes and elevations of CCSRs and how various ecological factors may affect them. As a heuristic exercise, we reanalyzed three published data sets based on phytoplankton, rodent, and macroinvertebrate assemblages that we subdivided according to three distinctly different ecological factors (i.e., climate zone, season, and trophic level). Our analyses reveal significant variation in either or both the CCSR slopes and elevations for marine phytoplankton communities across climate zones, a desert rodent community across seasons, and saltwater lagoon macroinvertebrate communities across trophic levels. We conclude that achieving a comprehensive understanding of abundance-size relationships at the community level will require consideration of both slopes and elevations of these relationships and their possible variation in different ecological contexts.
Expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and NGAL in Tissue and Serum of Patients with Vascular Aneurysms and Their Modulation by Statin Treatment: A Pilot Study
Authors: Cione Erika , Piegari Elena , Gallelli Giuseppe , Caroleo Maria Cristina , Lamirata Elena , Curcio Francesca , Colosimo Federica , Cannataro Roberto , Ielapi Nicola , Colosimo Manuela , de Franciscis Stefano , Gallelli Luca
Published: February 2020

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in vascular wall degradation, and drugs able to modulate MMP activity can be used to prevent or treat aneurysmal disease. In this study, we evaluated the effects of statins on MMP-2, MMP-9, and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in both plasma and tissue in patients with aneurysmal disease. Methods: We performed a prospective, single-blind, multicenter, control group clinical drug trial on 184 patients of both sexes >18 years old with a diagnosis of arterial aneurysmal disease. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups: Group I under statin treatment and Group II not taking statins. In addition, 122 patients without aneurysmal disease and under statin treatment were enrolled as a control group (Group III). The expression of MMPs and NGAL in plasma was evaluated using ELISA, while their expression in endothelial tissues was evaluated using Western blot. Results: The ELISA test revealed greater plasma levels (p < 0.01) of MMPs and NGAL in Groups I and II vs. Group III. Western blot analysis showed higher expression (p < 0.01) of MMPs and NGAL in Group II vs. Group I, and this increase was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in patients treated with low potency statins compared to high potency ones. Conclusions: MMPs and NGAL seem to play a major role in the development of aneurysms, and their modulation by statins suggests that these drugs could be used to prevent arterial aneurysmal disease.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Identification of MHC-Associated Peptides
Authors: Kote Sachin , Pirog Artur , Bedran Georges , Alfaro Javier , Dapic Irena
Published: February 2020

Neoantigen-based immunotherapies promise to improve patient outcomes over the current standard of care. However, detecting these cancer-specific antigens is one of the significant challenges in the field of mass spectrometry. Even though the first sequencing of the immunopeptides was done decades ago, today there is still a diversity of the protocols used for neoantigen isolation from the cell surface. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to compare results between the laboratories and the studies. Isolation of the neoantigens from the cell surface is usually done by mild acid elution (MAE) or immunoprecipitation (IP) protocol. However, limited amounts of the neoantigens present on the cell surface impose a challenge and require instrumentation with enough sensitivity and accuracy for their detection. Detecting these neopeptides from small amounts of available patient tissue limits the scope of most of the studies to cell cultures. Here, we summarize protocols for the extraction and identification of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II peptides. We aimed to evaluate existing methods in terms of the appropriateness of the isolation procedure, as well as instrumental parameters used for neoantigen detection. We also focus on the amount of the material used in the protocols as the critical factor to consider when analyzing neoantigens. Beyond experimental aspects, there are numerous readily available proteomics suits/tools applicable for neoantigen discovery; however, experimental validation is still necessary for neoantigen characterization.
The Landscape of the Anti-Kinase Activity of the IDH1 Inhibitors
Authors: Malarz Katarzyna , Mularski Jacek , Pacholczyk Marcin , Musiol Robert
Published: February 2020

Isocitrate dehydrogenases constitute a class of enzymes that are crucial for cellular metabolism. The overexpression or mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenases are often found in leukemias, glioblastomas, lung cancers, and ductal pancreatic cancer among others. Mutation R132H, which changes the functionality of an enzyme to produce mutagenic 2-hydroxyglutarate instead of a normal product, is particularly important in this field. A series of inhibitors were described for these enzymes of which ivosidenib was the first to be approved for treating leukemia and bile duct cancers in 2018. Here, we investigated the polypharmacological landscape of the activity for known sulfamoyl derivatives that are inhibitors, which are selective towards IDH1 R132H. These compounds appeared to be effective inhibitors of several non-receptor kinases at a similar level as imatinib and axitinib. The antiproliferative activity of these compounds against a panel of cancer cells was tested and is explained based on the relative expression levels of the investigated proteins. The multitargeted activity of these compounds makes them valuable agents against a wide range of cancers, regardless of the status of IDH1.
Modulation of Fatty Acid-Related Genes in the Response of H9c2 Cardiac Cells to Palmitate and n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Authors: Cetrullo Silvia , D’Adamo Stefania , Panichi Veronica , Borzì Rosa Maria , Pignatti Carla , Flamigni Flavio
Published: February 2020

