bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Prolonged Whey Protein Supplementation and Resistance Training on Biomarkers of Vitamin B12 Status: A 1-Year Randomized Intervention in Healthy Older Adults (the CALM Study)
Authors: Greibe Eva , Reitelseder Søren , Bechshøft Rasmus L. , Bülow Jacob , Højfeldt Grith W. , Schacht Simon R. , Knudsen Mads L. , Tetens Inge , Ostenfeld Marie S. , Mikkelsen Ulla R. , Heegaard Christian W. , Nexo Ebba , Holm Lars
Published: July 2020

We investigated the effect of long-term whey supplementation on biomarkers of B12 status in healthy older adults subjected to different schemes of supplements and exercise. The total study population examined at baseline consisted of 167 healthy older adults (age ≥ 65 year) who were randomized to 1-y intervention with two daily supplements of (1) whey protein (3.1 µg B12/day) (WHEY-ALL), (2) collagen (1.3 µg B12/day) (COLL), or (3) maltodextrin (0.3 µg B12/day) (CARB). WHEY-ALL was comprised of three groups, who performed heavy resistance training (HRTW), light resistance training (LITW), or no training (WHEY). Dietary intake was assessed through 3-d dietary records. For the longitudinal part of the study, we included only the participants (n = 110), who met the criteria of ≥ 50% compliance to the nutritional intervention and ≥ 66% and ≥ 75% compliance to the heavy and light training, respectively. Fasting blood samples collected at baseline and 12 months and non-fasting samples collected at 6 and 18 months were examined for methylmalonic acid, B12 and holotranscobalamin. At baseline, the study population (n = 167) had an overall adequate dietary B12 intake of median (range) 5.3 (0.7–65) µg/day and median B12 biomarker values within reference intervals. The whey intervention (WHEY-ALL) caused an increase in B12 (P < 0.0001) and holotranscobalamin (P < 0.0001). In addition, methylmalonic acid decreased in the LITW group (P = 0.04). No change in B12 biomarkers was observed during the intervention with collagen or carbohydrate, and the training schedules induced no changes. In conclusion, longer-term daily whey intake increased plasma B12 and holotranscobalamin in older individuals. No effect of intervention with collagen or carbohydrate or different training regimes was observed. Interestingly, the biomarkers of B12 status appeared to be affected by fasting vs. non-fasting conditions during sample collection.
Electrophysiological Responses from the Human Tongue to the Six Taste Qualities and Their Relationships with PROP Taster Status
Authors: Melis Melania , Sollai Giorgia , Mastinu Mariano , Pani Danilo , Cosseddu Piero , Bonfiglio Annalisa , Crnjar Roberto , Tepper Beverly J. , Tomassini Barbarossa Iole
Published: July 2020

Taste buds containing receptor cells that primarily detect one taste quality provide the basis for discrimination across taste qualities. The molecular receptor multiplicity and the interactions occurring between bud cells encode information about the chemical identity, nutritional value, and potential toxicity of stimuli before transmitting signals to the hindbrain. PROP (6-n-propylthiouracil) tasting is widely considered a marker for individual variations of taste perception, dietary preferences, and health. However, controversial data have been reported. We present measures of the peripheral gustatory system activation in response to taste qualities by electrophysiological recordings from the tongue of 39 subjects classified for PROP taster status. The waveform of the potential variation evoked depended on the taste quality of the stimulus. Direct relationships between PROP sensitivity and electrophysiological responses to taste qualities were found. The largest and fastest responses were recorded in PROP super-tasters, who had the highest papilla density, whilst smaller and slower responses were found in medium tasters and non-tasters with lower papilla densities. The intensities perceived by subjects of the three taster groups correspond to their electrophysiological responses for all stimuli except NaCl. Our results show that each taste quality can generate its own electrophysiological fingerprint on the tongue and provide direct evidence of the relationship between general taste perception and PROP phenotype.
Impact of Cholesterol Metabolism in Immune Cell Function and Atherosclerosis
Authors: Aguilar-Ballester María , Herrero-Cervera Andrea , Vinué Ángela , Martínez-Hervás Sergio , González-Navarro Herminia
Published: July 2020

Cholesterol, the most important sterol in mammals, helps maintain plasma membrane fluidity and is a precursor of bile acids, oxysterols, and steroid hormones. Cholesterol in the body is obtained from the diet or can be de novo synthetized. Cholesterol homeostasis is mainly regulated by the liver, where cholesterol is packed in lipoproteins for transport through a tightly regulated process. Changes in circulating lipoprotein cholesterol levels lead to atherosclerosis development, which is initiated by an accumulation of modified lipoproteins in the subendothelial space; this induces significant changes in immune cell differentiation and function. Beyond lesions, cholesterol levels also play important roles in immune cells such as monocyte priming, neutrophil activation, hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, and enhanced T cell production. In addition, changes in cholesterol intracellular metabolic enzymes or transporters in immune cells affect their signaling and phenotype differentiation, which can impact on atherosclerosis development. In this review, we describe the main regulatory pathways and mechanisms of cholesterol metabolism and how these affect immune cell generation, proliferation, activation, and signaling in the context of atherosclerosis.
N-Alkylisatin-Loaded Liposomes Target the Urokinase Plasminogen Activator System in Breast Cancer
Authors: Belfiore Lisa , Saunders Darren N. , Ranson Marie , Vine Kara L.
Published: July 2020

