bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KAJIAN OPTIMALISASI FASAD BANGUNAN RUMAH TINGGAL DALAM MENUNJANG PROGRAM NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS (NZE-Bs)
Authors: Permana Asep Yudi , Susanti Indah , Wijaya Karto
Published: July 2018

Abstract: The house is one of the primary needs of man, so planning the construction of houses should be careful and consider many things. Some of them, namely the potential physical and socio-cultural potential. Physical potential is considered to be the building materials, the local climate and geological conditions. Mean while, social and cultural potential consists of local architecture and way of life. Related to the issue of global warming that occurred in modern times, the climate becomes a major consideration that needs to be resolved.Energy waste is also caused by the design of the buildings are not well integrated and not even one responsive to aspects of functionality, wet tropical climate of Indonesia. This is compounded designers are more concerned with aesthetic aspects (the prevailing trend). Issues green concept and the efficiency of energy consumption through the program Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZE-Bs) of the housing sector as respon to tackle global heating-an already familiar in Indonesia, although its application can not be found significantly. Green concept by houses an developers often only as a mere trick and not realized and grown the responsibility of residents. Key word: socio-culture, Net-Zero Energy Buildings, energy consumption. Abstrak: Rumah merupakan salah satu kebutuhan utama manusia, sehingga perencanaan pembangunan rumah harus cermat dan mempertimbangkan banyak hal. Beberapa di antaranya, yaitu potensi fisik dan potensi sosial budaya. Potensi fisik adalah pertimbangan akan bahan bangunan, kondisi geologis dan iklim setempat. Sedangkan, potensi sosial budaya terdiri atas arsitektur lokal dan cara hidup. Terkait dengan isu pemanasan global yang terjadi pada masa modern ini, iklim menjadi sebuah pertimbangan utama yang perlu diselesaikan.Pemborosan energi disebabkan oleh desain bangunan yang tidak terintegrasi dengan baik bahkan salah dan tidak tanggap terhadap aspek fungsi, iklim tropis basah Indonesia. Hal tersebut diperparah kecende­rungan para perancang yang lebih mementingkan aspek estetis (tren yang berlaku). Isu-isu konsep hijau dan efisiensi konsumsi energi melalui program Net Zero-Energy Buildings (NZE-Bs) dari sektor perumahan sebagai res­pon untuk menanggulangi pemanas­an global sudah tidak asing di Indo­nesia, walaupun penerapannya ma­sih belum dapat ditemukan secara signifikan. Konsep hijau yang dita­warkan oleh pengembang perumah­an seringkali hanya sebagai trik pe­masaran belaka dan tidak diwujudkan serta ditumbuhkan tanggung jawab para penghuni untuk menja­ganya. Akibat minimnya pemaham­an mengenai konsep hijau tersebut, para pengembang perumahan cen­derung lebih banyak menawarkan lingkungan perumahan yang asri dan hijau, bukan konsep hijau yang sebenarnya. Kata Kunci: Sosial budaya, Net-Zero Energy Buildings, Konsumsi Energi
ELEMEN PEMBENTUK RUANG TERBUKA PUBLIK ALUN-ALUN KOTA BANDUNG
Authors: Ramadhan Gema , Nurzuraida Gina , Wibowo Heru , Wijaya Karto
Published: July 2018

Alun-alun merupakan salah satu ruang publik bersejarah yang terus mengalami perubahan seiring waktu dan kebudayaan manusia yang terus berkembang. Sebagai bentuk dari ruang publik, perubahan yang terjadi pada alun-alun tak dapat dilepaskan dari peran institusi pemerintahan dan kebijakan yang diambilnya sebagai pihak yang bertanggung jawab atas kontrol terhadap kota dan ruang-ruang publiknya. Hal ini tidak lepas dari adanya pengaruh elemen pembentuk ruang yang merubah bentuk dan fungsi yang baru sesuai dengan kaidah elemen ruang terbuka publik.
Seasonal dynamics and differentiation of aer mikota premises of the educational institution (Grodno, Belarus)
Authors: Zhebrak I.S. , Manafova A.M.
Published: July 2018

The number and composition of microscopic fungi in the air of the 5 University libraries, 2 classrooms and one hostel room were studied. The number of fungal diasporas in the air of two libraries exceeded the maximum permissible level (MPL – 500 KOE/m3) and was 581–966 KOE/m3. In summer, in the air of almost all the surveyed rooms, there was a higher abundance and a generic variety of microscopic fungi than in autumn. The mold complexes number and composition in the air of reading rooms and book depositories vary in different degrees and depend on the season, attendance of readers and the libraries sanitary condition. The abundance of microscopic fungi genera in the libraries air was higher than in the study rooms and the hostel room. It was shown that the microscopic fungi generic composition in the surveyed dwellings air has a small correspondence (the Jacquard coefficient is 0.05–0.41). In the libraries aeroplankton micromycetes of the Penicillium, Aspergillus genera and dark-colored fungi of the Alternaria genus dominated.
RNA-Sequencing Reveals Similarities and Differences in Gene Expression in Vulnerable Brain Tissues of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases
Authors: Bennett James P. , Keeney Paula M.
Published: July 2018

Background:

Neuropathological changes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) can coexist in the same sample, suggesting possible common degenerative mechanisms.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to use RNA-sequencing to compare gene expression in AD and PD vulnerable brain regions and search for co-expressed genes.

