bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development Ischemic Stroke Model by Right Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion (RUCCAO) Method
Authors: Mentari Ika Ayu , Naufalina Rifda , Rahmadi Mahardian , Khotib Junaidi
Published: October 2018

This study was designed to examine motor and congnitive changes, infarct lesion and neurohistological changes, involving histologic staining and immunohistochemical expression of caspase-3 after induction by right unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (RUCCAO) for 90 minutes. The animals were divided into two groups: sham group and stroke model group. Cognitive impairment was evaluated by Y maze. Motor function was measured on days 0, 1, 3 and 7 using FUAT paradigm. Infarct area, histological and caspase-3 expressions were evaluated on day 14 after RUCCAO. The results showed that RUCCAO induced cognitive and motor impairment on day 3 and 7. Furthermore, stroke model group induced infarct lesion. Hispatology examination showed body damage of neuron cell in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Moreover, expression of caspase-3 on RUCCAO group was significantly higher than that in sham group. In conclusion, RUCCAO method caused significant cognitive and motor function impairment. Furthermore, RUCCAO also induced infarct lesions and cell death in the thalamus brain area. Thus, RUCCAO can be employed as a method for ischemic stroke model, especially in focal ischemia.
Modeling the Dynamic Concentration Profiles and Efficacy of Type-I and Type-II Photopolymerization
Authors: Lin Jui-Teng , Cheng Da-Chuan , Chen Kuo-Ti , Liu Hsia-Wei
Published: October 2018

The kinetics and efficacy profiles of photoinitiated polymerization are theoretically presented. For the same dose, lower light intensity achieves a higher steady-state-efficacy (SSE) in type-I; in contrast, type-II has an equal SSE. Higher light intensity has a faster rising efficacy, due to faster depletion of photoinitiator (PS) concentration. However, type-II process is also affected by the available oxygen. Higher light intensity produces more efficient singlet oxygen, resulting a higher transient efficacy, in which all intensities reach the same SSE when oxygen is completely depleted. With external oxygen, type-II efficacy increases with time, otherwise, it is governed only by the light dose, i.e., same dose achieves same efficacy. Moreover, type-II has an efficacy follows Bunsen Roscoe law (BRL), whereas type-I follows non-BRL. The measured type-I efficacy and gelation profile are analyzed by our analytic formulas. Schematics of the photocrosslinking stage defined by the availability of oxygen is developed, where both type-I and –II coexist until the oxygen is depleted. The overall efficacy may be enhanced by resupply of PS or oxygen during the light exposure. The roles of light dose and PS concentration on the efficacy of photoinitiated polymerization should be are governed a new concept of a volume efficacy (Ve), defined by the product of the crosslink (or gelation) depth (CD) and local [efficacy].
A Review of the Recent Advances Made with SIRT6 and Its Implications on Aging Related Processes, Major Human Diseases and Possible Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Khan Rubayat Islam , Nirzhor Saif , Akter Raushanara
Published: October 2018

SIRT6 is a NAD+ dependent enzyme and stress response protein that has sparked the curiosity of a plethora of researchers in different branches of the biomedical sciences. A unique member of the known Sirtuin family, SIRT6 has several different functions in several different molecular pathways related to DNA repair, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, tumorigenesis, neurodegeneration, cardiac hypertrophic responses and so on. Only in recent times however did the potential usefulness of SIRT6 come to light as we learned more about its biochemical activity, regulation, biological roles and structure [1]. Even until very recently, SIRT6 was known more for chromatin signaling but being a nascent topic of study, more information has been ascertained and its potential involvement in major human diseases namely, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and heart disease has been demonstrated. It is pivotal to explore the mechanistic workings of SIRT6 since future research may hold the key to engendering strategies, involving SIRT6, that may have significant implications for human health and expand upon possible treatment options. In this review, we are primarily concerned with exploring the latest understanding of SIRT6 and how it can alter the course of several life-threatening diseases that cripple today’s society such as processes related to aging, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and diabetes. In addition, SIRT6 has shown to be involved in liver disease, inflammation and bone related issues but more emphasis is given to the former. Lastly, any recent promising pharmacological investigations and study of potential therapeutic targets are also delineated in this review.
Chemotherapy-exacerbated Breast Cancer Metastasis: A Paradox Explainable by Stress Response
Authors: Middleton Justin D. , Stover Daniel G. , Hai Tsonwin
Published: October 2018

An emerging picture in cancer biology is that, paradoxically, chemotherapy can actively induce changes that favor cancer progression. These pro-cancer changes can be either inside (intrinsic) or outside (extrinsic) the cancer cells. In this review, we will discuss the extrinsic pro-cancer effect of chemotherapy; that is, the effect of chemotherapy on the non-cancer host cells to promote cancer progression. We will focus on metastasis, and will first discuss recent data from mouse models of breast cancer. Intriguingly, despite reducing the size of primary tumors, chemotherapy changes the tumor microenvironment, resulting in an increased escape of cancer cells into the blood stream. Furthermore, chemotherapry changes the tissue microenvironment at the distant sites, making it more hospitable to cancer cells upon their arrival. We will then discuss the idea and evidence that these devastating pro-metastatic effects of chemotherapy can be explained in the context of stress response. At the end, we will discuss the potential relevance of these mouse data to human breast cancer and their implication on chemotherapy in the clinic.
Lateral Circulation in a Partially Stratified Tidal Inlet
Authors: Cui Linlin , Huang Haosheng , Li Chunyan , Justic Dubravko
Published: October 2018