While high levels of saturated fatty acids are associated with impairment of cardiovascular functions, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to exert protective effects. However the molecular mechanisms underlying this evidence are not completely understood. In the present study we have used rat H9c2 ventricular cardiomyoblasts as a cellular model of lipotoxicity to highlight the effects of palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, on genetic and epigenetic modulation of fatty acid metabolism and fate, and the ability of PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid, to contrast the actions that may contribute to cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. Treatment with a high dose of palmitate provoked mitochondrial depolarization, apoptosis, and hypertrophy of cardiomyoblasts. Palmitate also enhanced the mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), a family of master transcription factors for lipogenesis, and it favored the expression of genes encoding key enzymes that metabolically activate palmitate and commit it to biosynthetic pathways. Moreover, miR-33a, a highly conserved microRNA embedded in an intronic sequence of the SREBP2 gene, was co-expressed with the SREBP2 messenger, while its target carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1b was down-regulated. Manipulation of the levels of miR-33a and SREBPs allowed us to understand their involvement in cell death and hypertrophy. The simultaneous addition of PUFAs prevented the effects of palmitate and protected H9c2 cells. These results may have implications for the control of cardiac metabolism and dysfunction, particularly in relation to dietary habits and the quality of fatty acid intake.
Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models: A Peephole into Virus Infections during Early Pregnancy
Authors: Claus Claudia , Jung Matthias , Hübschen Judith M.
Published: February 2020

The rubella virus (RV) was the first virus shown to be teratogenic in humans. The wealth of data on the clinical symptoms associated with congenital rubella syndrome is in stark contrast to an incomplete understanding of the forces leading to the teratogenic alterations in humans. This applies not only to RV, but also to congenital viral infections in general and includes (1) the mode of vertical transmission, even at early gestation, (2) the possible involvement of inflammation as a consequence of an activated innate immune response, and (3) the underlying molecular and cellular alterations. With the progress made in the development of pluripotent stem cell-based models including organoids and embryoids, it is now possible to assess congenital virus infections on a mechanistic level. Moreover, antiviral treatment options can be validated, and newly emerging viruses with a potential impact on human embryonal development, such as that recently reflected by the Zika virus (ZIKV), can be characterized. Here, we discuss human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and ZIKV in comparison to RV as viruses with well-known congenital pathologies and highlight their analysis on current models for the early phase of human development. This includes the implications of their genetic variability and, as such, virus strain-specific properties for their use as archetype models for congenital virus infections. In this review, we will discuss the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and derived organoid systems for the study of congenital virus infections with a focus on their prominent aetiologies, HCMV, ZIKV, and RV. Their assessment on these models will provide valuable information on how human development is impaired by virus infections; it will also add new insights into the normal progression of human development through the analysis of developmental pathways in the context of virus-induced alterations. These are exciting perspectives for both developmental biology and congenital virology.
Optical Tweezers in Studies of Red Blood Cells
Authors: Zhu Ruixue , Avsievich Tatiana , Popov Alexey , Meglinski Igor
Published: February 2020

Optical tweezers (OTs) are innovative instruments utilized for the manipulation of microscopic biological objects of interest. Rapid improvements in precision and degree of freedom of multichannel and multifunctional OTs have ushered in a new era of studies in basic physical and chemical properties of living tissues and unknown biomechanics in biological processes. Nowadays, OTs are used extensively for studying living cells and have initiated far-reaching influence in various fundamental studies in life sciences. There is also a high potential for using OTs in haemorheology, investigations of blood microcirculation and the mutual interplay of blood cells. In fact, in spite of their great promise in the application of OTs-based approaches for the study of blood, cell formation and maturation in erythropoiesis have not been fully explored. In this review, the background of OTs, their state-of-the-art applications in exploring single-cell level characteristics and bio-rheological properties of mature red blood cells (RBCs) as well as the OTs-assisted studies on erythropoiesis are summarized and presented. The advance developments and future perspectives of the OTs’ application in haemorheology both for fundamental and practical in-depth studies of RBCs formation, functional diagnostics and therapeutic needs are highlighted.
Effects of Short-Duration and Diel-Cycling Hypoxia on Predation of Mussels and Oysters in Two Tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Neff Ellen , MacGregor Jessica , Gedan Keryn B.
Published: February 2020

