bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (Adolescents) Indonesian Version: Validity and Reliability Study
Authors: Aryanti Gusti Ayu Kade Widya , Priastana I Ketut Andika
Published: April 2019

Introduction. Smoking has become a special concern in the world. Dependence on cigarettes can endanger almost every organ in the body and reduce the health of smokers in general. Research that proposes the identification of smoking behavior has been carried out, but only a few have focused on testing the validity and reliability of the instrument for measuring the level of smoking dependence. This study examines the validity and reliability of the Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (Adolescents) in Indonesian Version. Methods. Respondents in this study were 30 teenage smokers. The statistical test used is the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation test. Results. Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (Adolescents) consists of 7 questions that are used to measure the level of smoking dependence and show results in the Corrected Item-Total Correlation section, all questions have a positive value and r count ≥ r table (0.361). The Reliability Statistics table gets the Cronbach's Alpha result is 0.892 with 7 items. Conclusion. Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (Adolescents) Indonesian Version declared valid and reliable for use in assessing smoking dependence on Indonesian adolescents.
Programlama Eğitiminde Scratch’in Kullanılması: Öğretmen Adaylarının Tutum ve Algıları
Authors: ARSLAN Kürşat , AKÇELİK Melike
Published: April 2019

Bu çalışmanın amacı, genellikle küçük yaş gruplarında tercih edilen Scratch programının yüksek öğretimde programlama eğitiminde kullanılmasına yönelik Bilgisayar ve Öğretim Teknolojileri Eğitimi Bölümü bölümü 1. Sınıf öğrencilerinin algılarının incelenmesi ve Scratch uygulamasından önce ve sonra öğrencilerin tutumlarının değerlendirilmesidir. Araştırma, 2016-2017 öğretim yılı bahar döneminde Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Bilgisayar ve Öğretim Teknolojileri Eğitimi Bölümünde 1. sınıfta öğretim gören 32 öğretmen adayı ile karma araştırma deseni kullanılarak yapılmıştır.  Veriler; tutum ve öz yeterlilik ölçeklerine dayanan nicel
ve yarı yapılandırılmış birebir görüşmelerden oluşan nitel verilerden oluşmaktadır. Araştırma sonucunda, genel olarak
eğitimden önce öğrencilerin programlamaya ilişkin algılarının pozitif olduğu ve Scratch kullanımından sonra bu algının olumlu yönde daha da arttığı gözlenmiştir. Araştırmanın nitel bulgularında ise katılımcılar için Scratch eğlenceli, oyunlaştıran, sonuçların hemen görüldüğü, kolay, görsel ve Türkçe bir programlama aracı olarak algılandığı görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte, bu
yazılımın üniversite düzeyinde bir programlama dili olarak değilde, programlama eğitiminden önce bir başlangıç aracı olarak kullanılması gerektiği araştırma sonucu ortaya çıkan bir diğer bulgudur. Ayrıca sonuçlar, Scratch’in öğretmen adaylarının gelecekteki öğrencileri için kullanılmasının hem gelişen teknolojiler hem de onların artan talepleri doğrultusunda zorunlu olduğunu göstermiştir.
ANALISA PERBANDINGAN RASIO LIKUIDITAS, SOLVABILITAS, DAN PROFITABILITAS SEBAGAI ALAT UNTUK MENGUKUR KINERJA KEUANGAN PADA PERUSAHAAN PROPERTY DAN REAL ESTATE YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA (BEI) PADA TAHUN 2011-2014
Authors: Sadi’ah Kamilah , Anggraeni Ditha
Published: April 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perbandingan analisis likuiditas, analisis solvabilitas, dan analisis profitabilitas sebagai alat untuk mengukur kinerja keuangan terhadap perusahan property dan real estate yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Pada tahun 2011-2014. Adapun perusahaan yang dijadikan objek dalam penelitian ini diantaranya adalah PT Ciputra Development Tbk, PT Cowell Development Tbk, PT Intiland Development Tbk, PT Megapolitan Development Tbk, dan PT Bakrieland Development Tbk. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Penelitian deskriptif kualitatif. Kegiatan penelitian ini meliputi pengumpulan data, menganalisis data, meginterpretasi data, dan diakhiri dengan sebuah kesimpulan yang mengacu pada penganalisisan data tersebut. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini merupakan data sekunder yaitu berupa laporan keuangan perusahaan yang terdiri dari neraca dan laba/rugi perusahaan dari tahun 2011-2014. Adapun teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah studi pustaka Yaitu pengumpulan data dengan membaca literaturliteratur, tulisan ilmiah, serta sumber tertulis lainnya, kemudian Penelitian Lapangan yaitu metode pengumpulan data melalui pengamatan dan penelitian yang menggunakan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari Bursa Efek Indonesia. Dan yang terakhir rasio keuangan diantaranya rasio likuiditas terdiri dari current ratio, quick ratio, dan cash ratio. Kemudian rasio solvabilitas terdiri dari debt ratio dan debt to equity ratio. Dan yang terakhir rasio profitabilitas, terdiri dari net profit margin, gross profit margin, return on asset, dan return on equity. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa dari sisi likuiditas PT Ciputra dan PT megapolitan memiliki nilai rasio yang bagus karena berada di atas 100% yang merupakan nilai titik aman. Dari segi solvabilitas PT Megapolitan dan PT Bakrieland yang memiliki nilai rasio yang baik karena nilai dibawah 100%. Dari segi profitabilitas GPM dan NPM PT Ciputra dan PT Intiland, memiliki nilai GPM dan NPM yang baik karena disetiap tahunnya nilai GPM dan NPM mengalami kenaikan. Sedangkan untuk PT Cowell, PT Megapolitan, dan PT Bakrieland memiliki nilai GPM dan NPM yang naik turun disetiap tahunnya. Sedangkan untuk ROA dan ROE yang memiliki nilai baik adalah PT Ciputra, PT Intiland, dan PT Megapolitan karena selama empat tahun berturut-turut nilai ROA dan ROE mengalami kenaikan. Sedangkan untuk perusahaan lainnya nilai ROA dan ROE tidak stabil yaitu naik turun. Kata Kunci : Kinerja Keuangan, Analisis Rasio Keuangan
Transformacja w przestrzeni. Wpływ modelu deweloperskiego na urbanizację Polski po 1989 roku
Authors: Drozda Łukasz
Published: April 2019