The urokinase plasminogen activator and its receptor (uPA/uPAR) are biomarkers for metastasis, especially in triple-negative breast cancer. We prepared anti-mitotic N-alkylisatin (N-AI)-loaded liposomes functionalized with the uPA/uPAR targeting ligand, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 (PAI-2/SerpinB2), and assessed liposome uptake in vitro and in vivo. Receptor-dependent uptake of PAI-2-functionalized liposomes was significantly higher in the uPA/uPAR overexpressing MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line relative to the low uPAR/uPAR expressing MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Furthermore, N-AI cytotoxicity was enhanced in a receptor-dependent manner. In vivo, PAI-2 N-AI liposomes had a plasma half-life of 5.82 h and showed an increased accumulation at the primary tumor site in an orthotopic MDA-MB-231 BALB/c-Fox1nu/Ausb xenograft mouse model, relative to the non-functionalized liposomes, up to 6 h post-injection. These findings support the further development of N-AI-loaded PAI-2-functionalized liposomes for uPA/uPAR-positive breast cancer, especially against triple-negative breast cancer, for which the prognosis is poor and treatment is limited.
Socio-Ecological Contingencies with Climate Changes over the Prehistory in the Mediterranean Iberia
Authors: Brisset Elodie , Revelles Jordi , Expósito Isabel , Bernabeu Aubán Joan , Burjachs Francesc
Published: July 2020

We conducted palynological, sedimentological, and chronological analyses of a coastal sediment sequence to investigate landscape evolution and agropastoral practices in the Nao Cap region (Spain, Western Mediterranean) since the Holocene. The results allowed for a reconstruction of vegetation, fire, and erosion dynamics in the area, implicating the role of fire in vegetation turnover at 5300 (mesophilous forests replaced by sclerophyllous scrubs) and at 3200 calibrated before present (cal. BP) (more xerophytics). Cereal cultivation was apparent from the beginning of the record, during the Mid-Neolithic period. From 5300 to 3800 cal. BP, long-lasting soil erosion was associated with the presence of cereals, indicating intense land-use during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age periods. The decline of the agriculture signal and vegetal recolonization is likely explained by land abandonment during the Final Bronze Age. Anthropogenic markers reappeared during the Iberian period when more settlements were present. A contingency of human and environmental agencies was found at 5900, 4200, and 2800 cal. BP, coinciding with abrupt climate events, that have manifested locally in reduced spring discharge, an absence of agropastoral evidence, and a marked decline in settlement densities. This case study, covering five millennia and three climate events, highlights how past climate changes have affected human activities, and also shows that people repeatedly reoccupied the coast once the perturbation was gone. The littoral zone remained attractive for prehistoric communities despite the costs of living in an area exposed to climatic hazards, such as droughts.
Generation of a Global Spatially Continuous TanSat Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Product by Considering the Impact of the Solar Radiation Intensity
Authors: Ma Yan , Liu Liangyun , Chen Ruonan , Du Shanshan , Liu Xinjie
Published: July 2020

Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) provides a new and direct way of monitoring photosynthetic activity. However, current SIF products are limited by low spatial resolution or sparse sampling. In this paper, we present a data-driven method of generating a global, spatially continuous TanSat SIF product. Firstly, the key explanatory variables for modelling canopy SIF were investigated using in-situ and satellite observations. According to theoretical and experimental analysis, the solar radiation intensity was found to be a dominant driving environmental variable for the SIF yield at both the canopy and global scales; this has, however, been neglected in previous research. The cosine value of the solar zenith angle at noon (cos (SZA0)), a proxy for solar radiation intensity, was found to be a dominant abiotic factor for the SIF yield. Next, a Random Forest (RF) approach was employed for SIF prediction based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) visible-to-NIR reflectance data, the normalized difference vegetation (NDVI), cos (SZA0), and air temperature. The machine learning model performed well at predicting SIF, giving R2 values of 0.73, an RMSE of 0.30 mW m−2 nm−1 sr−1 and a bias of 0.22 mW m−2 nm−1 sr−1 for 2018. If cos (SZA0) was not included, the accuracy of the RF model decreased: the R2 value was then 0.65, the RMSE 0.34 mW m−2 nm−1 sr−1 and an bias of 0.26 mW m−2 nm−1 sr−1, further verifying the importance of cos (SZA0). Finally, the globally continuous TanSat SIF product was developed and compared to the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) SIF data. The results showed that the globally continuous TanSat SIF product agreed well with the TROPOMI SIF data, with an R2 value of 0.73. Thus, this paper presents an improved approach to modelling satellite SIF that has a better accuracy, and the study also generated a global, spatially continuous TanSat SIF product with a spatial resolution of 0.05°.
An Algorithm to Estimate Suspended Particulate Matter Concentrations and Associated Uncertainties from Remote Sensing Reflectance in Coastal Environments
Authors: Tavora Juliana , Boss Emmanuel , Doxaran David , Hill Paul
Published: July 2020

Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is a major constituent in coastal waters, involved in processes such as light attenuation, pollutant propagation, and waterways blockage. The spatial distribution of SPM is an indicator of deposition and erosion patterns in estuaries and coastal zones and a necessary input to estimate the material fluxes from the land through rivers to the sea. In-situ methods to estimate SPM provide limited spatial data in comparison to the coverage that can be obtained remotely. Ocean color remote sensing complements field measurements by providing estimates of the spatial distributions of surface SPM concentration in natural waters, with high spatial and temporal resolution. Existing methods to obtain SPM from remote sensing vary between purely empirical ones to those that are based on radiative transfer theory together with empirical inputs regarding the optical properties of SPM. Most algorithms use a single satellite band that is switched to other bands for different ranges of turbidity. The necessity to switch bands is due to the saturation of reflectance as SPM concentration increases. Here we propose a multi-band approach for SPM retrievals that also provides an estimate of uncertainty, where the latter is based on both uncertainties in reflectance and in the assumed optical properties of SPM. The approach proposed is general and can be applied to any ocean color sensor or in-situ radiometer system with red and near-infra-red bands. We apply it to six globally distributed in-situ datasets of spectral water reflectance and SPM measurements over a wide range of SPM concentrations collected in estuaries and coastal environments (the focus regions of our study). Results show good performance for SPM retrieval at all ranges of concentration. As with all algorithms, better performance may be achieved by constraining empirical assumptions to specific environments. To demonstrate the flexibility of the algorithm we apply it to a remote sensing scene from an environment with highly variable sediment concentrations.
Dynamics of the Estuarine Turbidity Maximum Zone from Landsat-8 Data: The Case of the Maroni River Estuary, French Guiana
Authors: Abascal-Zorrilla Noelia , Vantrepotte Vincent , Huybrechts Nicolas , Ngoc Dat Dinh , Anthony Edward J. , Gardel Antoine
Published: July 2020

The estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) zone occurs in river estuaries due to the effects of tidal dynamics, density-driven residual circulation and deposition/erosion of fine sediments. Even though tropical river estuaries contribute proportionally more to the sediment supply of coastal areas, the ETM in them has been hardly studied. In this study, surface suspended particulate matter (SPM) determined from OLI (Operational Land Imager)-Landsat 8images was used to gain a better understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of the ETM of the tropical Maroni estuary (located on the Guianas coast, South America). A method to estimate the remotely-sensed ETM location and its spatiotemporal evolution between 2013 and 2019 was developed. Each ETM was defined from an envelope of normalized SPM values > 0.6 calculated from images of the estuary. The results show the influence of the well-marked seasonal river discharge and of tides, especially during the dry season. The ETM is located in the middle estuary during low river-flow conditions, whereas it shifts towards the mouth during high river flow. Neap–spring tidal cycles result in a push of the ETM closer to the mouth under spring-tide conditions or even outside the mouth during the rainy season. An increase in SPM, especially since 2017, coincident with an extension of the ETM, is shown to reflect the periodic influence of mud banks originating from the mouth of the Amazon and migrating along the coast towards the Orinoco (Venezuela). These results demonstrate the advantages of ocean color data in an exploratory study of the spatio-temporal dynamics of the ETM of a tropical estuary, such as that of the Maroni.
Laboratory Testing of FBGs for Pipeline Monitoring
Authors: Carlino Andrea , Godio Alberto
Published: July 2020

The monitoring of the effects of geohazards on pipelines can be addressed by optical fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). They are sensitive to strain and bending, and are installed on the external surface of pipelines at discrete locations. A joint approach of theoretical analysis and laboratory experiments is useful to check the reliability of the performance of this technology. We focus on the theoretical analysis of pipeline buckling and investigate the reliability of FBG monitoring both by examining the analytical model available and by performing a laboratory-scale experiment. The novelty lies in the analysis of models and methods originally developed for the detection of pipeline upheaval buckling caused by externally imposed forces in the context of service loads (temperature). Although thermal strain is very relevant in view of its potentially disruptive effects on both pipelines and the FBG response, it has not been yet fully investigated. We point out the merits of the approach, such as the functionality and simplicity of design, the accessibility and inexpensiveness of materials, the controllability and repeatability of processes, the drawbacks are also described, such as temperature effects, the problem of slipping of gages and the challenge of performing quasi-distributed strain measurements.
Dynamic Flow-Adaptive Spectrum Leasing with Channel Aggregation in Cognitive Radio Networks
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Zeng Fanzi , Hu Zhenzhen , Jiao Lei
Published: July 2020

Cognitive radio networks (CRNs), which allow secondary users (SUs) to dynamically access a network without affecting the primary users (PUs), have been widely regarded as an effective approach to mitigate the shortage of spectrum resources and the inefficiency of spectrum utilization. However, the SUs suffer from frequent spectrum handoffs and transmission limitations. In this paper, considering the quality of service (QoS) requirements of PUs and SUs, we propose a novel dynamic flow-adaptive spectrum leasing with channel aggregation. Specifically, we design an adaptive leasing algorithm, which adaptively adjusts the portion of leased channels based on the number of ongoing and buffered PU flows. Furthermore, in the leased spectrum band, the SU flows with access priority employ dynamic spectrum access of channel aggregation, which enables one flow to occupy multiple channels for transmission in a dynamically changing environment. For performance evaluation, the continuous time Markov chain (CTMC) is developed to model our proposed strategy and conduct theoretical analyses. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed strategy effectively improves the spectrum utilization and network capacity, while significantly reducing the forced termination probability and blocking probability of SU flows.
The Sustainability of Energy Substitution in the Chinese Electric Power Sector
Authors: Li Ying , Xia Yue , Wu Yang-Che , Wong Wing-Keung
Published: July 2020