Although the effects of persistent hypoxia have been well established, few studies have explored the community-level effects of short-duration and diel-cycling hypoxia, for example on predator–prey interactions. Consumer stress models predict that mobile predators will flee hypoxia, while prey stress models predict that sessile species, unable to avoid hypoxic water, will be more susceptible to predation. To test these hypotheses, we studied the effects of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation of the hooked mussel, Ischadium recurvum, and eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in field experiments in two Chesapeake Bay, USA tributaries. We conducted a complementary laboratory experiment that tested the impact of short-duration hypoxia on predation of the two bivalve species by the ecologically and commercially important blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Although we did not observe a significant effect of diel-cycling hypoxia on predation in the field, we did observe an effect of short-duration hypoxia in the laboratory. Callinectes sapidus exhibited depressed feeding rates and reduced preference for I. recurvum in hypoxic conditions. In both field and lab results, we observed a strong preference of predators for I. recurvum over C. virginica, indicating that the relatively understudied mussel I. recurvum merits greater consideration as a part of estuarine food webs.
Coronary Artery Disease is More Severe in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis than Fatty Liver
Authors: Niikura Toshihiro , Imajo Kento , Ozaki Anna , Kobayashi Takashi , Iwaki Michihiro , Honda Yasushi , Kessoku Takaomi , Ogawa Yuji , Yoneda Masato , Kirikoshi Hiroyuki , Saito Satoru , Nakajima Atsushi
Published: February 2020

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with a higher risk of atherosclerotic disease. However, the relationships between the severity of coronary atherosclerosis and pathologic findings in patients with NAFLD remain unknown. We aimed to characterize the coronary artery lesions in patients with NAFLD using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Overall, 101 patients with liver biopsy-proven NAFLD who had chest pain or electrocardiographic abnormalities underwent CCTA. Coronary artery lesions, including coronary artery stenosis (CAS), calcium score (CACS, Agatston score), and coronary artery non-calcified plaque were assessed using multi-slice CT. Multivariate analysis showed that age, smoking status, prevalence of dyslipidemia (DLP) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and stage of fibrosis were independent risk factors for CAS. Age, and the prevalence of DM and DLP, were independent risk factors for CACS, and the prevalence of NASH tended to be an independent risk factor. In addition, the prevalence of DLP and NASH were independent risk factors for non-calcified plaques. Coronary artery lesions are more common in patients with NASH than in those with non-alcoholic fatty liver, suggesting a higher risk in patients with NASH. Therefore, patients with NASH should be closely followed, with particular vigilance for coronary artery diseases.
Design of a Voltage to Time Converter with High Conversion Gain for Reliable and Secure Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Yadav Nandakishor , Kim Youngbae , Alashi Mahmoud , Ken Choi Kyuwon
Published: February 2020

Automation of vehicles requires a secure, reliable, and real-time on-chip system. These systems also require very high-speed and compact on-chip analog to digital converters (ADC). The conventional ADC cannot fulfill this requirement. In this paper, we proposed a Darlington pair- and source biasing-based high speed, secure, and reliable voltage to time converter (VTC). It is a compact, high-speed design and gives high conversion gain. The source biasing also helps to increase the input voltage range. The conversion gain of the proposed circuit is 101.43ns/v, which is 52 times greater than the gain achieved by state-of-the-art design. It also shows less effect of process variation and bias temperature instability.
Assessment of Grid-Connected Wind Turbines with an Inertia Response by Considering Internal Dynamics
Authors: Henderson Callum , Vozikis Dimitrios , Holliday Derrick , Bian Xiaoyan , Egea-Àlvarez Agustí
Published: February 2020

This paper presents a small-signal analysis of different grid side controllers for full power converter wind turbines with inertia response capability. In real wind turbines, the DC link controller, the drivetrain damping controller and the inertial response might present contradictory control actions in a close bandwidth range. This situation might lead to reduced control performance, increased component stress and non-compliance of connection agreements. The paper presents an analysis of the internal wind turbine dynamics by considering different grid-side converter control topologies: standard current control used in the wind industry, standard current control with inertia emulation capabilities and virtual synchronous machines. Comments are made on the similarities between each topology and the negative effects and limits, and possible remedies are discussed. Finally, the conclusion poses that the inclusion of a DC link voltage controller reduces the ability of a converter to respond to external frequency events without energy storage. The degradation increases with the DC link voltage control speed.
Impact of Phase Locked Loop with Different Types and Control Dynamics on Resonance of DFIG System
Authors: Din Zakiud , Zhang Jianzhong , Bassi Hussain , Rawa Muhyaddin , Song Yipeng
Published: February 2020