The article describes the impact, the meaning and the characteristics of the housing estates developed by the real estate companies in Poland after 1989 and presents possible solutions to eliminate the dysfunctions of the inhabited space, which can improve the functionality of inhabited environment. That model of housing is one of the most typical elements of the settlement network in Poland. Unknown under the real socialism when the housing development was based on public and industrial investment and the so-called socialized housing, in the later period supplemented to a greater extent by individual projects. Real estate housing has negative impact on the quality of the urbanized space and the national economy, which results in the creation of a low quality living environment. On the other hand, to some extent they solve the problem of the housing shortage caused by the ine'cient public policy in that field. The study is based on source literature and o'cial statistics on the level of housing production in the analysed period.
Dług jako determinanta stabilności systemu finansów samorządowych
Authors: Filipiak Beata Zofia
Published: April 2019

Local government debt has many functions: it stimulates development, it allows to make qualitative and quantitative changes in the scope of local government public tasks. However, existing budgetary rules also restrict development. The aim of this article is to answer the question whether the debt can be a factor in stabilizing the finances of local government? The article consists of four parts. The first part shows the position of local government debt against income and expenditure of local government units. The second part discusses the determinants of stability of usage of local government debt. The third part presents the trends and arguments for the use of debt as a means of stabilizing the finances of local government units. The final section discusses the destabilizing impact of debt on the finances of local government units.
Przejrzystość fiskalna a stabilność polskiego systemu finansów publicznych
Authors: Malinowska-Misiąg Elżbieta
Published: April 2019

The aim of the article is to verify the impact of fiscal transparency on the quality and reliability of public finance sector data which in turn are the basis for formulating conclusions on the effectiveness of fiscal policy and the sustainability of public finance. The article identifies and provides examples of the primary areas that impair fiscal transparency in Poland, particularly: the scope of public finance sector, the extra-budgetary institutions and fiscal rules. In conclusion the author underlines that the findings based on published budgetary data can be subject to a significant error.
Luka w podatku od towarów i usług oraz sposoby jej ograniczania
Authors: Małecka-Ziembińska Edyta
Published: April 2019

The study focuses on the concept and components of the tax gap. In addition, the article presents an estimate of the gap in the value added tax in the European Union for the years 2000-2013. With regard to the Poland, it also identifies the causes of the gap occurrence and actions aimed at reducing its size.
Unia bankowa a stabilność systemu finansowego UE
Authors: Mikita Małgorzata
Published: April 2019

Banking union is a new concept of the European Union in the field of financial market. The project aim is to strengthen the financial system and increase its resistance to crises that may arise in the future. This article aims to analyse the impact of the banking union on the stability of the financial system in the EU. Three pillars of the banking union are taken into account: single supervisory mechanism, single resolution mechanism and single deposit guarantee scheme. The author argues that the banking union can contribute to the stability of the financial system in the EU, but it cannot guarantee it
Ekonomia społeczna wobec wyzwań polityki społecznej - w poszukiwaniu wspólnych relacji i przestrzeni
Authors: Łojko Majka
Published: April 2019

The aim of the article is to present the relations between social economy and social policy as well as to identify the main challenges in the sphere of mutual relations. The main thesis of the article is contained in the statement that the social economy sector is an important instrument for the implementation of social policy, so far insufficiently appreciated and applied in its activities. Social economy, because of its current validity and defined priorities in social policy, deserves a systematic and in-depth research as well as practical application. This paper comprises theoretical considerations presented on the basis of the source literature
Ewolucja badań nad zrównoważeniem finansów publicznych
Authors: Janikowski Łukasz
Published: April 2019

From the 1980s onwards, in developed countries (and not only) we observe an upward trend in the ratio of public debt to GDP. In many countries public debt has exceeded GDP, and in the world's most indebted country – Japan – has exceeded 250% of GDP and continues to grow rapidly. These figures raise concerns among economists and emerge questions about whether public finances in these countries are on a sustainable path. In order to answer these questions, the criteria for assessing the sustainability of public finances need to be specified. This problem was already investigated by classical economists, but the definition and the formal conditions for a balanced fiscal policy have been specified by economists almost two centuries later. The aim of this article is to present the evolution of theoretical research on the problem of sustainability of public finances
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS EFFECT ON CHAOTIC DYNAMICS OF CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM PARAMETERS OF WORKERS OF OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
Authors: Boltaev A V , Gazya G V , Khadartsev A A , Sinenko D V
Published: April 2019