Methods:

Total RNA was isolated from AD/CTL frontal cortex and PD/CTL ventral midbrain. Sequencing libraries were prepared, multiplex paired-end RNA sequencing was carried out, and bioinformatics analyses of gene expression used both publicly available (tophat2/bowtie2/Cufflinks) and commercial (Qlucore Omics Explorer) algorithms.

Results:

Both AD (frontal cortex, n = 10) and PD (ventral midbrain, n = 14) samples showed extensive heterogeneity of gene expression. Hierarchical clustering of heatmaps revealed two gene populations (AD, 376 genes; PD, 351 genes) that separated AD or PD from control samples at false-discovery rates (q) of <5% and fold changes of at least 1.3 (AD) or 1.5 (PD). 10,124 genes were co-expressed in our AD and PD samples. A very small group of these genes ( n = 23) showed both low variances (<150; variance = standard deviation squared) and reduced expressions (>1.5-fold under-expression) in both AD and PD. Ingenuity Pathways Analyses (IPA, Qiagen) revealed loss of NAD biosynthesis and salvage as the major canonical pathway significantly altered in both AD and PD.

Conclusions:

AD and PD in vulnerable brain regions appear to arise from and result in independent molecular genetic abnormalities, but we identified several under-expressed genes with potential to treat both diseases. NAD supplementation shows particular promise.
Exposure to Strong Anticholinergic Medications and Dementia-Related Neuropathology in a Community-Based Autopsy Cohort
Authors: Gray Shelly L. , Anderson Melissa L. , Hanlon Joseph T. , Dublin Sascha , Walker Rod L. , Hubbard Rebecca A. , Yu Onchee , Montine Thomas J. , Crane Paul K. , Sonnen Josh A. , Keene C. Dirk , Larson Eric B.
Published: July 2018

Background:

Anticholinergic medication exposure has been associated with increased risk for dementia. No study has examined the association between anticholinergic medication use and neuropathologic lesions in a community-based sample.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between anticholinergic exposure and dementia-related neuropathologic changes.

Methods:

Within a community-based autopsy cohort (N = 420), we ascertained use of anticholinergic medications over a 10-year period from automated pharmacy data and calculated total standardized daily doses (TSDD). We used modified Poisson regression to calculate adjusted relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between anticholinergic exposure and dementia-associated neuropathology. Inverse probability weighting was used to account for selection into the autopsy cohort.

Results:

Heavy anticholinergic exposure (≥1,096 TSDD) was not associated with greater neuropathologic changes of Alzheimer’s disease; the adjusted RRs for heavy use of anticholinergics (≥1,096 TSDD) compared to no use were 1.22 (95% CI 0.81–1.88) for neuritic plaque scores and 0.89 (0.47–1.66) for extent of neurofibrillary degeneration. Moderate (91–1,095 TSDD) and heavy use of anticholinergics was associated with a significantly lower cerebral microinfarct burden compared with no use with adjusted RRs of 0.44 (0.21–0.89) and 0.24 (0.09–0.62), respectively. Anticholinergic exposure was not associated with macroscopic infarcts or atherosclerosis.

Conclusions:

Use of anticholinergic medications is not associated with Alzheimer’s disease-related neuropathologic changes but is associated with lower cerebral microinfarct burden. Further research into biological mechanisms underlying the anticholinergic-dementia link is warranteds.
Prevalence, Safety, and Effectiveness of Oral Anticoagulant Use in People with and without Dementia or Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fanning Laura , Ryan-Atwood Taliesin E. , Bell J. Simon , Meretoja Atte , McNamara Kevin P. , Dārziņš Pēteris , Wong Ian C.K. , Ilomäki Jenni
Published: July 2018

Background:

Differences in management and outcomes of oral anticoagulant (OAC) use may exist for people with and without dementia or cognitive impairment (CI).

Objective:

To systematically review the prevalence and safety and effectiveness outcomes of OAC use in people with and without dementia or CI.

Methods:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched for studies reporting prevalence or safety and effectiveness outcomes of OAC use for people with and without dementia, published between 2000 to September 2017. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by two reviewers.

Results:

studies met pre-specified inclusion criteria (21 prevalence studies, 6 outcomes studies). People with dementia had 52% lower odds of receiving OAC compared to people without dementia. Mean OAC prevalence was 32% for people with dementia, compared to 48% without dementia. There was no difference in the composite outcome of embolic events, myocardial infarction, and all-cause death between dementia and non-dementia groups (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.72, 95% CI, 0.45–1.14, p = 0.155). Bleeding rate was lower for people without dementia (HR 0.56, 95% CI, 0.37–0.85). Adverse warfarin events were more common for residents of long-term care with dementia (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.48, 95% CI, 1.20–1.82). Community-dwelling people with dementia treated with warfarin had poorer anticoagulation control than those without dementia (mean time in therapeutic range (TTR) % ±SD, 38±26 (dementia), 61±27 (no dementia), p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