Using a three-dimensional, hydrostatic, primitive-equation ocean model, this study investigates the dynamics of lateral circulation in a partially stratified tidal inlet, the Barataria Pass in the Gulf of Mexico, over a 25.6-hour diurnal tidal cycle. Model performance is assessed against observational data. During flood tide, the lateral circulation exhibits the characteristics similar to that induced by differential advection, i.e., lateral flow consists of two counter-rotating cells and is convergent at the surface. The analysis of momentum balance indicates that, in addition to the pressure gradient and vertical stress divergence, nonlinear advection and horizontal stress divergence are also important contributors. During ebb phase, the lateral circulation is mostly eastward for the whole water column and persisting for almost the whole period. The surface divergence suggested by the differential advection mechanism lasts for a very short period, if it ever exists. The main momentum balance across most of the transect during ebb is between the along-channel advection of cross-channel momentum and pressure gradient. The sectional averaged lateral velocity magnitude during ebb is comparable to that during flood, which is different from the idealized numerical experiment result.
Age- and Genotype-Specific Effects of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Lisinopril on Mitochondrial and Metabolic Parameters in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Ederer Karis A. , Jin Kelly , Bouslog Sarah , Wang Lu , Gorman Greg S. , Rowe Glenn C. , Abadir Peter , Raftery Daniel , Moellering Douglas , Promislow Daniel , Jumbo-Lucioni Patricia , De Luca Maria
Published: October 2018

The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is a peptidase that is involved in the synthesis of Angiotensin II, the bioactive component of the renin-angiotensin system. A growing body of literature argues for a beneficial impact of ACE inhibitors (ACEi) on age-associated metabolic disorders, mediated by cellular changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) that improve mitochondrial function. Yet, our understanding of the relationship between ACEi therapy and metabolic parameters is limited. Here, we used three genetically diverse strains of Drosophila melanogaster to show that Lisinopril treatment reduces thoracic ROS levels and mitochondrial respiration in young flies, and increases mitochondrial content in middle-aged flies. Using untargeted metabolomics analysis, we also showed that Lisinopril perturbs the thoracic metabolic network structure by affecting metabolic pathways involved in glycogen degradation, glycolysis, and mevalonate metabolism. The Lisinopril-induced effects on mitochondrial and metabolic parameters, however, are genotype-specific and likely reflect the drug’s impact on nutrient-dependent fitness traits. Accordingly, we found that Lisinopril negatively affects survival under nutrient starvation, an effect that can be blunted by genotype and age in a manner that partially mirrors the drug-induced changes in mitochondrial respiration. In conclusion, our results provide novel and important insights into the role of ACEi in cellular metabolism.
Control of Laminar Boundary-Layer Separation Using Steady and Harmonic Vortex Generator Jets
Authors: Alimi Aria , Wünsch Olaf
Published: October 2018

Active flow control of canonical laminar separation bubbles by steady and harmonic vortex generator jets (VGJs) was investigated using direct numerical simulations. Both control strategies were found to be effective in controlling the laminar boundary-layer separation. However, the present results indicate that using the same blowing amplitude, harmonic VGJs were more effective and efficient in reducing the separated region than the steady VGJs considering the fact that the harmonic VGJs use less momentum than the steady case. For steady VGJs, longitudinal structures formed immediately downstream of injection location led to formation of hairpin-type vortices causing an earlier transition to turbulence. Symmetric hairpin vortices were shown to develop downstream of the forcing location for the harmonic VGJs as well. However, the increased control effectiveness for harmonic VGJs flow control strategy is attributed to the fact that shear-layer instability mechanism was exploited. As a result, disturbances introduced by VGJs were strongly amplified leading to development of large-scale coherent structures, which are very effective in increasing the momentum exchange, thus, limiting the separated region.
Axial Compression Model for FRP Confined Concrete in Elliptical Cross Sections
Authors: Wang Zhenyu , Isleem Haytham F.
Published: October 2018

Most of the existing studies conducted on FRP-confined concrete considered circular and square concrete columns, while limited studies were on columns with rectangular sections. The studies have confirmed that the circular cross-sections exhibited higher confinement effectiveness, whereas in the case of non-circular cross-sections the efficiency of FRP confinement decreases with an increase of the sectional aspect ratio and there is no significant increase, particularly for columns with the aspect ratio of 2.0. As recently suggested by the researchers, to significantly increase the effectiveness of FRP-confinement for these columns is by modifying a rectangular section to an elliptical or oval section. According to the literature, most of the existing confinement models for FRP-confined concrete under axial compression have been proposed for columns with circular and rectangular cross-sections. However, modeling the axial strength and strain of concrete confined with FRP in elliptical cross-sections under compression is most limited. Therefore, this paper provides new expressions based on limited experimental data available in the literature. For a sufficient amount of FRP-confinement, the threshold value was proposed to be 0.02. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed model was verified by comparing its predictions with the same test database, together with those from the existing models.
Neuromuscular Fatigue at Task Failure and During Immediate Recovery after Isometric Knee Extension Trials
Authors: Froyd Christian , Beltrami Fernando G. , Noakes Timothy D.
Published: October 2018