The motion of state vector of cardiovascular system in females working on Surgut condensate stabilization plant was studied in five-dimensional phase space of states. The parameters xi of cardiovascular system in four groups of women varied within the range of VG - bounding volumes of the phase space of states, which was defined as quasi-attractor. The volumes VG were measured and compared in women of different age, affected and not affected by human-made electromagnetic fields of industrial frequency, which allowed establishing the principal differences in the dynamics of VG. In particular, women, both younger and older age groups underwent stress effect of electromagnetic fields of industrial frequency. This led to breakdown in volume of quasi-attractors in phase plane of vector (x1, x2)T where x1 - duration of cardiointervals, and x2 = dx1/dt - rate of change of x1. In fact, electromagnetic fields became stress agents for human's cardiovascular system in the North of Russian. This is shown in the framework of quasi-attractors for cardio of two groups of women. Comparison of these four groups according to the parameters of quasi-attractors showed differences though statistical differences were not significant on a number of xi parameters of whole the body state vector x (f) of person's organism living in the special northern conditions.
METABOLISM ANALYSIS IN MICE WITH REDUCED CITRATE SYNTHASE ACTIVITY
Authors: Fokin Andrej , Minderis Petras , Žūkienė Rasa , Ratkevičius Aivaras
Published: April 2019

Background.  Citrate  synthase  (CS)  plays  an  important  role  in  the  regulation  of  carbohydrate  oxidation.
Variation in citrate synthase activity has an influence on metabolic changes. We tested the hypothesis that reduced
mitochondrial CS activity could affect energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in mouse model with
an emphasizing on gender differences between tested strains.
Methods. 16-week of age wild-type C57Bl/6J (B6) mouse strain, B6.A-(rs3676616-D10Utsw1)/Kjn (B6.A) and
C57BL/6J-Chr 10A/J/NaJ (B6.A10) strains with reduced CS activity were studied in physiocage by the “Panlab”
metabolism analysing equipment. The following parameters were calculated: EE (ml/min/kg^0.75), RQ, physical
activity and rearing.
Results. In female mice EE values were lower in B6.A10 strain compared to wild-type B6 strain. RQ values
were similar in all tested mouse strains. In B6 mice EE was higher in females compared to males. Rearing was
elevated in females of B6 mice compared to males.
Conclusions. EE was lower in B6.A10 compared to B6 mice. Gender differences were noticed only in B6 mice:
EE and rearing were significantly higher in female compared to male mice. Current study did not reveal any other
association between reduced CS activity and EE or RQ variation in male and female mice.
EFFECT OF 2-DAY VERY LOW-CALORIE DIET ON PERCEIVED STRESS, COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND MOOD IN OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE MEN
Authors: Solianik Rima , Sujeta Artūras , Čekanauskaitė Agnė , Januševičiūtė Mantė
Published: April 2019

Background. It is well established that intermittent long-term fasting, during which a very low-calorie diet is
allowed 2-days a week, improves weight loss, mood and cognitive functions. However, we are not aware of any
previous studies on the effect of a 2-day very low-calorie diet on brain functioning. Thus, the purpose of this study
was to determine the effect of 2-day very low-calorie diet on perceived stress, cognitive functions and mood in
overweight and obese men.
Methods. Nine young adult men (body mass index (BMI) from 26.7 to 32.1 kg/m 2 ) completed a 2-days very
low-calorie diet (536 kcal) and 2-day usual diet program in a randomized order. Perceived stress (subjective stress
rating and cardiovascular response), cognitive performance, and mood were evaluated before and after both diets.
Results. A subjective stress rating in relation to the very low-calorie diet condition was 37.4 ± 18.7. There were
no detectable effects of acute calorie restriction on cardiovascular response (heart rate and blood pressure) and on
any aspect of cognitive performance. Meanwhile, sense of vigor increased (p < .05) and negatively correlated with
BMI (r = −.780, p < .05).
Conclusions. The two-day very low-calorie diet evoked a mild stress, which did not affect sympathetic nervous
system response and cognitive performance in overweight and obese men. Furthermore, very low-calorie diet
increased vigor, which was strongly associated with decreased body mass index.
SPIRITUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERSONALITY IN MODERN EDUCATIONAL SPACE
Authors: Molodychenko Valentin Victorovich , Oleksenko Roman Ivanovich , Taranenko Galina Grigorievna
Published: April 2019

The culture and education are viewed as areas through which the process of the personality’s full development and formation takes place. This is the way how the human being, who is capable of the implementation and development of the experience accumulated by the mankind, is formed.The article proves the fact that education involves a person in a system of socially significant values;it forms the universal behavioral patterns and promotes the assimilation of human values. Taking into account the personality’s requests and social factors, it is extremely important for modern education to find optimal conditions for the harmonization of relations between the individual and the society, man and nature. This harmonization promotes the emergence and development of all physical and spiritual powers of the human being. Features mentioned above activate a new type of world perception and a system of values, which are impossible without understanding the ways of the modern man’s spiritual culture.
TOURISM AS AN INTENSIFIER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
Authors: Popova Yelena
Published: April 2019