A lower proportion of people with dementia received oral anticoagulation compared with people without dementia. People with dementia had higher bleeding risk and poorer anticoagulation control when treated with warfarin.
Relevance of Coded Prodromal Mild Cognitive Impairment in the Routine Treatment of Patients with Dementia in Germany
Authors: Bohlken Jens , Kostev Karel
Published: July 2018

Little is known about the impact of prior mild cognitive impairment (MCI, ICD-10: F06.7) diagnosis on the time to dementia diagnosis, anti-dementia drug therapy, and treatment persistence in patients with dementia (PWD). Patients with dementia diagnoses who started anti-dementia therapy between January 2010 and December 2016 were selected from 203 neurological/psychiatric practices in the Disease Analyzer databank (IQVIA). Patients with a history of MCI were compared to non-MCI controls in terms of demographic characteristics, anti-dementia therapy, and the rate of persistence with anti-dementia drugs. For persistence analyses, a 1:1 matching procedure was used based on age, gender, type of residence, and depression and dementia diagnosis. Persistence was represented using Kaplan-Meier curves. A Cox regression analysis was used to determine the influence of MCI diagnosis on persistence with anti-dementia drugs. 339 PWD with MCI diagnoses and 339 controls were available for analysis. PWD with MCI were younger (78.9 versus 80.4 years), less likely to live in a nursing home (8.5% versus 22.5%), more frequently received donepezil (40.1% versus 33.7%), and more likely to exhibit comorbid depression (29.6% versus 16.9%). There was no association between the risk of treatment discontinuation and prior MCI diagnosis. After 24 months, 40% versus 41.1% of patients had discontinued treatment. The prior MCI diagnosis presumably led to an earlier diagnosis of dementia and earlier anti-dementia treatment. Treatment continuity did not differ, which would suggest that it does not depend on prior MCI diagnosis but on the behavior of patients and their caregiving relatives.
Accuracy of X-ray computed tomography for dimensional metrology with employment of a new threshold selection method
Authors: Kowaluk Tomasz , Wożniak Adam
Published: July 2018

The article presents and discusses results of an experimental study regarding the accuracy of measurements performed with X-ray CT scanners. One of the main factors affecting the measurement result is definition of the threshold value between the air and the material. In this study, the results of measurements using two methods to determine the threshold value namely, the newly developed method and a well-known and commonly used method of ISO50%, were compared. A novel method is based on the measurement of an additional reference workpiece. The correction value, based on the measurement, is determined, and then it takes account when determining the threshold value between the air and the material. The study was performed using two types of gauges. These were workpieces of a specified volume of material (consisting of reference balls) and with the defined values of linear dimensions (in the form of cubes and cylinder). Using five different CT scanners, the conducted study yielded increase in the accuracy of measurements by applying the developed method in relation to the ISO50% automated method. In the case of volumetric test workpieces, relative measurement errors were reduced by 3 to 10 times for metrological CT scanners and from 50 to 30% for defectoscopy CT scanners. In the case of linear dimension measurements, average measurement errors were reduced twice.
Effects of Cutting Length and Position on the Seed Yield and Quality of Tossa Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.)
Authors: Mollah M A F , Tareq M Z , Rafiq Z A , Sarkar S A , Hossen B
Published: July 2018

An experiment was conducted at the research field of Jute Research Regional Station of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) at Kishoreganj during August 2009 to January 2010 to assess the effect of cutting length and position of cutting on seed yield and quality of tossa jute (Corchorus olitorius L.). Three cutting lengths (15 cm, 20 cm and 25cm) and three cutting positions (1st top, 2nd top and 3rd top) were the treatments. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The highest seed yield (917 kg ha-1) was obtained from 1st top x 15cm interaction and the lowest (811 kg ha-1) was recorded in 3rd top x 25cm cutting length. The highest seed germination (89%), field emergence (87%) and accelerated ageing (73%) were recorded from 1st top x 15cm interaction and the lowest seed germination (83.00%), field emergence (81%) and accelerated ageing (72) were recorded in 3rd top x 25 cm cutting length. The upper position of cutting produced the highest yield and best quality seeds. The Agriculturists 2018; 16(1) 13-20
Evaluation of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes for Drought Tolerance at Germination and Early Seedling Stage
Authors: Islam M M , Kayesh E , Zaman E , Urmi T A , Haque M M
Published: July 2018

Drought stress is a major constraint to the production and yield stability of crops. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered as a drought-sensitive crop species. Within this species, there are considerable varietal differences in sensitivity to this environmental stress. An experiment was conducted at the laboratory of the Department of Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Bangladesh during April to September 2016 to evaluate 100 rice genotypes for drought tolerance during germination and early seedling growth stage. The genotypes were tested against five levels of drought stress imposed by Polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) @ 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%. The experiment was laid out in a complete randomized design with four replications. The results showed that with increasing water stress, germination in all the genotypes decreased from 95.8% in control to 6.6 % in highest stress (20% PEG) level. Seedling height and dry weight also decreased in all rice genotypes with the increase in water stress level. Based on Standard Evaluation System (SES),18 genotypes were selected primarily. Among the 18 genotypes, Ratoil and Chinisakkar showed higher germination index, relative seedling height and relative seedling dry weight than the check drought tolerant BRRI dhan43 at 20% PEG. Beside these, performance of Kumridhan, Pusur and Somondori was also well at this level compared to BRRI dhan43. The genotypes Ratoil, Chinisakkar, Kumridhan, Pusur and Somondori showed the best performance under drought condition. The Agriculturists 2018; 16(1) 44-54
In Vitro Shoot Regeneration of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties under Artificial Drought Stress
Authors: Chakraborty Anindita , Chowdhury Soumitra , Haque Zahidul , Dash Asim Kanti , Mosnaz A T M J
Published: July 2018