The Chinese electric power industry, including its coal industry and other energy industries that are not efficient, contributes to China’s serious energy shortages and environmental contamination. The governing authority considers energy conservation to be one of the most prominent national targets, and has formulated various plans for decarbonizing the power system. Applying the trans-log cost function, this paper examined the trans-log cost function to analyze the potential inter-factor substitution among energy, capital and labor. We also investigated what role human capital played in energy substitution for the electric power sector during the period from 1981 to 2017. Three key results were derived: (1) energy is price-insensitive, (2) there exists large substitution sustainability between both capital and labor with energy, and (3) human capital input not only enhances the extent of energy substitutability with capital and labor but also is a substitute to energy itself. These findings imply that the liberalization of the electric price mechanism is conducive to lessening energy use and augmenting non-energy intensiveness, and that energy conservation technology could become more sustainable by investing more capital in the electricity sector, thereby achieving a capital–energy substitution and a decrease of CO2 emissions. We further suggest that the priority for the Chinese electric power industry should be to attach more importance to increasing human capital input.
Public Management, Private Management and Collective Action in the Portoviejo River Basin: Visions and Conflicts
Authors: Romano Joaquin , Coral Byron V.
Published: July 2020

Agricultural policies show an orientation in the management of natural resources, such as water, towards specialized production for world markets. This is promoting models of private use against those of common use. The objective of this research is to evaluate the transformations in the institutional framework associated with the change of vision of water and the pressures created on peasant communities that culturally maintain socio-ecological systems. Based on Ostrom’s methodological proposals for the governance of common goods, a case study of the Rio Portoviejo Basin (Ecuador) was carried out. The three developed management models are analyzed: public, private and community. Evidence is provided that the community model is more equitable, efficient and sustainable. The way in which the extension of the market model, which conditions agricultural activity to profitability, is weakening the networks of peasant communities is also studied. In this context, the correlation between the loss of the traditional agrarian culture and the environmental degradation of the area is observed.
Identifying the Planning Priorities for Green Infrastructure within Urban Environments Using Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Shin Yeeun , Kim Suyeon , Lee Sang-Woo , An Kyungjin
Published: July 2020

Urban environmental issues such as declining air quality and increasing urban heat island effects can be managed by the effective use of urban green spaces. Consequently, the importance of green infrastructure (GI) has rapidly increased over time. While the various functions of GI have been investigated in numerous studies, limited research has focused on prioritizing those factors which impact the planning and development of GI. This study used literature reviews, expert surveys, and an analytic hierarchy process methodology to identify and prioritize the critical factors influencing GI during the design and construction process to enhance the role of GI in urban areas. Experts were asked to prioritize four primary (ecological, landscape, usability, and economic factors) and 16 secondary aspects of GI design. Respondents strongly agreed on the importance of the ecological aspects of GI, while the government sector also highlighted the importance of economic concerns, such as ongoing maintenance. Results indicated that the priorities for creating GI require further analysis and mediation between stakeholders. Further empirical evidence should be accumulated regarding the functions of GI for policy implementation in design and construction.
An Intelligent Framework for the Evaluation of Compliance with the Requirements of ISO 9001:2015
Authors: Andres-Jimenez Jose , Medina-Merodio Jose-Amelio , Fernandez-Sanz Luis , Martinez-Herraiz Jose-Javier , Ruiz-Pardo Estefania
Published: July 2020

A quality management system (QMS) allows an organization to analyze the needs of its customers and to define the appropriate processes for efficient production and service delivery. Customer satisfaction is an important part of this system, with a significant impact on its corporate sustainability. The purpose of this research is a proposal for assessing whether the QMS of an organization meets the requirements defined in the standard ISO 9001:2015. The development of the proposal follows a methodology based on the paradigm of design science research where we identify the problem and the motivation and the objectives are defined as a solution to the problem, and as a consequence, we developed an expert system based on a previously identified ISO 9001:2015 process map and transferred it to a knowledge base. The system allows the determination of the degree of compliance with the requirements of the standard: this provides valuable information to organizations, allowing them to implement improvement measures. The expert system is limited in terms of the set of identified inputs, outputs, and acceptance criteria, but its effectiveness was demonstrated through the evaluation of the system.
Family Firms and Sustainability. A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: de las Heras-Rosas Carlos , Herrera Juan
Published: July 2020