Grounding of research. Tourism is determined as travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) defines tourists as people “travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes” (UNWTO Technical Manual, 1995).Nowadays tourism is perceived as a mass phenomenon of the contemporary life, penetrating all spheres of it, capable of changing the economic, social and cultural environment and surrounding world. Today the concept of tourism is much wider than the above presented definition. Practically it is a global aggregate of relations and unity of connections and events following the tourist in his/her travel. Research problems. Tourism acts as a social-economic development of the catalyst, so important for the development of this activity. The article also deals with the use of modern technology, the analysis of economic and social indicators.The aim of researcher analyse the functioning of the tourism as an industry of national economy.Research methods.The article employed theoretical analysis, synthesis and secondary statistical analysis method. The work analyzed the statistics of the development of the tourism sector provided by the World Tourism Organization.Conclusions. Tourism combines economic, social, educational, cultural, aesthetic factors. Tourism is subjected to influence from political and economic situation, it depends on such factors as fashion and advertisement, which determine the demand for tourism via impact on population needs, interests, spirit, forming human habits and priorities. The innovations in the field of tourism have a particularly important role for the economic development of the country. Tourism companies in the market economy are increasingly recognizing the need for developing new products and services capable of generating additional economic benefits. The development and accordingly the return on tourism greatly depend on the level of economic development of the country and on the willingness of government to heavily invest in this industry
PERENDAMAN (SOANGKING) LIMBAH ORGANIK DAPUR (KITCHEN) DI HOTEL LOMBOK RAYA KOTA MATARAM
Authors: Purwata I Ketut
Published: April 2019

Pertumbuhan industri pariwisata khususnya perhotelan kedepannya sangat menjanjikan sebagai penggerak perekonomian untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat. Efek industry ini mampu menggerakkan semua sektor kehidupan masyarakat. Namun kemajuan ini memiliki efek terhadap lingkungan hidup khususnya limbah organik dapur (kitchen) yang dihasilkan, jika tidak ditangani dengan baik, berupa polusi bau dan sampah. Hotel Lombok Raya sebagai salah satu hotel yang berada di Kota Mataram, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat menghadapi permasalahan dalam penanganan limbah organik dapur ini, khususnya dampak langsung terhadap masyarakat sekitar.Oleh karena itu dalam rangka mendukung pembangunan pariwisata dan ekonomi kreatif di Kota Mataram sebagai komponen masyarakat turut menyangga pembangunan Pariwisata dan ekonomi kreatif, maka solusi yang ingin dicapai dalam program PKMS ini adalah : “ Pihak Hotel Lombok Raya dapat menekan tingkat polusi yang ditimbulkan dari limbah organik dapur (kitchen), dan limbah tersebut justru dapat bermanfaat bagi sektor peternak dan bidang pertanian” Metode yang digunakan adalah  penyuluhan dan sosialisasi dan bimbingan teknis (bintek) bagi karyawan-karyawati Hotel Lombok Raya, dalam proses penangan limbah dapur (kitchen) dengan proses perendaman (soaking) sampai kepada pengolahan limbah menjadi bahan yang bermanfaat berupa pakan ternak, melakukan  pendampingan dalam memperkenalkan, menyalurkan dan tata cara pemanfaatan limbah kepada peternak dan petani serta penguatan jejaring. Rencana kegiatan yang akan dilakukan dalam pengabdian ini adalah sebagai berikut : 1) Melakukan penyuluhan dan bintek tata cara penanganan limbah yang efektif dengan cara perendaman (soaking) dengan melakukan hubungan kemitraan di Hotel Lombok Raya di Kota Mataram dan di jadikan sebagai suatu kebijakkan 2) Melakukan penyuluhan kepada peternak khususnya peternak itik dan petani tehnik dan cara pemanfaatan limbah hasil proses perendaman sebagai pakan alternatif dan pemanfaatan air perendaman sebagai alternatif pupuk tanaman, di Desa Medas Desa Kecamatan Gunung Sari, Kabupaten Lombok Barat 3) Membantu dan Melatih serta pendampingan peternak dan petani dalam pengolahan  sendiri limbah organik dapur dengan sitem perendaman (soaking) agar lebih berkesinambungan. 4) Memberikan pelatihan dalam proses pengemasan yang baik dan  hygienis produksi peternak berupa telur dan hasil pertanian berupa sayur mayur.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN AKTIFITAS DAN HASIL BELAJAR BAHASA INDONESIA PESERTA DIDIK KELAS VII.1 SEMESTER DUA TAHUN PELAJARAN 2017/2018 MELALUI PENERAPAN PENDEKATAN COOPERATIVE LEARNING (CL) TIPE STAD DI SMP NEGERI 4 MATARAM
Authors: Saelendra Ni Nyoman
Published: April 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas penerapan pendekatan cooperative learning (CL) tipe STAD dalam upaya meningkatkan Aktifitas dan hasil belajar Bahasa Indonesia Peserta didik kelas VII-D SMP Negeri 4 Mataram. Manfaat penelitian ini adalah sebagai bahan kajian dan bahan temuan dalam pelaksanaan proses pembelajaran di kelas senyatanya. Bagi guru untuk meningkatkan kompetensi dalam proses pembelajaran dan bagi peserta didik untuk meningktakan Aktifitas belajar yang berdampak meningkatnya hasil belajar peserta didik. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dua siklus, masing-masing siklus kegiatannya adalah; perencanaan, pelaksanaan, observasi dan refleksi. Hasil akhir tindakan pada siklus II menunjukkan bahwa hasil observasi guru memperoleh skor rata-rata (4,18) dan hasil observasi peserta didik mencapai skor rata-rata (4,33). Sedangkan dampak dari peningkatan Aktifitas belajar adalah meningkatnya perolehan hasil belajar peserta didik mencapai nilai rata-rata (85,00), artinya indicator keberhasilan (> 4,0) telah terlampaui. Karena indicator keberhasilan telah terbukti penelitian dinyatakan berhasil dan dihentikan pada siklus II.
Ptolemaic Cavalrymen on Painted Alexandrian Funerary Monuments
Authors: Cole Sara E.
Published: April 2019