The shoot regeneration efficiency of two rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties (Kasalath and BRRI dhan55) under artificial drought condition created by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) was investigated. Calli were induced in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0 mg/L) of 2, 4‐Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4‐D). Then, in vitro shoot regeneration under PEG (6000) was conducted on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L NAA + 2.0 mg/L BAP + 1.0 mg/L kinetin that gave the highest number of shoots. Shoot regeneration in both varieties reduced with increased levels of PEG (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0%). Regeneration efficiency of BRRI dhan55 in drought stress was higher compared to Kasalath. Thus, in vitro screening of plantlets under PEG can be used to achieve fast and reliable selection for tolerance against drought. The Agriculturists 2018; 16(1) 55-64
Screening of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes at Reproductive Stage for their Tolerance to Salinity
Authors: Islam M M , Faruqe M H , Rana M S , Akter M , Karim M A
Published: July 2018

Soil salinity is one of the most devastating environmental stresses for rice production in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Improvement in salt tolerance of rice is an important way for the economic utilization of coastal zones. An experiment was conducted at the vinyl house of the Department of Agronomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Bangladesh during December 2016 to April 2017 to determine the effects of different salinity levels on the yield and yield components of some rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotype sand finally, screening of rice genotypes for salt tolerance. The experiment containing four treatments was laid out in a complete randomized design with five replications. The treatments were four levels of saline water with electrical conductivities at control (0.3 dSm-1), 5, 10 and 15dSm-1. Based on screening at germination stage, relatively salt-tolerant eleven genotypes with two check varieties were used in this experiment. The study showed that increase in salinity level significantly decreased yield and yield contributing characters of rice. However, among the eleven, three genotypes (Chapali, Patnai 23 and Soloi) were considered as moderately salt tolerant at 15 dSm-1 on the basis of their yields and yield contributing characteristics such as plant height reduction, total tiller reduction, effective tiller reduction, reduction of fertile grains per panicle, grain yield and relative grain yield. Therefore, Chapali, Patnai 23 and Soloi might be recommended as moderately salt tolerant rice genotypes. The Agriculturists 2018; 16(1) 65-77
Management of Foot and Root Rot Disease of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Caused by Sclerotium rolfsii under In Vivo Condition
Authors: Siddique Mohammad Nuray Alam , Ahmmed Abu Noman Faruq , Jahan Nusrat , Mazumder Md Golam Hasan , Islam Md Rafiqul
Published: July 2018

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides, plant extracts, organic manure and biocontrol-agents against foot and root rot disease of eggplant caused by Sclerotium rolfsii. Five chemical fungicides, two plant extracts, organic amendment - poultry manure and biocontrol-agent Trichoderma harzianum were evaluated against the disease in field condition. Fungicides and plant extracts were sprayed at the base of each plant and adjacent soil at 40, 50 and 60 days after transplanting. Organic manure and biocontrol-agent were applied to the soil before transplanting. The lowest disease incidence (7.10 %) and no disease severity were observed in Bavistin 50 WP at 120 DAT followed by Topgan 50 WP and Ridomil Gold. Higher yield and plant growth like plant hight (88 cm), number of branch/plant (7.33) and number of leaf/branch (25.33) was also supported by Bavistin 50 WP . The highest benefit cost ratio was also calculated in Bavistin 50 WP followed by Topgan 50 WP and Ridomil Gold. Application of biocontrol-agent (T. harzianum) also showed promising effect against foot and root rot disease.The Agriculturists 2018; 16(1) 78-86
Tripartite Relationships in Legume Crops Are Plant-Microorganism-Specific and Strongly Influenced by Salinity
Authors: Veselaj Eriola , Sallaku Glenda , Balliu Astrit
Published: July 2018

This study investigated the effects of specific strains of two arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AMF) (Rhizophagus irregularis and Claroideoglomus claroideum) and of two plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) (Rhizobium leguminosarum and Burkholderia spp.), supplied either individually or as combination of a mixture of both arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi with each bacteria on root morphology, growth and fresh grain yield in pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants. Inoculated and non-inoculated pea plants were subjected to two levels of salinity (0 and 50 mM) by the addition of sodium chloride into tap water. Prior to fresh grain harvesting the morphology of root system was analyzed and the dry matter of roots and shoots were individually measured in randomly selected plants. Fresh pods were individually harvested per each plant; fresh (green) grains were separately counted and weighted per each pod at each individual plant, and the average grain weight was calculated by dividing total grain weight of plant with the respective number of green grains. The raise of salinity in the irrigation water strongly diminished the growth of pea plants by significantly reducing weight, length, surface area and root volume of pea plants. The relationships of pea plants with beneficiary fungi and bacteria were specific to each microorganism and highly depended on the environment. We found that under saline conditions, Rhizophagus irregularis provided a better vegetative growth and a higher yield than Claroideoglomus claroideum. Although, single application of Burkolderia spp. provides a better vegetative growth than single application of Rhizobium leguminosarum the best results, in terms of growth and harvested yield, were still obtained by combined application of AM fungi with Rhizobium leguminosarum. This combination was able to sustain the average grain weight at the level of non-saline plants and provided a significantly higher yield than the control plants.
Seasonal Differences in Animal Welfare Assessment of Family Farming Dual-Purpose Cattle Raised under Tropical Conditions
Authors: Hernandez Adalinda , Berg Charlotte , Westin Rebecka , Galina Carlos
Published: July 2018

