bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A extensão universitária: contribuições da Universidade Federal de São Carlos/UFSCAR para as relações étnico-raciais
Authors: Petto Danielle Souza , Nascimento Manoel Nelito Matheus
Published: January 2019

Este artigo busca apresentar a extensão universitária sobre as relações étnico-raciais na UFSCar, inicialmente abordando o desenvolvimento histórico da extensão na universidade brasileira e num segundo momento a extensão universitária da UFSCar. Percebe-se que essa relação é permeada por muitos elementos que contribuem para que o diálogo avance ou retroceda, e que é necessário compreender a universidade a partir da totalidade em que ela está inserida. A universidade tem o papel fundamental de promover o avanço do conhecimento sobre a sociedade, formular ações, dar novos significados para estigmas históricos e estreitar a relação com a comunidade externa, via o ensino, a pesquisa e a extensão. No entanto, esta relação é limitada pela esfera política, dado que é por meio dela que é possível implementar as políticas públicas. Por isso, a universidade deve estar atenta às suas ações que podem contribuir para o distanciamento e o não pertencimento da comunidade externa. A extensão universitária pode servir como um mecanismo para reforçar a desigualdade social se as ações que contribuem para a transformação acabarem ficando restritas apenas àqueles professores que já tinham um comprometimento social. Portanto, é preciso haver uma reflexão constante sobre essa relação com a comunidade para que a universidade assuma o seu compromisso social.
Efectos de la provisión pública de educación preescolar sobre la asistencia y la participación laboral femenina. Evidencia para el caso uruguayo
Authors: Nollenberger Natalia , Perazzo Ivone
Published: January 2019

Antecedentes: en este trabajo se estima el efecto de una política de expansión de plazas preescolares públicas realizada en Uruguay a mediados de la década de 1990, sobre la asistencia de niños de cuatro y cinco años y sobre la participación de las madres en el mercado de trabajo.Metodología: la estrategia empírica explota las diferencias en el número de nuevas plazas disponibles entre regiones del país.Resultados: se indica que la expansión de plazas aumentó la asistencia a un centro preescolar, aunque la tasa de take up fue relativamente baja. La razón sería, al menos en parte, que la expansión de plazas públicas desplazó la asistencia a centros privados, en particular de los hijos de madres calificadas. Si bien en el caso de las madres con bajas calificaciones, para quienes la política fue más efectiva, era esperable encontrar algún efecto en el empleo, nuestros resultados indican que no los hubo.
Ecological Drivers of Species Distributions and Niche Overlap for Three Subterranean Termite Species in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, USA
Authors: Hyseni Chaz , Garrick Ryan
Published: January 2019

In both managed and unmanaged forests, termites are functionally important members of the dead-wood-associated (saproxylic) insect community. However, little is known about regional-scale environmental drivers of geographic distributions of termite species, and how these environmental factors impact co-occurrence among congeneric species. Here we focus on the southern Appalachian Mountains—a well-known center of endemism for forest biota—and use Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) to examine the distributions of three species of Reticulitermes termites (i.e., R. flavipes, R. virginicus, and R. malletei). To overcome deficiencies in public databases, ENMs were underpinned by field-collected high-resolution occurrence records coupled with molecular taxonomic species identification. Spatial overlap among areas of predicted occurrence of each species was mapped, and aspects of niche similarity were quantified. We also identified environmental factors that most strongly contribute to among-species differences in occupancy. Overall, we found that R. flavipes and R. virginicus showed significant niche divergence, which was primarily driven by dry-season precipitation. Also, all three species were most likely to co-occur in the mid-latitudes of the study area (i.e., northern Alabama and Georgia, eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina), which is an area of considerable topographic complexity. This work provides important baseline information for follow-up studies of local-scale drivers of these species’ distributions. It also identifies specific geographic areas where future assessments of the frequency of true syntopy vs. micro-allopatry, and associated interspecific competitive interactions, should be focused.
Genesis of the Koka Gold Deposit in Northwest Eritrea, NE Africa: Constraints from Fluid Inclusions and C-H-O-S Isotopes
Authors: Zhao Kai , Yao Huazhou , Wang Jianxiong , Ghebretnsae Ghebsha Fitwi , Xiang Wenshuai , Xiong Yi-Qu
Published: January 2019

The Koka gold deposit is located in the Elababu shear zone between the Nakfa terrane and the Adobha Abiy terrane, NW Eritrea. Based on the paragenetic study two main stages of gold mineralization were identified in the Koka gold deposit: 1) an early stage of pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite-galena-gold-quartz vein; and 2) a second stage of pyrite-quartz veins. NaCl-aqueous inclusions, CO2-rich inclusions, and three-phase CO2-H2O inclusions occur in the quartz veins at Koka. The ore-bearing quartz veins formed at 268℃, from NaCl-CO2-H2O(-CH4) fluids averaging 5 wt% NaCl eq. The ore-forming mechanisms include fluid immiscibility during stage I, and mixing with meteoric water during stage II. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon isotopes suggest that the ore-forming fluids originated as mixtures of metamorphic water, meteoric water and magmatic water, whereas sulfur isotope suggest an igneous origin. Features of geology and ore-forming fluid at Koka deposit are similar to those of orogenic gold deposits, suggesting the Koka deposit might be an orogenic gold deposit related to granite.
The Line Element Approach for the Geometry of Poincare Disk
Authors: Kim Jong Ryul
Published: January 2019

The geometry of Poincare disk itself is interpreted without any mapping to dierent spaces. Our approach might be one of the shortest and is intended for educational contribution.
Bacterial Sialoglycosidases in Virulence and Pathogenesis
Authors: Sudhakara Preethi , Sellamuthu Iyappan , Aruni A. Wilson
Published: January 2019