The multiethnic environment of Ptolemaic Alexandria resulted in cross-cultural transmission of funerary practices and associated material culture that introduced many traditions to Egypt from the Mediterranean world. Along with an influx of mercenaries serving in the Ptolemaic army came cultural and artistic knowledge from their places of origin, which they (or their families) incorporated into their burials. One motif, which appears on late 4th–3rd-century painted funerary monuments from Alexandria, is that of a soldier on horseback, alluding to images of the heroic hunter or warrior on horseback found in tombs in the regions of northern Greece. These Alexandrian monuments commemorated members of the Ptolemaic cavalry, some of whom are identified as Macedonian or Thessalian by accompanying Greek inscriptions. The image of a soldier astride his rearing horse not only emphasized the deceased’s military status, but also established a link with Macedonian and Ptolemaic royal iconography. This type of self-representation served a number of purposes: to signal the deceased’s cultural and geographic origins, demonstrate his elite role in Ptolemaic society and imply connections to the Ptolemaic court, all of which were important to the immigrant inhabitants of early Alexandria as they sought to express their identity in a new geographical, cultural, and political setting.
Inhibition of Demineralization at Restoration Margins of Z100 and Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill in Dentin and Enamel
Authors: Leon-Pineda Cristina , Donly Kevin
Published: April 2019

Recurrent caries is still considered the main reason restorations need to be replaced. There are different materials available now that promise to reduce the possibility of recurrent caries by releasing fluoride and inhibiting restoration marginal caries. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the demineralization inhibition potential of a non-fluoride-releasing resin (Z100TM 3M, St. Paul, MN, USA) and a glass containing resin-based composite (Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill, Ivoclar/Vivadent AG, Schaan, Liechtenstein), which contains fluoride. Class V preparations were placed on 22 premolars; the gingival margin was below the cementoenamel junction and the occlusal margin was placed above the cemento-enamel junction. Ten teeth were randomly selected to be restored with Z100 while the other 10 were restored with Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill. Both groups were restored following manufacturer’s instructions. All teeth had an acid resistant varnish placed within one millimeter of the preparation margins. Both groups were placed in artificial caries challenge solution (pH 4.4). At the end of the 4 days; 100 µm buccolingual sections were obtained for each tooth; these were photographed under polarized light microscopy and the demineralized areas adjacent to the restorations were measured and quantified. The mean (±S.D.) area (µm2) of demineralization from the occlusal margin (enamel) and dentin margin were: Z100 2781.889 ± 1045.213; 3960.455 ± 705.964 and for Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill 1541.545 ± 1167.027; 3027.600 ± 512.078. Student’s t-test indicated that there was significantly less enamel and dentin demineralization adjacent to Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill compared to Z100; there was significantly less demineralization in enamel compared to dentin in both Tetric EvoCeral Bulk Fill and Z100. Tetric EvoCeram Bulk Fill performed better inhibiting demineralization at restoration margins when compared to Z100 and provided better demineralization inhibition in enamel than cementum/dentin.
Finger-Like Carbon-Based Nanostructures Produced by Combustion of Flour-Based Sticks (Spaghetti)
Authors: Ossler Frederik , Hetherington Crispin J. D.
Published: April 2019

Biomass is becoming particularly important as a starting material for advanced carbon structures. In this study, we found interesting nanostructures on the surface of burnt spaghetti using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for analysis. The structures were elongated and finger-like, with evidence that the tubes have shell and core components. The shell was carbon that included amorphous and layered graphene structures. EDX showed enriched potassium and phosphorous in the core and at the tip of the tubes. The results indicate that tube formation depends on phase separation of polar/ionic and nonpolar moieties when water is produced in the biomass from the pyrolysis/combustion. The tube growth is most probably due to the raising pressure of vapor that cannot escape through the carbon film that is formed at the surface of the stick from flame heat. This process resembles glass blowing or volcanic activity, where the carbon acts as the glass or earth’s crust, respectively. These observations suggest that new interesting tubular nanostructures with different properties on the inside and outside can be produced in a relatively simple way, utilizing processes of combustion of starch-rich biomass materials.
Gene Therapy Today and Tomorrow
Authors: Lundstrom Kenneth
Published: April 2019