Conditions on farms in the tropics can differ greatly depending on the season of the year. Characteristics such as disease prevalence, climate and availability of resources may not be constant all year around; however an acceptable level of animal welfare must be maintained throughout the year. Since it is neither practical nor economically feasible to perform several assessments per year, the purpose of this study was to define whether there were animal welfare issues at farms that were affected by the season to identify which season would present a greater risk to animal welfare, using a risk-based approach. Forty-five dual-purpose family farms in the Mexican tropics were assessed via the Welfare Quality® protocol. During the rainy season, 2.2% of the farms were classified as excellent, 57.8% as enhanced, 31.1% as acceptable and 8.9% as unclassified. In the dry season, 31.1% were classified as excellent, 68.9% as enhanced and none of the farms were categorized as acceptable or unclassified. Consequently, the season which presented the greatest risk to animal welfare of dual-purpose cattle raised under tropical conditions was the rainy season. However, there were management-related differences observed between the two seasons and the dry season also had some animal welfare threats. The fact that farms scored higher during the dry season is possibly the result of farmer awareness, leading to modification of their systems to provide animals with the necessary inputs to meet their production needs. If these modifications were not fulfilled, then welfare conditions might have been jeopardized.
Quantitative Deterioration Assessment of Road Bridge Decks Based on Site Inspected Cracks
Authors: Fathalla Eissa , Tanaka Yasushi , Maekawa Koichi , Sakurai Akito
Published: July 2018

By integrating a multi-scale simulation with the pseudo-cracking method, the remaining fatigue life of in-service reinforced concrete (RC) bridge decks can be estimated based upon their site-inspected crack patterns. But, it still takes time for computation. In order to achieve a quick deterioration-magnitude assessment of RC decks based upon their crack patterns, two evaluation methods are proposed. A predictive correlation between the remaining fatigue life and the cracks density (both cracks length and width) is presented as a fast judgment. For fair-detailed judgment, an artificial neural network (ANN) model is also introduced which is the basis of the machine learning. Both assessment methods are built commonly by thousands of artificial random crack patterns to cover all possible ranges since the variety of the real crack patterns on site is more or less limited. The built ANN performances are examined by k-fold cross-validation besides checking the prediction accuracy of real crack patterns of bridge RC decks. Finally, the hazard map of the deck’s bottom surface is introduced to indicate the location of higher risk cracking, which derives from the estimated weight of individual neuron in the built artificial neural network.
Application of Aesthetic Principles to the Study of Consumer Preference Models for Vase Forms
Authors: Lo Chi-Hung
Published: July 2018

The factors that affect a consumer when making a purchase decision include product function, quality, and price. Different products might feature similar functional performance although they are designed and manufactured by different vendors. The most decisive factor for a consumer in buying a product is no longer its physical functions. Nowadays, consumers care more about the aesthetics that a product can deliver. Designers should make any extra effort to improve the aesthetic design of their products. Therefore, it is critical for a designer to know the aesthetic tastes of his/her target consumer group in order to create products with the preferred style. Furthermore, the idea of design differentiation needs to be incorporated so that a product can present different aesthetic perceptions to consumers of different tastes. The objective of this study is to investigate consumers’ preference models from their preferred product forms. The aesthetic principles of Symmetry, Minimalism, and Cohesion are applied to the case study of the design of various vase forms. A quantitative approach of evaluating vase forms by the aesthetic principles is proposed. A conjoint analysis of the vase features and attributes was carried out in order to determine their correlation with consumer preferences. Consumers are classified into 6 groups of different aesthetic conceptions by cluster analysis. The consumers’ preference model can be determined by indices including Pearson’s R and Kendall’s tau. This approach provides designers with an effective way of determining the right direction for new form designs and renovation.
Rainfall Detection and Rainfall Rate Estimation Using Microwave Attenuation
Authors: Kim Min-Seong , Kwon Byung Hyuk
Published: July 2018