Two-thirds of the world’s private companies are family owned. It is an organizational model that, despite the arrival of large corporations, remains and is still totally in place. The survival of these organizations is not easy, and is conditioned by multiple factors. The research that addresses the sustainability of family businesses is numerous and has been conducted from multiple disciplines. This document investigates the trends in scientific production related to family businesses and their sustainability, using bibliometric techniques and SciMAT software. A total of 286 articles were analysed between 2003 and 2019 from the journals indexed in the Web of Science (WoS). The results suggest that, although there is a growing interest in the study of the sustainability of family businesses, there is instability in the centrality of the topics, which denotes the existence of a wide margin of development. The most influential and trend-setting themes emerge mainly concentrated in three lines: those that analyse factors that drive sustainability, such as socio-emotional wealth and stakeholders; those interested in knowing about methods or practices that favour sustainability, such as CSR, performance, management or innovation; and those that investigate factors that endanger survival, mainly intergenerational succession processes. The contribution of this work is that, through bibliometric techniques, it sheds light on the groups of topics that condition the sustainability of family businesses, which will help the scientific community in the orientation of future work in this field of research.
Tourism and the SDGs: An Analysis of Economic Growth, Decent Employment, and Gender Equality in the European Union (2009–2018)
Authors: Peña-Sánchez Antonio Rafael , Ruiz-Chico José , Jiménez-García Mercedes , López-Sánchez José Antonio
Published: July 2020

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) approved the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to improve the lives of countries and societies. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) incorporated the agenda into the tourism industry. This study has as its primary objective an exploratory analysis of tourism activity in the EU-28 countries over the decade 2009–2018 and its adaptation to the Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of employment. This study focuses on the goals of decent employment and economic growth (O8) and gender equality (O5). The results obtained suggest that, in general, the eastern countries of the EU-28 show better values for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) (8) and SDG (5) with respect to both employment and the wage gap. However, these countries have lower GDP-weighted remunerations, which can become an opportunity to obtain higher shares of tourism activity within the EU. It is concluded that there is a need to reinforce the awareness of the fabric of the tourism business and for public administrations to favor stable and decent employment and a reduction in the current gender wage gap.
The Role of Agriculture in Ensuring Food Security in Developing Countries: Considerations in the Context of the Problem of Sustainable Food Production
Authors: Pawlak Karolina , Kołodziejczak Małgorzata
Published: July 2020

Ensuring food security has become an issue of key importance to countries with different degrees of economic development, while the agricultural sector plays a strategic role in improving food availability. The aim of this paper is to identify relationships between the undernourishment scale and selected characteristics describing the agricultural sector within identified clusters of developing countries. Typological groups of countries were separated using Ward’s method. It results from the analyses that the greatest problems with maintaining food security are observed in the developing countries with a high share of agriculture in their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adverse conditions hindering agricultural production and deficient infrastructure. Based on research results desirable and tailored strategies for food security improvement in individual clusters were developed. Promoting investments in agricultural infrastructure and extension services along with adopting measures aimed at increasing the households’ purchasing power, especially those in rural areas, appear to be key drivers for improving both food availability and food access. The paper focuses not only on identifying the reasons of undernourishment, but also contributes to recognition of the most effective ways to solve the hunger problem under a country’s unique conditions. It offers a comprehensive perspective for the policy formulation in various areas world-wide, which may be of interest to scholars and policy makers.
Study on the Crystal Structure of Coal Kaolinite and Non-Coal Kaolinite: Insights from Experiments and DFT Simulations
Authors: Xi Peng , Ma Ruixin , Liu Wenli
Published: July 2020

Coal is often coated by kaolinite in flotation, leading to a decrease in the quality of clean coal. The structure of the mineral determines its properties and flotation behavior. Therefore, to remove the kaolinite from coal efficiently, the difference in mineralogical characteristics between non-coal and coal kaolinite were analyzed using advanced instruments. The experiment results showed that, due to the substitution of the C atom for Si atom, the interplanar spacing of the kaolinite (001) surface became small with C-O-C, Al-O-C, and C-O-Si covalent bonds formed instead of Al-O-Si and Si-O-Si bond. Based on this, the models of monolayer and bilayer coal kaolinite (001) surfaces were built and the structure difference was compared through DFT calculation. The calculation results showed that the silicon atom of the kaolinite Si-O-(001) surface was easier to be doped by carbon atoms with external energy as the interplanar spacing of the kaolinite (001) surface decreased with the increase in doped carbon atoms (7.15440 Å→7.11859 Å→7.10902 Å→7.10105 Å). The structural difference between non-coal kaolinite and coal kaolinite were compared from the view of the experiment and quantum chemistry, which provides an important theory for subsequent research on the properties of coal kaolinite and its further processing and utilization.
Two Anatomists Are Better than One—Dual-Level Android Malware Detection
Authors: Kouliaridis Vasileios , Kambourakis Georgios , Geneiatakis Dimitris , Potha Nektaria
Published: July 2020