We asked whether the level of peripheral fatigue would differ when three consecutive exercise trials were completed to task failure, and whether there would be delayed recovery in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, neuromuscular activation and peripheral fatigue following task failure. Ten trained sport students performed three consecutive knee extension isometric trials (T1, T2, T3) to task failure without breaks between trials. T1 and T2 consisted of repeated 5-s contractions followed by 5-s rest. In T1, contractions were performed at a target force at 60% pre-exercise MVC. In T2, all contractions were MVCs, and task failure occurred at 50% MVC. T3 was a sustained MVC performed until force fell below 15% MVC. Evoked force responses to supramaximal electrical femoral nerve stimulation were recorded to assess peripheral fatigue. Electromyography signals were normalized to M-wave amplitude to assess neuromuscular activation. Lower levels of evoked peak forces were observed at T3 compared to T2 and T1. Within 5 s of task failure in T3, MVC force and neuromuscular activation recovered substantially without any recovery in evoked peak force. Neuromuscular activation 5-10 s after T3 was unchanged from pre-exercise values, but evoked peak forces were substantially reduced. These results challenge the existence of a critical peripheral fatigue threshold that reduces neuromuscular activation. Since neuromuscular activation changed independently of any change in evoked peak force, immediate recovery in force production after exercise is due to increased central recruitment and not to peripheral mechanisms.
Emergent Scale Invariance and Climate Sensitivity
Authors: Martin Rypdal , Fredriksen Hege-Beate , Myrvoll-Nilsen Eirik , Sørbye Sigrunn H. , Rypdal Kristoffer
Published: October 2018

Earth's global surface temperature shows variability on an extended range of temporal scales and satisfies an emergent scaling symmetry. Recent studies indicate that scale invariance is not only a feature of the observed temperature fluctuations, but an inherent property of the temperature response to radiative forcing, and a principle that links the fast and slow climate responses. It provides a bridge between the decadal- and centennial-scale fluctuations in the instrumental temperature record, and the millennial-scale equilibration following perturbations in the radiative balance. In particular, the emergent scale invariance makes it possible to infer equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) from the observed relation between radiative forcing and global temperature in the instrumental era. This is verified in ensembles of Earth system models (ESMs), where the inferred values of ECS correlate strongly to estimates from idealized model runs. For the range of forcing data explored in this paper, the method gives best estimates of ECS between 2.3 and 3.4 K.
Statistical Analysis of Maximally Similar Sets in Ecological Research
Authors: Roberts David W.
Published: October 2018

Maximally similar sets (MSS) are sets of elements that share a neighborhood in a high-dimensional space defined by symmetric, reflexive similarity relation. Each element of the universe is employed as the kernel of a neighborhood of a given size (number of members), and elements are added to the neighborhood in order of similarity to the current members of the set until the desired neighborhood size is achieved. The set of neighborhoods is then reduced to the set of unique maximally similar sets by eliminating all sets that are permutations of an existing set. Subsequently, the within-MSS variability of attributes associated with the elements is compared to random sets of the same size to estimate the probability of obtaining variability as low as observed. Individual attributes can be compared for effect size by the ratio of within-MSS variability to random set variability, correcting for statistical power as necessary. The analyses performed identify constraints, as opposed to determinants, in the triangular distribution of pair-wise element similarity. In the example given here, the variability in spring temperature, summer temperature, and growing degree days of forest vegetation samples shows the greatest constraint on forest composition of a large set of candidate environmental variables
Accurate and Efficient Explicit Approximations of the Colebrook Flow Friction Equation Based on Wright-Omega Function
Authors: Brkić Dejan , Praks Pavel
Published: October 2018

The Colebrook equation is a popular model for estimating friction loss coefficients in water and gas pipes. The model is implicit in the unknown flow friction factor . To date, the captured flow friction factor  can be extracted from the logarithmic form analytically only in the term of the Lambert -function. The purpose of this study is to find an accurate and computationally efficient solution based on the shifted Lambert -function also known as the Wright -function. The Wright -function is more suitable because it overcomes the problem with the overflow error by switching the fast growing term  of the Lambert -function to the series expansions that further can be easily evaluated in computers without causing overflow run-time errors. Although the Colebrook equation transformed through the Lambert -function is identical to the original expression in term of accuracy, a further evaluation of the Lambert -function can be only approximate. Very accurate explicit approximations of the Colebrook equation that contains only one or two logarithms are shown. The final result is an accurate explicit approximation of the Colebrook equation with the relative error of no more than 0.0096%. The presented approximations are in the form suitable for everyday engineering use, they are both accurate and computationally efficient.
An Adaptive Beamforming Time with Round Robin MAC Algorithm for Reducing Energy Consumption in MANET
Authors: Inzillo Vincenzo , De Rango Floriano , Quintana Alfonso Ariza , Santamaria Amilcare Francesco
Published: October 2018