Eight microwave links operating at frequencies ranging from 6 to 8 GHz and with path lengths ranging from 5.7 to 37.4 km traversing the city of Seoul, Korea are used to detect rainfall and estimate path-averaged rainfall rates. Rainfall detection using rain-induced attenuation (dB) was validated by rain detectors installed at automatic weather stations, and the results confirmed that microwave links can be used to detect rainfall with an accuracy ≥80%. The power-law R-k relationships between rain-induced specific attenuation, k (dB km−1), and the rainfall rate, R (mm h−1), were established and cross-validated by estimating the path-averaged rainfall rate. The mean bias of the path-averaged rainfall rate, as compared to the rainfall rate from ground rain gauges, was between −3 and 1 mm h−1. The improved accuracy of rainfall detection led to the improved accuracy of the path-averaged rainfall rate. Hence, it was confirmed that microwave links, used for broadcasting and media communications, can identify rainy or dry periods (rain spells or dry spells) in a way comparable to rain detectors and provide high time-resolution rainfall rates in real time.
Flavonoids as Putative Epi-Modulators: Insight into Their Binding Mode with BRD4 Bromodomains Using Molecular Docking and Dynamics
Authors: Prieto-Martínez Fernando D. , Medina-Franco José L.
Published: July 2018

Flavonoids are widely recognized as natural polydrugs, given their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative, and antineoplastic activities. Recently, different studies showed that flavonoids have the potential to inhibit bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) bromodomains. Previous reports suggested that flavonoids bind between the Z and A loops of the bromodomain (ZA channel) due to their orientation and interactions with P86, V87, L92, L94, and N140. Herein, a comprehensive characterization of the binding modes of fisetin and the biflavonoid, amentoflavone, is discussed. To this end, both compounds were docked with BET bromodomain 4 (BRD4) using four docking programs. The results were post-processed with protein–ligand interaction fingerprints. To gain further insight into the binding mode of the two natural products, the docking results were further analyzed with molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that amentoflavone makes numerous contacts in the ZA channel, as previously described for flavonoids and kinase inhibitors. It was also found that amentoflavone can potentially make contacts with non-canonical residues for BET inhibition. Most of these contacts were not observed with fisetin. Based on these results, amentoflavone was experimentally tested for BRD4 inhibition, showing activity in the micromolar range. This work may serve as the basis for scaffold optimization and the further characterization of flavonoids as BET inhibitors.
Biomechanical Modeling of Human Skin Tissue Surrogates
Authors: Chanda Arnab
Published: July 2018

Surrogates, which precisely simulate nonlinear mechanical properties of the human skin at different body sites, would be indispensable for biomechanical testing applications, such as estimating the accurate load response of skin implants and prosthetics to study the biomechanics of static and dynamic loading conditions on the skin, dermatological and sports injuries, and estimating the dynamic load response of lethal and nonlethal ballistics. To date, human skin surrogates have been developed mainly with materials, such as gelatin and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), based on assumption of simplified mechanical properties, such as an average elastic modulus (estimated through indentation tests), and Poisson’s ratio. In addition, pigskin and cowhides, which have widely varying mechanical properties, have been used to simulate human skin. In the current work, a novel elastomer-based material system is developed, which precisely mimics the nonlinear stress–stretch behavior, elastic modulus at high and low strains, and fracture strengths of the natural human skin at different body sites. The manufacturing and fabrication process of these skin surrogates are discussed, and mechanical testing results are presented.
Daylight Discomfort Glare Evaluation with Evalglare: Influence of Parameters and Methods on the Accuracy of Discomfort Glare Prediction
Authors: Pierson Clotilde , Wienold Jan , Bodart Magali
Published: July 2018

Nowadays, discomfort glare indices are frequently calculated by using evalglare. Due to the lack of knowledge on the implications of the methods and parameters of evalglare, the default settings are often used. But wrong parameter settings can lead to inappropriate glare source detection and therefore to invalid glare indices calculations and erroneous glare classifications. For that reason, this study aims to assess the influence of several glare source detection methods and parameters on the accuracy of discomfort glare prediction for daylight. This analysis uses two datasets, representative of the two types of discomfort glare: saturation and contrast glare. By computing three different statistical indicators to describe the accuracy of discomfort glare prediction, 63 different settings are compared. The results suggest that the choice of an evalglare method should be done when considering the type of glare that is most likely to occur in the visual scene: the task area method should be preferred for contrast glare scenes, and the threshold method for saturation glare scenes. The parameters that should be favored or avoided are also discussed, although a deeper understanding of the discomfort glare mechanism and a clear definition of a glare source would be necessary to reliably interpret these results.
Potential of Thermal Energy Storage Using Coconut Oil for Air Temperature Control
Authors: Wonorahardjo Surjamanto , Sutjahja Inge Magdalena , Kurnia Daniel , Fahmi Zulfikar , Putri Widya Arisya
Published: July 2018

The role of thermal mass in indoor air-cooling during the day is a common area of study, which is particularly relevant for an era characterized by energy crises. Thermal energy storage (TES) technologies for application in rooms and buildings are not well developed. This study focuses on the use of coconut oil (co_oil) as a temperature control agent for room air conditioning systems in tropical countries such as Indonesia, given its capability to store large amounts of heat at temperatures around its melting point. Heat exchange studies between co_oil and the air environment were performed by considering three factors: Temperature difference between co_oil and the air environment, the heat absorption behavior and the release of co_oil, and the mass of co_oil required to have a significant effect. The co_oil cell sizes were formulated as responses to natural day and night air temperature profiles, while the performance of the co_oil mass for decreasing room air temperature was predicted using a thermal chamber.
Synthesis of Graphene Nanosheets through Spontaneous Sodiation Process
Authors: Thomas Deepak-George , Kavak Emrah , Hashemi Niloofar , Montazami Reza , Hashemi Nicole N.
Published: July 2018