The openness of the Android operating system and its immense penetration into the market makes it a hot target for malware writers. This work introduces Androtomist, a novel tool capable of symmetrically applying static and dynamic analysis of applications on the Android platform. Unlike similar hybrid solutions, Androtomist capitalizes on a wealth of features stemming from static analysis along with rigorous dynamic instrumentation to dissect applications and decide if they are benign or not. The focus is on anomaly detection using machine learning, but the system is able to autonomously conduct signature-based detection as well. Furthermore, Androtomist is publicly available as open source software and can be straightforwardly installed as a web application. The application itself is dual mode, that is, fully automated for the novice user and configurable for the expert one. As a proof-of-concept, we meticulously assess the detection accuracy of Androtomist against three different popular malware datasets and a handful of machine learning classifiers. We particularly concentrate on the classification performance achieved when the results of static analysis are combined with dynamic instrumentation vis-à-vis static analysis only. Our study also introduces an ensemble approach by averaging the output of all base classification models per malware instance separately, and provides a deeper insight on the most influencing features regarding the classification process. Depending on the employed dataset, for hybrid analysis, we report notably promising to excellent results in terms of the accuracy, F1, and AUC metrics.
Energy Efficiency and User Capacity Optimization of Cognitive MIMO Systems Via the SCMA-Based Nonorthogonal Time Slot Allocation
Authors: Zhang Pengju , Ge Wenping , Zhang Yongxing , Gao Mengyao , Zhang Gecheng
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates the energy-efficient communications and user capacity in the cognitive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) symmetric system of underlay mode. The advantage of the improved energy efficiency provided by the orthogonal slot allocation for time division multiple access (TDMA) has a side effect of restricting the number of users accessing the system. To tackle the above problem, this paper proposes a nonorthogonal time resource allocation method with sparse code multiple access (SCMA), which allows one to convert the orthogonal slot units of TDMA into non-orthogonal shared slot units for multiple secondary users (SUs). The method of adding virtual users is adopted, wherein each SU is treated as multiple SUs who occupy a shared unit, to facilitate the packet access. Finally, the greedy algorithm is applied to optimize the time slot allocation of unoccupied shared slot units. The simulation results show that SCMA-based nonorthogonal slot allocation can reduce not only the energy consumption by nearly 40%, but also the average power interference from SUs to primary users by nearly 2 dB if their number is relatively high. Moreover, in the case of satisfying the rate requirement of the users, the system user capacity increased by more than 50%.
PENGARUH GAYA BERPIKIR DAN STRATEGI PEMBELAJARAN TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR ELEKTRONIKA
Authors: Yusnidah Yusnidah
Published: July 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkapkan pengaruh strategi belajar dan gaya berpikir terhadap hasil belajar siswa pada pembelajaran teknik digital di Akademi Maritim Indonesia Medan. Metode penelitian menggunakan quasi eksperimen melalui analisis data teknis Two Way Anava Faktorial 2x2 pada level signifikansi 5%. Subyek penelitian adalah siswa level. Temuan Penelitian mengungkapkan, bahwa implementasi strategi studi berbasis pada komputer yang lebih baik dibandingkan dengan strategi studi konvensional. Hasil belajar siswa yang memiliki gaya berpikir sekuensial abstrak lebih tinggi daripada siswa yang memiliki gaya berpikir sekuensial konkret. Selain itu juga ditemukan adanya interaksi antara strategi belajar dan gaya berfikir terhadap hasil belajar teknik digital siswa electronika.
APLIKASI PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN ANALISA PENILAIAN GURU BERPRESTASI MENGGUNAKAN METODE SIMPLE ADDITIVE WEIGHTING (SAW)
Authors: Siti Siti aisyah , Lestari Desi
Published: July 2020

Setiap instansi baik itu dibidang apapun memiliki konsep atau cara dalam memberikan penilaian terhadap tim pekerja mereka. Guru merupakan salah satu ujung tombak dalam keberhasilan proses pembelajaran. Cara mengajar yang baik dapat memberikan suasana yang nyaman bagi anak didik dalam melaksanakan pembelajaran. Untuk memberikan penghargaan dan menambah semangat serta kreativitas para guru dalam mengajar perlu dilakukan sebuah penilaian. Penilaian tersebut nantinya untuk memberikan penghargaan kepada guru yang memiliki nilai tertinggi sebagai guru terbaik. Berdasarkan permasalahan tersebut maka penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang suatu sistem pendukung keputusan terhadap penilaian. Metode yang digunakan adalah Simple Additive Weighting (SAW). Terdapat lima kriteria yang penulis gunakan yaitu Kedisiplinan, Prestasi, Tanggung Jawab, Inisiatif dan Presensi. Penelitian dilakukan dengan mencari nilai bobot untuk setiap kriteria, kemudian dilakukan proses perankingan yang menentukan guru berprestasi pada studi kasus tersebut.
PENERAPAN METODE FUZZY MAMDANI UNTUK MENGANALISA PENTINGNYA KEDISIPLINAN DAN KOMUNIKASI UNTUK MENINGKATKAN PRESTASI KERJA KARYAWAN
Authors: Tamba Saut Parsaoran , Wibowo Yonatan Adi , Damanik Ruth Tetra
Published: July 2020