In recent years, the doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) operates in a weak grid, rather than a strong grid due to the high proportion of wind energy into the power grid. The impedance interaction between the DFIG system and series and parallel compensated weak grid might cause the subsynchronous resonance (SSR) and high frequency resonance (HFR) in the DFIG system, respectively. Phase locked loop (PLL) is a popular grid synchronization technique, and the high bandwidth PLL can cause resonance at middle frequencies in the DFIG system. However, the impact of PLL types and their controller dynamics on the resonance in the DFIG system are not adequately researched. The impact of the PLL controller with different types, such as synchronous reference frame (SRF) and Lead/Lag PLL, is studied in this paper to fill this gap. Additionally, an improved PLL is proposed, which can guarantee the high phase margin and decrease the likelihood of the resonance at middle frequencies in the DFIG system under a weak grid. Moreover, the phase margin of the DFIG system impedance with an improved PLL is less sensitive to its controller parameters. Simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Investigation of Novel Composite Materials for Thermochemical Heat Storage Systems
Authors: Akcaoglu Salih Cem , Sun Zhifa , Moratti Stephen Carl , Martinopoulos Georgios
Published: February 2020

Increasing energy prices make space heating more expensive every year in The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries. Thermochemical heat storage systems (THSS) can be used to reduce residential energy consumption for space heating and to control humidity. Utilizing compressed thermochemical pellets as heat storage materials is a way to increase volumetric energy storage capacity and to improve the performance of the THSS. In this work, expanded natural graphite (ENG), activated carbon (AC), strontium bromide, and magnesium sulphate were mixed in different mass ratios and compressed under applied pressures in a range of 0.77 to 5.2 kN⋅mm−2 to form composite pellets with a diameter of 12 and 25 mm, respectively, and a thickness from 1.5 to 25 mm. These pellets were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Cyclic tests of hydration at 20 °C and dehydration at 85 °C were conducted to investigate changes in the surface morphology and the heat and mass transfer characteristics of the composite pellets. The permeability and thermal conductivity of the composite pellets were also measured. It was found that the structural stability of the pellets was enhanced by increasing the compression pressure. Utilizing AC and ENG in the composite mixture enhanced the porosity, thermal conductivity, and the permeability of the pellets.
Optimization of Electric Energy Sales Strategy Based on Probabilistic Forecasts
Authors: Janczura Joanna , Michalak Aleksandra
Published: February 2020

In this paper we propose an optimization scheme for a selling strategy of an electricity producer who in advance decides on the share of electricity sold on the day-ahead market. The remaining part is sold on the complementary (intraday/balancing) market. To this end, we use probabilistic forecasts of the future selling price distribution. Next, we find an optimal share of electricity sold on the day-ahead market using one of the three objectives: maximization of the overall profit, minimization of the sellers risk, or maximization of the median of portfolio values. Using data from the Polish day-ahead and balancing markets, we show that the assumed objective is achieved, as compared to the naive strategy of selling the whole produced electricity only on the day-ahead market. However, an increase of the profit is associated with a significant increase of the risk.
A Time-Series Treatment Method to Obtain Electrical Consumption Patterns for Anomalies Detection Improvement in Electrical Consumption Profiles
Authors: Serrano-Guerrero Xavier , Escrivá-Escrivá Guillermo , Luna-Romero Santiago , Clairand Jean-Michel
Published: February 2020

Electricity consumption patterns reveal energy demand behaviors and enable strategY implementation to increase efficiency using monitoring systems. However, incorrect patterns can be obtained when the time-series components of electricity demand are not considered. Hence, this research proposes a new method for handling time-series components that significantly improves the ability to obtain patterns and detect anomalies in electrical consumption profiles. Patterns are found using the proposed method and two widespread methods for handling the time-series components, in order to compare the results. Through this study, the conditions that electricity demand data must meet for making the time-series analysis useful are established. Finally, one year of real electricity consumption is analyzed for two different cases to evaluate the effect of time-series treatment in the detection of anomalies. The proposed method differentiates between periods of high or low energy demand, identifying contextual anomalies. The results indicate that it is possible to reduce time and effort involved in data analysis, and improve the reliability of monitoring systems, without adding complex procedures.