Graphene is one of the emerging materials in the nanotechnology industry due to its potential applications in diverse areas. We report the fabrication of graphene nanosheets by spontaneous electrochemical reaction using solvated ion intercalation into graphite. The current literature focuses on the fabrication of graphene using lithium metal. Our procedure uses sodium metal, which results in a reduction of costs. Using various characterization techniques, we confirmed the fabrication of graphene nanosheets. We obtained an intensity ratio (ID/IG) of 0.32 using Raman spectroscopy, interlayer spacing of 0.39 nm and our XPS results indicate that our fabricated compound is relatively oxidation free.
Can Stemness and Chemoresistance Be Therapeutically Targeted via Signaling Pathways in Ovarian Cancer?
Authors: Roy Lynn , Cowden Dahl Karen
Published: July 2018

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Poor overall survival, particularly for patients with high grade serous (HGS) ovarian cancer, is often attributed to late stage at diagnosis and relapse following chemotherapy. HGS ovarian cancer is a heterogenous disease in that few genes are consistently mutated between patients. Additionally, HGS ovarian cancer is characterized by high genomic instability. For these reasons, personalized approaches may be necessary for effective treatment and cure. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumor metastasis and chemoresistance are essential to improve survival rates. One favored model for tumor metastasis and chemoresistance is the cancer stem cell (CSC) model. CSCs are cells with enhanced self-renewal properties that are enriched following chemotherapy. Elimination of this cell population is thought to be a mechanism to increase therapeutic response. Therefore, accurate identification of stem cell populations that are most clinically relevant is necessary. While many CSC identifiers (ALDH, OCT4, CD133, and side population) have been established, it is still not clear which population(s) will be most beneficial to target in patients. Therefore, there is a critical need to characterize CSCs with reliable markers and find their weaknesses that will make the CSCs amenable to therapy. Many signaling pathways are implicated for their roles in CSC initiation and maintenance. Therapeutically targeting pathways needed for CSC initiation or maintenance may be an effective way of treating HGS ovarian cancer patients. In conclusion, the prognosis for HGS ovarian cancer may be improved by combining CSC phenotyping with targeted therapies for pathways involved in CSC maintenance.
Molecular Rh(III) and Ir(III) Catalysts Immobilized on Bipyridine-Based Covalent Triazine Frameworks for the Hydrogenation of CO2 to Formate
Authors: Gunasekar Gunniya Hariyanandam , Park Kwangho , Jeong Hyeonseok , Jung Kwang-Deog , Park Kiyoung , Yoon Sungho
Published: July 2018

The catalytic reactivity of molecular Rh(III)/Ir(III) catalysts immobilized on two- and three-dimensional Bipyridine-based Covalent Triazine Frameworks (bpy-CTF) for the hydrogenation of CO2 to formate has been described. The heterogenized Ir complex demonstrated superior catalytic efficiency over its Rh counterpart. The Ir catalyst immobilized on two-dimensional bpy-CTF showed an improved turnover frequency and turnover number compared to its three-dimensional counterpart. The two-dimensional Ir catalyst produced a maximum formate concentration of 1.8 M and maintained its catalytic efficiency over five consecutive runs with an average of 92% in each cycle. The reduced activity after recycling was studied by density functional theory calculations, and a plausible leaching pathway along with a rational catalyst design guidance have been proposed.
TRPM2 in the Brain: Role in Health and Disease
Authors: Sita Giulia , Hrelia Patrizia , Graziosi Agnese , Ravegnini Gloria , Morroni Fabiana
Published: July 2018

Transient receptor potential (TRP) proteins have been implicated in several cell functions as non-selective cation channels, with about 30 different mammalian TRP channels having been recognized. Among them, TRP-melastatin 2 (TRPM2) is particularly involved in the response to oxidative stress and inflammation, while its activity depends on the presence of intracellular calcium (Ca2+). TRPM2 is involved in several physiological and pathological processes in the brain through the modulation of multiple signaling pathways. The aim of the present review is to provide a brief summary of the current insights of TRPM2 role in health and disease to focalize our attention on future potential neuroprotective strategies.
TiO2 Assisted Photodegradation for Low Substrate Concentrations and Transition Metal Electron Scavengers
Authors: Alsaud Hassan A. , Abibat Ahmed E. , Painter Roger , Sharpe Lonnie , Hargrove Samuel Keith
Published: July 2018