Penilaian prestasi kerja karyawan pada suatu perusahaan atau instansi, sangat berguna untuk mengevaluasi kerja dan memotivasi masing-masing karyawan untuk memenuhi standard kinerja yang telah ditentukan. Karyawan yang berprestasi bukan hanya mempunyai kemampuan yang tinggi dalam menyelesaikan pekerjaan tetapi juga bisa berkomunikasi yang baik serta mempunyai kedisiplinan. dengan demikian hasil pekerjaan akan dapat diharapkan menjadi lebih baik. PT. Universal merupakan sebuah perusahaan yang bergerak dalam bidang produksi obat-obatan, yang berada di kota Medan. Sistem yang digunakan untuk pencapaian kinerja karyawan saat ini masih bersifat manual dan belum secara maksimal memanfaatkan teknologi dalam mengembangkan proses bisnis, serta peningkatan efektifitas dalam pekerjaan mereka. Hal ini disebabkan oleh sistem penilaian yang terbangun belum didasarkan pada kompetensi individu. Selain itu proses penilaian membutuhkan waktu lama dan dokumentasi tidak teratur. Dalam pencapaian prestasi karyawan yang maksimal, sangat dibutuhkan peranan dari komunikasi dan kedisiplinan yang tinggi dari karyawan. Fuzzy Mamdani merupakan salah satu metode yang sangat fleksibel dan memiliki toleransi pada data yang ada. Variabel – variabel yang dipakai dalam penilaian prestasi karyawan adalah kedisiplinan dan komunikasi, yang  akan dijadikan input. Berdasarkan kedua input yang dimasukkan maka output untuk prestasi kerja karyawan adalah 86.8 yang merupakan keanggotaan dari domain himpunan fuzzy sangat memuaskan [70 100] yang berarti prestasi kerjanya sangat memuaskan.
CONSTRUCTIONAL CHANGES IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF STAINT PETERSBURG IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY
Authors: Golovina S.
Published: July 2020

The article discusses the changes that have occurred in the architectural and construction practice of Russia in the first half of the XIX century. New building materials: cast iron, iron, facing bricks, hydraulic binders are tested and introduced. Beam system is gradually replacing the vaulted-beam structural system of residential buildings. During this period, the first examples of the supporting frame in a building made of cast-iron columns appeared. This fundamentally changed the possibilities of architecture in the following decades. In the middle of the 19th century, wooden farms were replaced with iron, more durable and fireproof. The creation of complex large-span structures from new materials has led to the development of methods for their calculation, the emergence of a new specialty in building design - structural engineers. Strengthening the brickwork of the walls, reinforcing it with iron elements, made it possible to increase the height of mass residential buildings to 4–5 floors. Typical for the seventeenth century, the stairs on the brick vaults gradually begin to do on the metal braids. New facade elements, such as balconies, loggias, peaks, bay windows, began to be widely used. Lattices and brackets of balconies, roof fencing, canopies over entrances, window lattices were made of cast iron. The use of metal jumpers made it possible to expand the openings of the first floor of buildings, turning windows into shop windows. The introduction of metal structures in construction practice gradually changed the architecture of the facades, which ultimately led to a change in the appearance of buildings and architectural and artistic style. The article provides generalizations and conclusions on the research conducted by the author, based on extensive bibliographic and archival materials, building survey documents, design and restoration drawings, made by design workshops in St. Petersburg.
MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF HEAT TRANSMISSION THROUGH THE ENCLOSURE CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Grazhdankin A. , Ivanchenko V. , Pis'menskiy A.
Published: July 2020

Currently, the main direction of energy saving in mass construction is the energy efficiency of structural and space-planning solutions of buildings and structures. To evaluate the thermotechnical qualities of the enclosure, it is necessary to know the value of the heat transfer resistance and the temperature in any plane of the enclosure at given air temperatures on one and the other side of the enclosure. To understand and describe the processes of heat transfer, as well as to determine the temperature distribution inside the enclosing structures, Tabunshchikov Y.A. and Brodach M.M. derived a mathematical model of heat transfer through the enclosing structure. When considering one-dimensional heat transfer perpendicular to the wall surface at the internal borders between dissimilar materials of the building envelope, it is assumed that the temperature functions T (x) and the heat flow Q (x) are continuous. The article presents an analytical and numerical solution of a boundary value problem for stationary heat transfer through a multilayer enclosing structure, as well as a comparison of the obtained solution with the current regulatory documentation. An experimental study is conducted in the laboratory to compare the theoretical, obtained in the mathematical model of heat transfer given in the article, and the experimental temperature distribution, which shows greater convergence of the results and confirms the validity of the mathematical model.
A viabilidade da utilização do combustível biodiesel nas viaturas da Academia da Força Aérea Brasileira
Authors: Pires Manoela Alves , Pereira Rafael Felix Raposo da Costa
Published: July 2020

O Biodiesel, por ser um combustível biodegradável derivado de fontes renováveis, vem sendo alvo de diversos temas relacionados à sua participação inovadora na matriz energética mundial. Devido às reservas dos combustíveis fósseis estarem se tornando cada vez mais escassas e os impactos ambientais causados por estes serem significativos, torna-se necessário, uma avaliação da utilização do biodiesel tendo em vista aspectos: econômicos, sociais e ambientais. O Brasil é um grande produtor de oleaginosas, matéria-prima para produção de biodiesel, e ao mesmo tempo possui um déficit energético no qual se refere ao diesel, assim, torna-se importante o desenvolvimento de alternativas para suprir esta necessidade e diminuir a poluição causada pelo uso dos combustíveis fósseis. Sendo assim, esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de verificar, por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica e pesquisa de campo feita à Seção de Transporte da Academia da Força Aérea (AFA) a viabilidade de substituir o combustível diesel pelo biocombustível biodiesel. Os resultados mostraram que economicamente não há custos para fazer a substituição do diesel para biodiesel, sendo também o custo do próprio combustível equivalente ao diesel e o biodiesel um combustível promissor do ponto de vista ambiental.
PERAN KEMAMPUAN MANAJERIAL TERHADAP MANAJEMEN LABA DANBIAYA MODAL EKUITAS SEBAGAI MEKANISME DALAM MENINGKATKAN NILAI PERUSAHAAN
Authors: La'bi Obertus Bilang , Ng Suwandi , Lukman Lukman
Published: July 2020