The use of Smart Antenna Systems (SAS) in pervasive environments such the Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET) has been promoted as the best choice to improve Spatial Division Multiple Access (SDMA) and throughput. Although directional communications are expected to provide great advantages in terms of network performance, directional MAC (Medium Access Control) protocols introduce several issues. One of the most known problems in this context is represented by the fact that, attempting to solve or at least mitigate the problems introduced by these kinds of antennas especially at MAC layer, a large amount of energy consumption is achieved ; for example, due to excessive retransmissions introduced by very frequently issue such as deafness and handoff. The expedients proposed in order to reduce these drawbacks attempting to limit beamforming time of nodes in cooperation with a Round-Robin scheduling, can grant high performance in terms of fairness and throughput. However the overall energy consumption in the network is not efficent due to the static approach. In view of this, we propose an Adaptive Beamforming Time with Round-Robin MAC providing for a dynamic assignment of the beamforming time with the purpose to limit the waste of energy of nodes.
Mass Transfer Coefficient in Multi-Stage Reformer/Membrane Modules for Hydrogen Production
Authors: Barba Diego , Capocelli Mauro , De Falco Marcello , Franchi Giovanni , Piemonte Vincenzo
Published: October 2018

Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, exploitable to extract energy from fossil fuels, biomasses as well as intermittent renewable energy sources and its generation from fossil fuels with CO2 separation at the source is one of the most promising pathway for fossil fuels utilization. This work is focused on a particular configuration, called Reformer and Membrane Module (RMM), which alternates stages of Steam Reforming (SR) reaction with H2 separation stages to overcome the thermodynamic limits of the conventional SR. The configuration has numerous advantages with respect to the more studied and tested membrane reactors and has been tested on a pilot scale during a pilot-scale research project. Although the numerous modelling works appeared in the literature, the design features of the material exchanger (in the so-called RMM architecture) of different geometrical configurations have not been developed and the mass transfer correlations, capable of providing design tools useful for such membrane modules, are not available. The purpose of this work is therefore to apply a physical-mathematical model of the mass transfer, in three different geometries, considering both concentration polarization and membrane permeation, in order to: i) simulate the cited experimental results, ii) estimate the scaling-up correlations for the “material exchange modules”; iii) identify the mass transfer limiting regime in relation to the gas mass flow rate.
Effect of Different Seaweed Extracts and Compost on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Nutraceutical Quality of Cucumber Fruit (Cucumis Sativus)
Authors: Trejo Valencia Radames , Sánchez Acosta Ludy , Fortis Hernández Manuel , Preciado Rangel Pablo , Gallegos Robles Miguel Ángel , Antonio Cruz Rocío del Carmen , Vázquez Vázquez Cirilo
Published: October 2018

The objective of this research was to evaluate the production and phytochemical quality of cucumber fruits (Cucumis sativus), in response to the foliar application of different seaweed extracts. This study was carried out under shadow mesh conditions in the autumn - winter agricultural cycle at Instituto Tecnológico de Torreón, Torreón, Coahuila. The experimental design was completely random, using six treatments with six repetitions each. The treatments evaluated were: Macrocystis pyrifera, Bryothamnion triquetrum, Ascophyllum nodosum, Grammatophora sp., Macrocystis intergrifolia, and a control treatment with inorganic fertilization. The substrate used was a mixture of sand and vermicompost. The yield, commercial quality and phytochemical compounds of the fruit were evaluated.  Results showed that yield using Steiner solution (6.75 kg m−2) was higher than that obtained with Bryothamnion triquetrum algae (6.07 kg m−2). Regarding the phenolic content, the extracts surpassed the control treatment, with Macrocystis pyrifera and Macrocystis integrifolia being statistically equal, with values of 47.37 and 43.73 mg equiv. of Ac. Gallic 100 g fresh weight, respectively. The antioxidant capacity by ABTS+ and DPPH+ methods was higher using the treatment with algae Macrocystis pyrifera with 149.4 and 454.1 μM equiv Trolox/100 g fresh base, respectively. This treatment also presented the highest value of vitamin C with 5.07 mg/100 g fresh base, being 27% greater than the control treatment. Algae extracts increased the quality of the fruits by obtaining the highest antioxidant capacity, making their use a viable option to minimize the application of conventional fertilizers, thereby attenuating the effects on the environment and improving the health of the population.
Influence of Invasive Species on Ecological Succession Routes in Disturbed Seasonal Dry Tropical Forests in Southeastern Mexico
Authors: Jean-Baptiste Alberto , Macario Pedro A. , Islebe Gerald Alexander , Vargas-Larreta Benedicto , Pool Luciano , Valdez-Hernández Mirna , López-Martínez Jorge Omar
Published: October 2018

Understanding the role of invasive species in ecosystem functioning represents one of the main challenges in ecology. Pteridium aquilinum is a successful cosmopolitan invasive species with negative effects on the ecological mechanisms that allow secondary succession. In this study we evaluated whether P. aquilinum favours the establishment of alternative states, as well as the effect of recovery strategies on the secondary succession. A random stratified sampling was established with three treatments, each one with at least 50 year of fern invasion and with variations on the periodicity of fires and cuttings (chapeos) vs one control without fern bracken We determined the species richness and composition, as well as the relative importance value (IVI) in each treatment. We found that P. aquilinum decreases the action of the mechanisms that allow secondary succession, particularly facilitation. The recovery strategies consist in monthly cuttings and control fires allow to recover the secondary succession and eventually, the regeneration of areas invaded by P. aquilinum. Our study has relevant implications on the ecology of alternative state, and in practical strategies to maintain tropical forests, as well as for the maintenance of environmental services and sustainability.
Hand Movement Classification Using Burg Reflection Coefficients
Authors: Ramírez-Martínez Daniel , Alfaro-Ponce Mariel , Pogrebnyak Oleksiy , Aldape-Pérez Mario , Argüelles-Cruz Amadeo-José
Published: October 2018