In the wake of a breakthrough in biotechnology providing realistic application of recombinant expressed proteins as drugs in the 1990s, gene therapy emerged as the potential approach for providing medicines of the future [...]
Learning Using Concave and Convex Kernels: Applications in Predicting Quality of Sleep and Level of Fatigue in Fibromyalgia
Authors: Sabeti Elyas , Gryak Jonathan , Derksen Harm , Biwer Craig , Ansari Sardar , Isenstein Howard , Kratz Anna , Najarian Kayvan
Published: April 2019

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by widespread muscle pain and tenderness and is often accompanied by fatigue and alteration in sleep, mood, and memory. Poor sleep quality and fatigue, as prominent characteristics of fibromyalgia, have a direct impact on patient behavior and quality of life. As such, the detection of extreme cases of sleep quality and fatigue level is a prerequisite for any intervention that can improve sleep quality and reduce fatigue level for people with fibromyalgia and enhance their daytime functionality. In this study, we propose a new supervised machine learning method called Learning Using Concave and Convex Kernels (LUCCK). This method employs similarity functions whose convexity or concavity can be configured so as to determine a model for each feature separately, and then uses this information to reweight the importance of each feature proportionally during classification. The data used for this study was collected from patients with fibromyalgia and consisted of blood volume pulse (BVP), 3-axis accelerometer, temperature, and electrodermal activity (EDA), recorded by an Empatica E4 wristband over the courses of several days, as well as a self-reported survey. Experiments on this dataset demonstrate that the proposed machine learning method outperforms conventional machine learning approaches in detecting extreme cases of poor sleep and fatigue in people with fibromyalgia.
A Novel Signal Separation Method Based on Improved Sparse Non-Negative Matrix Factorization
Authors: Wang Huaqing , Wang Mengyang , Li Junlin , Song Liuyang , Hao Yansong
Published: April 2019

In order to separate and extract compound fault features of a vibration signal from a single channel, a novel signal separation method is proposed based on improved sparse non-negative matrix factorization (SNMF). In view of the traditional SNMF failure to perform well in the underdetermined blind source separation, a constraint reference vector is introduced in the SNMF algorithm, which can be generated by the pulse method. The square wave sequences are constructed as the constraint reference vector. The output separated signal is constrained by the vector, and the vector will update according to the feedback of the separated signal. The redundancy of the mixture signal will be reduced during the constantly updating of the vector. The time–frequency distribution is firstly applied to capture the local fault features of the vibration signal. Then the high dimension feature matrix of time–frequency distribution is factorized to select local fault features with the improved SNMF method. Meanwhile, the compound fault features can be separated and extracted automatically by using the sparse property of the improved SNMF method. Finally, envelope analysis is used to identify the feature of the output separated signal and realize compound faults diagnosis. The simulation and test results show that the proposed method can effectively solve the separation of compound faults for rotating machinery, which can reduce the dimension and improve the efficiency of algorithm. It is also confirmed that the feature extraction and separation capability of proposed method is superior to the traditional SNMF algorithm.
Aromatics from Beechwood Organosolv Lignin through Thermal and Catalytic Pyrolysis
Authors: Kalogiannis Konstantinos G. , Matsakas Leonidas , Lappas Angelos A. , Rova Ulrika , Christakopoulos Paul
Published: April 2019

Biomass fractionation, as an alternative to biomass pretreatment, has gained increasing research attention over the past few years as it provides separate streams of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. These streams can be used separately and can provide a solution for improving the economics of emerging biorefinery technologies. The sugar streams are commonly used in microbial conversions, whereas during recent years lignin has been recognized as a valuable compound as it is the only renewable and abundant source of aromatic chemicals. Successfully converting lignin into valuable chemicals and products is key in achieving both environmental and economic sustainability of future biorefineries. In this work, lignin retrieved from beechwood sawdust delignification pretreatment via an organosolv process was depolymerized with thermal and catalytic pyrolysis. ZSM-5 commercial catalyst was used in situ to upgrade the lignin bio-oil vapors. Lignins retrieved from different modes of organosolv pretreatment were tested in order to evaluate the effect that upstream pretreatment has on the lignin fraction. Both thermal and catalytic pyrolysis yielded oils rich in phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons. Use of ZSM-5 catalyst assisted in overall deoxygenation of the bio-oils and enhanced aromatic hydrocarbons production. The oxygen content of the bio-oils was reduced at the expense of their yield. Organosolv lignins were successfully depolymerized towards phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons via thermal and catalytic pyrolysis. Hence, lignin pyrolysis can be an effective manner for lignin upgrading towards high added value products.
Design of an Adaptive Power Management Strategy for Range Extended Electric Vehicles
Authors: Guan Jen-Chiun , Chen Bo-Chiuan , Wu Yuh-Yih
Published: April 2019