The aims of this study was to investigate the effect of managrial ability on earnings management and cost of equity capital, to investigate the effect of earnings management, cost of equity capital, and managerial ability on firm value, and to investigate the effect of managerial ability on firm value mediated by earnings management and cost of equity capital.

Population used is the whole company public listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange period 2015-2017. Number of samples are 125 firms each year, was selected by purposive sampling method and using secondary data, i.e. the annual report and financial statements. The analytical method used is path analysis and hypothesis mediation analysed by using Sobel test.

The results of this research show that managerial ability has a negatiive and significant impact on earnings management and cost of equity capital. While earnings management and cost of equity capital has a negative significant influence on firms value, managerial ability has a positive and significant influence on firms value. This study also shows that earnings management plays a role in mediating managerial ability on firms value, while cost of equity capital do not play a role in mediating managerial ability on firm values.

The implication of this research is that managers must improve their managerial ability so that they can reduce earnings management practices and manage the cost of equity capital to increase the firm value. Companies that are able to reduce discretionary accruals and cost of equity capital will make investor to invest.
HEGEL E A RELIGIÃO COMO O SEGUNDO MOMENTO DA MARCHA DO ESPÍRITO
Authors: Miranda de Almeida Rogério , Costa Fernandes Guilherme
Published: July 2020

Estas reflexões têm como objetivo principal ressaltar a concepção hegeliana da religião no que diz respeito, mais especificamente, à religião como o segundo momento da marcha do Espírito Absoluto. Como se sabe, tanto o sistema hegeliano como um todo, quanto a sua concepção da religião em particular são por demais amplos, nuançados e suscetíveis das mais diversas interpretações, dada a própria evolução e as transformações pelas quais passou o seu pensamento. Esta é razão pela qual, considerando os limites formais deste artigo, nós nos ativemos a tão somente fazer relevar, de maneira descritiva e analítica, a questão da religião tal como Hegel a apresenta na Fenomenologia do Espírito.
POR UMA CRÍTICA DA DIMENSÃO SACRIFICIAL DO NEOLIBERALISMO
Authors: Santana Pimentel Claudio
Published: July 2020

O presente artigo busca estabelecer diálogos entre Filosofia e Ciência da Religião, a partir da crítica ao neoliberalismo. Articulando as propostas críticas de Achille Mbembe e de Franz Hinkelammert, reveladoras da dimensão sacrificial do capitalismo neoliberal. Pretende-se contribuir para a compreensão da dinâmica filosófica que se encontra nos fundamentos religiosos dos grandes problemas contemporâneos. Desenvolve uma análise preliminar dos pressupostos sacrificiais presentes no discurso neoliberal em meio à pandemia do Covid-19.
‘EU’ DIANTE DO ABSOLUTO
Authors: Ramos de Carvalho Marcos Vinícius
Published: July 2020

Este artigo trata sobre a noção de liberdade em Søren Kierkegaard, conforme a interpretação de Cornélio Fabro. In primis, faz-se uma apresentação de eventos biográficos e filosóficos do pensador dinamarquês de modo a evidenciar como esses foram determinantes em sua elaboração teórica. Em seguida, faz-se uma exposição de sua crítica à modernidade sobre a dissolução da liberdade através do vazio ético e da falta de fundamentação. Por fim, repropõe-se a concepção kierkegaardiana da liberdade como escolha do ‘eu’ diante do Absoluto.
PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA DENGAN METODE DRILL DI SEKOLAH DASAR
Authors: Retnoningsih Endang
Published: July 2020

Penelitian bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa mata pelajaran Matematika Penggunaan metode prosedur pelaksanaanya terdiri dari empat langkah pada setiap siklusnya, yaitu perencanaan, pelaksanaan, pengamatan dan refleksi. Instrument yang digunakan yaitu lembar kerja siswa (LKS), lembar observasi siswa, lembar pengamatan guru, alat evaluasi hasil belajar dan lembar fefleksi, yaitu pernyataan-pernyataan berupa panduan untuk mengetahui pendapat teman sejawat. Kegiatan pembelajaran tidak hanya menilai hasil tetapi juga proses. Ini terlihat dalam kemampuan siswa dalam melakukan pembelajaran Matematika tentang penjumlahan dan pengurangan pada bilangan pecahan. Setelah dilakukan perbaikan-perbaikan proses pembelajaran dengan menerapkan Metode Drill hasil belajar siswa menunjukkan adanya perubahan yang signi