Classification of electromyographic signals has a wide range of applications, from clinical diagnosis of different muscular diseases to biomedical engineering, where their use as input control of prosthetic devices has become a hot topic of research. Challenge of classifying this signals relies on the accuracy of the proposed algorithm and the possibility of its implementation on hardware. This paper consider the problem of electromyography signal classification, solved with the proposed signal processing and feature extraction stages, with focus lying on the signal model and time domain characteristics for better classification accuracy. The proposal considers a simple preprocessing technique that produces signals suitable for feature extraction, and the Burg reflection coefficients to form learning and classification patterns. These coefficients yield a competitive classification rate compared to used time domain features. Sometimes, the feature extraction from electromyographic signals showed that procedure can omit less useful traits for machine learning models. Using feature selection algorithms provides a higher classification performance with as fewer traits as possible. Algorithms achieved a high classification rate up to 100% with low pattern dimensionality, with other kinds of uncorrelated attributes for hand movement identification.
Zircon Xenocrysts from Cenozoic Alkaline Basalts of the Ratanakiri Volcanic Province (Cambodia), Southeast Asia—Trace Element Geochemistry, O-Hf Isotopic Composition, U-Pb and (U-Th)/He Geochronology—Revelations into the Underlying Lithospheric Mantle
Authors: Piilonen Paula C. , Sutherland F. Lin , Danišík Martin , Poirier Glenn , Valley John W. , Ralph Ralph
Published: October 2018

Zircon xenocrysts from alkali basalts in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia, represent a unique low-Hf zircon, within a 12,000 km long Indo-Pacific megacryst zone. Colourless, yellow, brown and red crystals ({100}, {101}, subordinate {211}, {1103}), with hopper growth and corrosion features, range up to 20 cm in size. Zircon chemistry implicates juvenile, Zr-saturated, mantle-derived alkaline melt (Hf 0.6–0.7 wt%, Y <0.2 wt%, U+Th+REE <600 ppm, Zr/Hf 66–92, Eu/Eu*N ~ 1, positive Ce/Ce*N, HREE enrichment). Incompatible element depletion with increasing Yb/SmN from core to rim at ~ constant Hf suggests single stage growth. Ti-in-zircon temperatures (~570–740 °C) are lower than predicted by crystal morphology (800–900 °C) and decrease from core to rim (DT = 10–50 °C). The d18O values (4.88 to 5.01‰ VSMOW) are relatively low for xenocrysts from the zircon Indo-Pacific zone (ZIP). The 176Hf/177Hf values (+ εHf 4.5–10.2) give TDepleted Mantle model source ages of 260–462 Ma and TCrustal ages of 391–754 Ma. The source magmas reflect variably depleted lithospheric mantle with little supracrustal input. Zircon U-Pb (0.88–1.56 Ma) and (U-Th)/He (0.86–1.02 Ma) ages are older than host basalt ages (~0.7 Ma), suggesting limited residence before transport. Zircon genesis suggests Zr-saturated, Al-undersaturated, carbonatitic-influenced, low-degree partial melting (<1%) of peridotitic mantle at ~60 km beneath the Indochina terrane.
An Exploration of a Balanced Up-downwind Scheme for Solving Heston Volatility Model Equations on Variable Grids
Authors: Sun Chong , Sheng Qin
Published: October 2018

This paper studies an effective finite difference scheme for solving two-dimensional Heston stochastic volatility option pricing model problems. A dynamically balanced up-downwind strategy for approximating the cross-derivative is implemented and analyzed. Semi-discretized and spatially nonuniform platforms are utilized. The numerical method comprised is simple, straightforward with reliable first order overall approximations. The spectral norm is used throughout the investigation and numerical stability is proven. Simulation experiments are given to illustrate our results.
Kempe-Locking Configurations
Authors: Tilley James A.
Published: October 2018

Existing proofs of the 4-color theorem succeeded by establishing an unavoidable set of reducible configurations. By this device, their authors showed that a minimum counterexample cannot exist. G.D. Birkhoff proved that a minimum counterexample must satisfy a connectivity property that is referred to in modern parlance as internal 6-connectivity. We show that a minimum counterexample must also satisfy a coloring property, one that we call Kempe-locking. We define the terms Kempe-locking configuration and fundamental Kempe-locking configuration. We provide a heuristic argument that a fundamental Kempe-locking configuration must be of low order and then perform a systematic search through isomorphism classes for such configurations. We describe a methodology for analyzing whether an arbitrary planar triangulation is Kempe-locked; it involves deconstructing the triangulation into a stack of configurations with common endpoints and then creating a bipartite graph of coloring possibilities for each configuration in the stack to assess whether certain 2-color paths can be transmitted from the configuration's top boundary to its bottom boundary. All Kempe-locked triangulations we discovered have two features in common: (1) they are Kempe-locked with respect to only a single edge, say $xy$, and (2) they have a Birkhoff diamond with endpoints $x$ and $y$ as a proper subgraph. On the strength of our various investigations, we are led to a plausible conjecture that the Birkhoff diamond is the only fundamental Kempe-locking configuration. If true, this would establish that the connectivity and coloring properties of a minimum counterexample to the 4-color theorem are incompatible. It would also point to the singular importance of a particularly elegant 4-connected triangulation of order 9 that consists of a triangle enclosing a pentagon enclosing a single vertex.
Intelligent Spectroscopy System Used for Physicochemical Variables Estimation in Sugar Cane Soils
Authors: Landeta-Escamilla Ofelia , Sandoval-Gonzalez Oscar , Martinez-Sibaja Albino , Flores-Cuautle J. J. Agustín , Posada-Gómez Rubén , Alvarado-Lassman Alejandro
Published: October 2018