The cruising distance of the range extended electric vehicle (REEV) can be further extended using a range extender, which consists of an engine and a generator, i.e., a genset. An adaptive power management strategy (PMS) based on the equivalent fuel consumption minimization strategy (ECMS) is proposed for the REEV in this paper. The desired trajectory of the state of charge (SOC) is designed based on the energy-to-distance ratio, which is defined as the difference between the initial SOC and the minimum allowable SOC divided by the remaining travel distance, for discharging the battery. A self-organizing fuzzy controller (SOFC) with SOC feedback is utilized to modify the equivalence factor, which is defined as the fuel consumption rate per unit of electric power, for tracking the desired SOC trajectory. An instantaneous cost function, that consists of the fuel consumption rate of the genset and the equivalent fuel consumption rate of the battery, is minimized to find the optimum power distribution for the genset and the battery. Dynamic programming, which is a global minimization method, is employed to obtain the performance upper bound for the target REEV. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is adaptive for different driving cycles and can effectively increase the fuel economy of the thermostat control strategy (TCS) by 11.1% to 16%. The proposed algorithm can also reduce average charging/discharging powers and low SOC operations for possibly extending the battery life and increasing the battery efficiency, respectively. An experiment of the prototype REEV on a chassis dynamometer is set up with the proposed algorithm implemented on a real-time controller. Experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can increase the fuel economy of the TCS by 7.8% for the tested driving cycle. In addition, the proposed algorithm can reduce the average charge/discharge powers of TCS by 7.9% and 11.7%, respectively.
Life Cycle Assessment of a Biogas-Fed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Integrated in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Authors: Gandiglio Marta , De Sario Fabrizio , Lanzini Andrea , Bobba Silvia , Santarelli Massimo , Blengini Gian Andrea
Published: April 2019

This work assesses the environmental impacts of an industrial-scale Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) plant fed by sewage biogas locally available from a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Three alternative scenarios for biogas exploitation have been investigated and real data from an existing integrated SOFC-WWTP have been retrieved: the first one (Scenario 1) is the current scenario, where biogas is exploited in a boiler for thermal-energy-only production, while the second one is related to the installation of an efficient SOFC-based cogeneration system (Scenario 2). A thermal energy conservation opportunity that foresees the use of a dynamic machine for sludge pre-thickening enhancement is also investigated as a third scenario (Scenario 3). The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) has shown that producing a substantial share of electrical energy (around 25%) via biogas-fed SOFC cogeneration modules can reduce the environmental burden associated to WWTP operations in five out of the seven impact categories that have been analyzed in this work. A further reduction of impacts, particularly concerning global warming potential and primary energy demand, is possible by the decrease of the thermal request of the digester, thus making the system independent from natural gas. In both Scenarios 2 and 3, primary energy and CO2 emissions embodied in the manufacture and maintenance of the cogeneration system are neutralized by operational savings in less than one year.
Components Sizing and Performance Analysis of Hydro-Mechanical Power Split Transmission Applied to a Wheel Loader
Authors: Xiong Shaoping , Wilfong Gabriel , Lumkes John
Published: April 2019

The powertrain efficiency deeply affects the performance of off-road vehicles like wheel loaders in terms of fuel economy, load capability, smooth control, etc. The hydrostatic transmission (HST) systems have been widely adopted in off-road vehicles for providing large power density and continuous variable control, yet using relatively low efficiency hydraulic components. This paper presents a hydrostatic-mechanical power split transmission (PST) solution for a 10-ton wheel loader for improving the fuel economy of a wheel loader. A directly-engine-coupled HST solution for the same wheel loader is also presented for comparison. This work introduced a sizing approach for both PST and HST, which helps to make proper selections of key powertrain components. Furthermore, this work also presented a multi-domain modeling approach for the powertrain of a wheel loader, that integrates the modeling of internal combustion (IC) engine, hydraulic systems, mechanical transmission, vehicle(wheel) dynamics, and relevant control systems. In this modeling, an engine torque evaluation method with a throttle position control system was developed to describe the engine dynamics; a method to express the hydraulic loss of the axial piston hydraulic pump/motor was developed for modeling the hydraulic transmission; and a vehicle velocity control system was developed based on altering the displacement of a hydraulic unit. Two powertrain models were developed, respectively, for the PST and HST systems of a wheel loader using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation on a predefined wheel loader drive cycle was conducted on both powertrain models to evaluate and compare the performance of wheel loader using different systems, including vehicle velocity, hydraulic displacement control, hydraulic torque, powertrain efficiency, and engine power consumption. The simulation results indicate that the vehicle velocity controller developed functions well for both the PST and HST systems; a wheel loader using the proposed PST solution can overall save about 8% energy consumption compared using an HST solution in one drive cycle. The sizing method and simulation models developed in this work should facilitate the development of the powertrains for wheel loaders and other wheeled heavy vehicles.
Power-mileage-based Algorithm for the Optimization of Distribution Network Structures via Adding Transmission Lines
Authors: Wei Chengzhi , Li Qiang , Chen Minyou , Kang Wenfa , Lin Houfei
Published: April 2019

In remote areas, large power stations are often installed to supply local loads due to the difficulties of power transmission. However, with the development of renewable energies and poverty alleviation programs, many renewable energy stations have been installed in such areas. This large amount of surplus and fluctuating energy causes a poor voltage quality, and this problem is difficult to solve with traditional methods. Adding transmission lines can be a feasible solution, but the related research is limited. To provide a guideline for this solution, a network optimization algorithm is proposed in this paper. In the process, a sub-grid that is far from the national grid with an imbalanced power supply and demand is connected to the national grid directly to improve the power quality. First, the linear performance index power mileage is defined to facilitate the calculation and help denote the voltage quality. Then, an iterative algorithm is formed to perform the network optimization and automatically choose the number of clusters. A case study of an actual power grid in Chongqing, China, and an IEEE 123-bus case are used to verify our algorithm. The results show there is a great improvement in the voltage profile.
Compliance of a Generic Type 3 WT Model with the Spanish Grid Code
Authors: Villena-Ruiz Raquel , Jiménez-Buendía Francisco , Honrubia-Escribano Andrés , Molina-García Ángel , Gómez-Lázaro Emilio
Published: April 2019