Some contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are known to survive conventional wastewater treatment, which introduces them back to the environment, allowing them to potentially cycle into drinking water. This is especially concerning because of the inherent ability of some CECs to induce physiological effects in humans at very low doses. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as TiO2-based photocatalysis are of great interest for addressing CECs in aqueous environments. Natural water resources often contain dissolved metal cation concentrations in excess of targeted CEC concentrations. These cations may significantly adversely impact the degradation of CECs by scavenging TiO2 surface generated electrons. Consequently, simple pseudo-first-order or Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics are not sufficient for reactor design and process analysis in some scenarios. Rhodamine Basic Violet 10 (Rhodamine B) dye and dissolved [Cu2+] cations were studied as reaction surrogates to demonstrate that TiO2-catalyzed degradation for very dilute solutions is almost entirely due to the homogeneous reaction with hydroxyl radicals, and that in this scenario, the hole trapping pathway has a negligible impact. Chemical reaction kinetic studies were then carried out to develop a robust model for RB-[Cu2+] reactions that is exact in the electron pathways for hydroxyl radical production and electron scavenging.
Application of Fecal Volatile Organic Compound Analysis in Clinical Practice: Current State and Future Perspectives
Authors: El Manouni el Hassani Sofia , Berkhout Daniel J. C. , Bosch Sofie , Benninga Marc A. , De Boer Nanne K. H. , De Meij Tim G. J.
Published: July 2018

Increasing interest is noticed in the potential of volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis as non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in clinical medical practice. The spectrum of VOCs, originating from (patho)physiological metabolic processes in the human body and detectable in bodily excrements, such as exhaled breath, urine and feces, harbors a magnificent source of information. Thus far, the majority of studies have focused on VOC analysis in exhaled breath, aiming at identification of disease-specific VOC profiles. Recently, an increasing number of studies have evaluated the usability of VOC present in the headspace of feces in the diagnostic work-up of a wide range of gastrointestinal diseases. Promising results have been demonstrated particularly in those diseases in which microbiota alterations are considered to play a significant etiological role, such as colorectal carcinoma, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and infectious bowel diseases. In addition, fecal VOC analysis seems to have potential as a diagnostic biomarker for extra-intestinal diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis. Different methods for VOC analysis have been used in medical studies, such as gas-chromatography mass spectrometry, selected-ion flow tube-mass spectrometry, ion-mobility spectrometry, and electronic nose devices. In this review, the available literature on the potential of fecal VOCs as diagnostic biomarker, including an overview of relevant VOC detection techniques, is discussed. In addition, future hurdles, which need to be taken prior to implementation of VOC analysis in daily clinical practice, are outlined.
Does Thermosalient Effect Have to Concur with a Polymorphic Phase Transition? The Case of Methscopolamine Bromide
Authors: Klaser Teodoro , Popović Jasminka , Fernandes José A. , Tarantino Serena C. , Zema Michele , Skoko Željko
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we report for the first time an observed thermosalient effect that is not accompanied with a phase transition. Our experiments found that methscolopamine bromide—a compound chemically very similar to another thermosalient material, oxitropium bromide—exhibited crystal jumps during heating in the temperature range of 323–340 K. The same behavior was observed during cooling at a slightly lower temperature range of 313–303 K. Unlike other thermosalient solids reported so far, no phase transition was observed in this system. However, similar to other thermosalient materials, methscolopamine showed unusually large and anisotropic thermal expansion coefficients. This indicates that the thermosalient effect in this compound is caused by a different mechanism compared to all other reported materials, where it is governed by sharp and rapid phase transition. By contrast, thermosalient effect seems to be a continuous process in methscolopamine bromide.
Estimation of Energy Savings Potential in Higher Education Buildings Supported by Energy Performance Benchmarking: A Case Study
Authors: Bernardo Hermano , Oliveira Filipe
Published: July 2018

This paper presents results of work developed in the field of building energy benchmarking applied to the building stock of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Portugal, based on a thorough energy performance characterisation of each of its buildings. To address the benchmarking of the case study buildings, an energy efficiency ranking system was applied. Following an energy audit of each building, they were grouped in different typologies according to the main end-use activities developed: Pedagogic buildings, canteens, residential buildings and office buildings. Then, an energy usage indicator was used to establish a metric to rank the buildings of each typology according to their energy efficiency. The energy savings potential was also estimated, based on the reference building energy usage indicator for each typology, and considering two different scenarios, yielding potential savings between 10% and 34% in final energy consumption.
Urban Park Systems to Support Sustainability: The Role of Urban Park Systems in Hot Arid Urban Climates
Authors: Kim Gunwoo , Coseo Paul
Published: July 2018

Quantifying ecosystem services in urban areas is complex. However, existing ecosystem service typologies and ecosystem modeling can provide a means towards understanding some key biophysical links between urban forests and ecosystem services. This project addresses broader concepts of sustainability by assessing the urban park system in Phoenix, Arizona’s hot urban climate. This project aims to quantify and demonstrate the multiple ecosystem services provided by Phoenix’s green infrastructure (i.e., urban park system), including its air pollution removal values, carbon sequestration and storage, avoided runoff, structural value, and the energy savings it provides for city residents. Modeling of ecosystem services of the urban park system revealed around 517,000 trees within the system, representing a 7.20% tree cover. These trees remove about 3630 tons (t) of carbon (at an associated value of $285,000) and about 272 t of air pollutants (at an associated value of $1.16 million) every year. Trees within Phoenix’s urban park system are estimated to reduce annual residential energy costs by $106,000 and their structural value is estimated at $692 million. The findings of this research will increase our knowledge of the value of green infrastructure services provided by different types of urban vegetation and assist in the future design, planning and management of green infrastructure in cities. Thus, this study has implications for both policy and practice, contributing to a better understanding of the multiple benefits of green infrastructure and improving the design of green spaces in hot arid urban climates around the globe.