Soil conditions is a major aspect of interest for farmers due to the knowing of the physicochemical properties of the same can help with any necessary restoration of soil that guarantees the quality and the production of their crop. However, technology and analysis of the soil become of difficult access mainly in developing countries, by which the present paper shows the development of a system thought to estimate physicochemical variables of soils growing sugar cane through studies of spectroscopy. Its characteristic is that it is a portable system, with low cost, easy to use and can estimate physicochemical variables in-situ with the objective of knowing the degree of degradation present in the soil and through this help the farmers define possible strategies to restore it. The device uses the frequency response of the soil determining values of magnitude and phase, which are used by algorithms of artificial intelligence capable of getting an estimation of the physicochemical properties. The obtained results show errors below 8% in the estimation of the variables compared to the analysis results of the soil at laboratories.
The Impact of miRNA in Colorectal Cancer Progression and Its Liver Metastases
Authors: Balacescu Ovidiu , Sur Daniel , Cainap Calin , Visan Simona , Cruceriu Daniel , Manzat-Saplacan Roberta , Muresan Mihai-Stefan , Balacescu Loredana , Lisencu Cosmin , Irimie Alexandru
Published: October 2018

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies with a high incidence and mortality. An essential challenge in colorectal cancer management is to identify new prognostic factors that could better estimate the evolution and treatment responses of this disease. Considering their role in cancer development, progression and metastasis, miRNAs have become an important class of molecules suitable for cancer biomarkers discovery. We performed a systematic search of studies investigating the role of miRNAs in colorectal progression and liver metastasis, published until October 2018. In this review, we present up-to-date information regarding the specific microRNAs involved in CRC development, considering their roles in alteration of Wnt/βcatenin, EGFR, TGFβ and TP53 signaling pathways. We also emphasize the role of miRNAs in controlling the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of CRC cells, a process responsible for liver metastasis in a circulating tumor cell-dependent manner. Furthermore, we discuss the role of miRNAs transported by CRC-derived exosomes in mediating liver metastases, by preparing the secondary pre-metastatic niche and in inducing liver carcinogenesis in a Dicer-dependent manner.  
Valuing Our National Parks: An Ecological Economics Perspective
Authors: Sutton Paul C. , Duncan Sophia L. , Anderson Sharolyn J.
Published: October 2018

The annual budget for the United States National Park Service was roughly three billion dollars in 2016. This is distributed amongst 405 National Parks, 23 national scenic and historic trails, and 60 wild and scenic rivers. Entrance fees and concessions generate millions of dollars in income for the National Park Service; however, this metric fails to account for the total value of the National Parks. In failing to consider the value of the ecosystem services provided by the National Parks we fail to quantify and appreciate the contributions our parks make to society. This oversight allows us to continue to underfund a valuable part of our natural capital and consequently damage our supporting environment, national heritage, monetary economy, and many of our diverse cultures. We explore a simple benefits transfer valuation of the United States national parks using National Land Cover Data from 2011 and ecosystem service values determined by Costanza (et al). This produces an estimate suggesting the parks provide $84 billion / year in ecosystem service value. If the natural infrastructure 'asset' that is our national park system had a budget comparable to a piece of commercial real estate of this value, the annual budget of the National Park Service would be roughly an order of magnitude larger at something closer to $30 billion rather than $3 billion.
Evaluation of Building Energy and Daylight Performance of Electrochromic Glazing for Optimal Control in Three Different Climate Zones
Authors: Oh Myunghwan , Jang Minsu , Moon Jaesik , Roh Seungjun
Published: October 2018

Solar radiation is closely related to the energy buildings consume for cooling, heating, and lighting purposes. Glazing is the only material of the building envelope that transmits solar radiation and needs to be appropriately designed to reduce energy cㅈonsumption. Currently, smart glass technology is being actively investigated and developed for effective solar radiation control. Among the various types of smart glass, electrochromic glazing is one of the most promising technologies, as it can adjust transmittance on its own, has a wider transmittance range in both the clear and darkened states, and consumes less electricity. Considering the importance of solar radiation adjustment in electrochromic glazing technology, this study attempted to develop an optimal control method for electrochromic glazing. Toward this goal, the solar radiation incident on vertical surfaces and outdoor temperature conditions were controlled in three regions with different climatic characteristics, and the annual cooling, heating, and lighting loads, discomfort glare, and interior illumination were analyzed. This approach enabled the optimal conditions with respect to visual comfort to be determined. Subsequently, the EDPI (Energy and daylight performance index) was used to optimize control conditions for each region, thereby producing integrated evaluations from results with different units and properties. The proposed control method will be utilized to develop a control algorithm and a control system to reduce building energy consumption.
A Statistical Analysis of Japanese Inter-Prefectural Migration After Disasters
Authors: Okumura Makoto , Ito Wataru ,   International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University 468-1 Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8572, Japan,   School of Enginnering, Tohoku University, Miyagi, Japan
Published: October 2018