The expansion of wind power around the world poses a new challenge that network operators must overcome, namely the integration of this renewable energy source into the grid. Comprehensive analyses involving time-domain simulations must be carried out to plan network operation and ensure power supply. In light of the above, and with the aim of extending the use of the wind turbine models developed by Standard IEC 61400-27-1 and assessing their performance according to national grid code requirements, an IEC Type 3 wind turbine model has been submitted for the first time to Spanish grid code PO 12.3. Indeed, there is a lack of studies submitting generic wind turbine models to national grid code requirements. The model’s behavior is compared with field measurements of an actual Gamesa G52 machine and with its detailed simulation model. The outcomes obtained have been comprehensively analyzed and the results of the validation criteria highlight that several modeling modifications, in the cases of non-compliance, must be implemented in the IEC-developed Type 3 model in order to comply with PO 12.3. Nevertheless, the results also show that when the transformer inrush current is not considered, the reactive power response of the generic Type 3 WT model meets the validation criteria, thus complying with Spanish PO 12.3.
The Analysis and Solution of Current Differential Protection Maloperation for Transmission Line with High Series Compensation Degree
Authors: Li Zhenxing , Fu Yuting , Wang Ling , Wang Lu , Bao Wenliang , Chen Yanxia
Published: April 2019

With the increasing integration of huge-size generators and tighter interconnection among power grids, in internal fault, the fault current of Series Compensated (SC) lines may be reversed. At this time, the differential protection of SC lines may fail to operate due to insufficient sensitivity. In this research analyzes the reasons for the current reverse in SC lines and its effect on differential protection. The operation characteristics of differential protection are studied by focusing on multiple factors, including different series compensation degree, fault types, system operation mode, power angle difference, fault points, and transition resistance. An improved criterion based on the current amplitudes and phases on both sides of the series compensated lines is proposed. Further, to strengthen the operation characteristics of differential protection, the triple-fold line is chosen to improve the sensitivity for internal faults in this paper. The criterion is effective to improve the protection sensitivity of SC lines during internal fault. The PSCAD/EMTDC simulation and the power system dynamic physics simulation demonstrates that protection sensitivity is obviously increased in the improved scheme.
Hydro-Climatic Variability: A Characterisation and Trend Study of the Awash River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Tadese Mahtsente Tibebe , Kumar Lalit , Koech Richard , Zemadim Birhanu
Published: April 2019

The objective of this study was to characterize, quantify and validate the variability and trends of hydro-climatic variables in the Awash River Basin (ARB) in Ethiopia using graphical and statistical methods. The rainfall and streamflow trends and their relationships were evaluated using the regression method, Mann–Kendall (MK) test and correlation analysis. The analysis focused on rainfall and streamflow collected from 28 and 18 stations, respectively. About 85.7% and 75.3% of the rainfall stations exhibited normal to moderate variability in annual and June to September rainfall, respectively, whereas 96.43% of rainfall stations showed high variability in March to May. The MK test showed that most of the significant trends in annual rainfall were decreasing except in two stations. These research findings provide valuable information on the characteristics, variability, and trend of rainfall and streamflow necessary for the design of sustainable water management strategies and to reduce the impact of droughts and floods in the ARB.
Melatonin Levels in Preterm and Term Infants and Their Mothers
Authors: Biran Valérie , Decobert Fabrice , Bednarek Nathalie , Boizeau Priscilla , Benoist Jean-François , Claustrat Bruno , Barré Jérôme , Colella Marina , Frérot Alice , Garnotel Roselyne , Graesslin Olivier , Haddad Bassam , Launay Jean-Marie , Schmitz Thomas , Schroedt Julien , Virlouvet Anne-Laure , Guilmin-Crépon Sophie , Yacoubi Adyla , Jacqz-Aigrain Evelyne , Gressens Pierre , Alberti Corinne , Baud Olivier
Published: April 2019

The prevention of perinatal brain damage following preterm birth remains a public health priority. Melatonin has been shown to be a promising neuroprotectant in neonatal preclinical models of brain damage, but few studies have investigated melatonin secretion in newborns. We hypothesized that melatonin circulating levels would be lower in preterm compared to term infants. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter study to assess melatonin, and 6-sulfatoxy-melatonin (aMT6s) concentrations, measured by radioimmunoassay. Among 209 neonates recruited, 110 were born before 34 gestational weeks (GW) and 99 born after 34 GW. Plasma melatonin concentrations, measured at birth and on Day 3 were below detectable levels (≤7 pg/mL) in 78% and 81%, respectively, of infants born before 34 GW compared to 57% and 34%, respectively, of infants born after 34 GW. The distribution of plasma melatonin concentrations was found to be correlated with gestational age at both time-points (p < 0.001). Median urine aMT6s concentrations were significantly lower in infants born before 34 GW, both on Day 1 (230 ng/L vs. 533 ng/L, p < 0.0001) and on Day 3 (197 ng/L vs. 359 ng/L, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, melatonin secretion appears very low in preterm infants, providing the rationale for testing supplemental melatonin as a neuroprotectant in clinical trials.