This study conducts a statistical analysis of the impact of disasters on inter-prefectural migration in Japan over 41 years (1973–2013), and estimates the change in emigration and immigration after disasters of different magnitudes. The result reveals that emigration decreases and immigration increases after a modest-sized disaster, while the opposite is observed following a huge disaster. It also shows a disaster threshold requiring external assistance for recovery and quick decision-making afterwards.
PENINGKATAN KETERAMPILAN BERMAIN BOLA BASKET MELALUI METODE LATIHAN VARIASI PADA PEMBELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN JASMANI SISWA SMA NEGERI 10 PEKANBARU
Authors: Daharis Daharis , Rahmadani Ahmad
Published: October 2018

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan keterampilan bermain bola basket melalui metode variasi pada pembelajaran pendidikan jasmani siswa SMAN 10 Kota Pekanbaru. Penelitian ini melibatkan 41 orang siswa laik-laki sebagai sampel. Instrumen penelitian ini adalah tes keterampilan bermain bola basket tingkat SMA yang meliputi: tes memantulkan bola ke dinding, tes menggiring bola, dan tes menembak selama 1 menit. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan metode eksperimen. Teknik  analisa  data  dalam  penelitian  ini adalah menggunakan uji t untuk sampel sejenis berdasarkan nilai pre test dan post test. Dari hasil analisa data nilai thitung yang diperoleh adalah 7.99. Kemudian hasil perhitungan tersebut dikonsultasikan pada   t tabel dengan derajat bebas  39, maka didapat ttabel 1.8. Berarti thitung lebih besar dari ttabel, dengan demikian terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan antara hasil pre test dan post test. Analisa data juga memberikan kesimpulan bahwa terjadi peningkatan 11% dari perbandingan hasil pre test dan post test. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa metode variasi dapat meningkatkan keterampilan dasar bermain bola basket pada pembelajaran pendidikan jasmani siswa SMAN 10 Kota Pekanbaru.
PENGEMBANGAN PEMBELAJARAN RENANG GAYA BEBAS BERBASIS MULTIMEDIA INTERAKTIF
Authors: Mashud Mashud , Widiastuti Widiastuti
Published: October 2018

Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengembangkan pembelajaran renang gaya bebas berbasis multimedia interaktif untuk mahasiswa program studi pendidikan jasmani dan memperoleh data empiris tentang efektifitas produk hasil pengembangan terhadap peningkatan hasil belajar kemampuan renang gaya bebas mahasiswa. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode research and development (R&D) dari Borg and Gall yang terdiri dari 10 langkah. Subyek ujicoba dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa PJKR. Subyek ujicoba kelompok kecil  mahasiswa PJKR FKIP ULM berjumlah 15 orang, subyek ujicoba kelompok besar 120 mahasiswa. Sedangkan sampel peneltian untuk uji efektifitas produk berjumlah 90 orang mahasiswa Hasil penelitian pengembangan ini berupa buku teks dan aplikasi multimedia interaktif pembelajaran renang gaya bebas berbasis android. Untuk mengetahui efektifitas produk, peneliti  mengujikan menggunakan desain penelitian eksperimen kepada 45 orang mahasiswa selama 4 bulan/ 16 kali pertemuan dengan design eksperimen the one group control pretest-posttest design, menghasilkan bahwa nilai dari Ztabel > Z hitung (89 > -5,7622), maka terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan antara sebelum mendapat perlakuan dan sesudah perlakuan. Jadi bisa dikatakan bahwa produk pengembangan efektif meningkatkan hasil belajar kemampuan renang gaya bebas mahasiswa.
Karakter Biometrik dan Variasi Fenotip Abalon (Haliotis asinina) di Perairan Wilayah Barat dan Timur Indonesia
Authors: Daniarsih Ajeng , Solihin Dedy Duryadi , Gustiano Rudhy
Published: October 2018

Haliotis asinina merupakan spesies abalon famili Haliotidae yang secara morfologis mirip dengan spesies H. squamata. Metode konvensional untuk kunci identifikasi spesies abalon masih berdasarkan pada karakter deskriptif dan sering kali ditemukan bias karena pengaruh faktor lingkungan. Belum ada penelitian yang mencatat perbedaan karakter morfologi cangkang antara   H. asinina dan H. squamata secara biometrik serta variasi fenotip intraspesies H. asinina di perairan Indonesia. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendapatkan karakter biometrik spesifik antara H. asinina dengan H. squamata serta keragaman fenotip H. asinina pada empat lokasi berbeda di perairan Indonesia (Pulau Seribu, Pulau Raas Madura, Pulau Lombok dan Pulau Raja Ampat). Metode morfometrik menggunakan pengukuran truss system sebanyak 12 karakter dan analisis data mengunakan komponen utama dan diskriminan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan karakter biometrik spesifik pembeda antara H. asinina  dan H. squamata ditemukan pada lebar cangkang 54.12 Â± 3.51% dan tinggi cangkang 19.12 Â± 2.16% dari panjang standar serta jumlah lubang terbuka. Analisis diskriminan intraspesies H. asinina menunjukaan adanya variasi fenotip cangkang pada keempat lokasi. Perbedaan karakter biometrik dipengaruhi oleh spesies sedangkan variasi fenotip intraspesies dipengaruhi oleh perbedaan lokasi.
Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Dan Cadangan Karbon Taman Wisata Alam Bipolo, Kabupaten Kupang
Authors: Usmadi Didi , Magandhi Mahat , Rivai Reza Ramdan
Published: October 2018

Taman Wisata Alam Bipolo merupakan salah satu tipe hutan kering luruh daun di Pulau Timor yang masih tersisa. Pengelolaan kawasan diperlukan informasi dan data tentang keanekaragaman tumbuhan serta potensi cadangan karbon di kawasan hutan tersebut. Tujuan penelitian untuk mengetahui keanekaragaman tumbuhan dan cadangan karbon di Taman Wisata  Alam Bipolo, Kabupaten Kupang. Pengambilan data menggunakan metode transek dengan subplot contoh berukuran 2 x 2 meter (semai), 5 x 5 meter (pancang), 10 x 10 meter (tiang), dan 20 x 20 meter (pohon).  Analisis peran penting jenis menggunakan Indeks Nilai Penting, keanekaragaman jenis menggunakan Indeks Keanekaragaman Jenis (Shannon-Wiener Indeks) dan Indeks Kemerataan Jenis. Biomassa pancang, tiang dan pohon dihitung dengan menggunakan persamaan allometrik dan nilai cadangan karbon setengah dari nilai biomassa.  Jenis yang mempunyai peran penting tertinggi di Taman Wisata Alam Bipolo berupa Mallotus sp. (semai), Chisocheton lasiocarpus (Miq.) Valeton (pancang dan tiang), dan Syzygium littorale (Blume) Amshoff (pohon). Keanekaragaman tumbuhan pada tingkat semai, pancang, tiang dan pohon di Taman Wisata Alam Bipolo termasuk kategori sedang dan tingkat kemerataan jenis yang tinggi. Biomassa rata-rata sebesar 228,93 ton/ha dan cadangan karbon sebesar 114,46 ton/ha.
Struktur Komunitas Epifiton pada Tanaman Utricularia sp. di Situ Alam FMIPA Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat
Authors: Zuardi Sisilia Heyden , Wardhana Wisnu
Published: October 2018

Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan mengetahui struktur komunitas epifiton pada tanaman Urticularia sp., termasuk genus epifiton spesifik yang menempel pada Utricularia sp. di Situ Alam Universitas Indonesia, Depok, Jawa Barat. Komponen dalam komunitas yang dikaji yaitu kelimpahan dan keanekaragaman epifiton. Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Maret 2018 hingga Mei 2018. Pengambilan sampel Urticularia dilakukan dengan tiga kali pengulangan. Setelah itu, sampel dibandingkan dengan sampel epifiton pada gelas objek dan Hydrilla sp., serta sampel air. Sampel lalu disaring dengan planktonet, diawetkan dengan 40% formalin, dan diidentifikasi di Laboratorium Taksonomi Departemen Biologi, FMIPA UI. Hasil menunjukkan terdapat 51 genus epifiton dengan 9 genus spesifik menempel pada Utricularia sp. saja. Kelimpahan epifiton pada Utricularia sp. menunjukkan 84.609 sel/ml, sementara nilai keanekaragaman dikategorikan rendah (H’< 2,302).
Correlation-Based Adaptive Localization for Ensemble-Based History Matching: Applied To the Norne Field Case Study
Authors: Luo Xiaodong , Lorentzen Rolf J. , Valestrand Randi , Evensen Geir
Published: October 2018

Ensemble-based methods are among the state-of-the-art history-matching algorithms. However, in practice, they often suffer from ensemble collapse, a phenomenon that deteriorates history-matching performance. It is customary to equip an ensemble history-matching algorithm with a localization scheme to prevent ensemble collapse. Conventional localization methods use distances between the physical locations of model variables and observations to modify the degree of the observations’ influence on model updates. Distance-based localization methods work well in many problems, but they also suffer from dependence on the physical locations of both model variables and observations, the challenges in dealing with nonlocal and time-lapse measurements, and the nonadaptivity to handling different types of model variables.

To enhance the applicability of localization to various history-matching problems, we adopt an adaptive localization scheme that exploits the correlations between model variables and simulated observations. We elaborate how correlation-based adaptive localization can overcome or mitigate issues arising in conventional distance-based localization.

To demonstrate the efficacy of correlation-based adaptive localization, we adopt an iterative ensemble smoother (iES) with the proposed localization scheme to history match the real production data of the Norne Field model, and we compare the history-matching results with those obtained by using the iES with distance-based localization. Our study indicates that when compared with distance-based localization, correlation-based localization not only achieves close or better performance in terms of data mismatch, but also is more convenient to use in practical history-matching problems. As a result, the proposed correlation-based localization scheme might serve as a viable alternative to conventional distance-based localization.