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the tissues that surround and support the teeth. In the U. S., approximately 65 million people are affected by this condition. Its occurrence is also associated with many important systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Among the most important etiologies of periodontitis is Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone bacterial pathogen. Keystone pathogens can orchestrate inflammatory disease by remodeling a normally benign microbiota causing imbalance between normal and pathogenic microbiota (dysbiosis). The important characteristics of P. gingivalis causing dysbiosis are its virulence factors that cause effective subversion of host defenses to its advantage [1], allowing other pathogens to grow. However, the mechanisms involving these processes are poorly understood. However, various microbial strategies target host sialoglycoproteins for immune dysregulation. In addition, the enzymes that break down sialoglycoproteins/sialoglycans are the “sialoglycoproteases”, resulting in exposed terminal sialic acid. This process could lead to pathogen-toll like receptor (TLR) interactions mediated through sialic acid receptor–ligand mechanisms. By assessing the function of P. gingivalis sialoglycoproteases, could pave the way to designing carbohydrate analogues and sialic acid mimetics to serve as drug targets.
Superconducting YBCO Foams as Trapped Field Magnets
Authors: Koblischka Michael R. , Pavan Kumar Naik Sugali , Koblischka-Veneva Anjela , Murakami Masato , Gokhfeld Denis , Reddy E. Sudhakar , Schmitz Georg J.
Published: January 2019

Superconducting foams of YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ (YBCO) are proposed as trapped field magnets or supermagnets. The foams with an open-porous structure are light-weight, mechanically strong and can be prepared in large sample sizes. The trapped field distributions were measured using a scanning Hall probe on various sides of an YBCO foam sample after field-cooling in a magnetic field of 0.5 T produced by a square Nd-Fe-B permanent magnet. The maximum trapped field (TF) measured is about 400 G (77 K) at the bottom of the sample. Several details of the TF distribution, the current flow and possible applicatons of such superconducting foam samples in space applications, e.g., as active elements in flux-pinning docking interfaces (FPDI) or as portable strong magnets to collect debris in space, are outlined.
Upsurge of Homicides and Its Impact on Life Expectancy and Life Span Inequality in Mexico, 2005–2015
Authors: Aburto José Manuel , Beltrán-Sánchez Hiram
Published: January 2019

Objectives. To quantify the effect of the upsurge of violence on life expectancy and life span inequality in Mexico after 2005.

Methods. We calculated age- and cause-specific contributions to changes in life expectancy and life span inequality conditional on surviving to age 15 years between 1995 and 2015. We analyzed homicides, medically amenable conditions, diabetes, ischemic heart diseases, and traffic accidents by state and sex.

Results. Male life expectancy at age 15 years increased by more than twice in 1995 to 2005 (1.17 years) than in 2005 to 2015 (0.55 years). Life span inequality decreased by more than half a year for males in 1995 to 2005, whereas in 2005 to 2015 the reduction was about 4 times smaller. Homicides for those aged between 15 and 49 years had the largest effect in slowing down male life expectancy and life span inequality. Between 2005 and 2015, three states in the north experienced life expectancy losses while 5 states experienced increased life span inequality.

Conclusions. Ten years into the upsurge of violence, Mexico has not been able to reduce the homicide levels to those before 2005. Life expectancy and life span inequality stagnated since 2005 for young men at the national level. In some states, males live shorter lives than in 2005, on average, and experience higher uncertainty in their eventual death.
A peer-led dental education program for modifying oral self-care in Mexican children
Authors: Villanueva-Vilchis María Del Carmen , Aleksejuniené Jolanta , López-Núñez Benjamín , De la Fuente-Hernández Javier
Published: January 2019

Objective. To compare peer-led dental education (PLDE) versus conventional dental instruction (CDI) in modifying children’s oral self-care. Materials and methods. The intervention group (two schools) received PLDE and the control group (two schools) received CDI. The quality of oralself-care practice (OSC-P) and oral self-care skills (OSC-S) were indicated by dental plaque levels (%) and compared before and after the dental education. Results. There were no baseline OSC-P differences between the control (55.8 ± 12.8%) and intervention (55.5 ± 14.6%) groups or OSC-S differences between the intervention (38.5 ± 13.2%) and control (38.1 ± 12.5%) groups. At the three-month follow-up we observed OSC-P deterioration in the control group (63.2 ± 15.0%) and OSC-P improvement in the intervention group (52.2 ± 15.6%). The OSC-P/OSC-S regression models found these predictors: baseline oral self-care, group affiliation, and mother’s education (p<0.05). Conclusion. The hypothesis was confirmed and significant predictors were baseline oral self-care levels, group affiliation, and mother’s education.
HEPATITIS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Jun So Yon , Schor Tatiana
Published: January 2019

Resumo
Este artigo examina a prevalência da hepatite na Amazônia brasileira e os esforços para reduzir a disseminação da doença. A hepatite disseminada em áreas ao longo da Amazônia continua sendo uma fonte de preocupação para as autoridades de saúde pública brasileiras, uma vez que sugere baixos níveis de saneamento e consciência geral da doença. Muitas vezes, é difícil obter dados de saúde na Amazônia brasileira devido à dificuldade de acessar e avaliar ameaças nessas áreas. Uma revisão bibliométrica da hepatite na Amazônia brasileira revela uma escassez de dados e pesquisas sobre o assunto. Como as mudanças no ambiente e no clima provavelmente levarão a um aumento da carga de doenças entre as populações rurais e urbanas, há a necessidade de um estudo abrangente sobre a dinâmica da infecção por hepatite entre os brasileiros que vivem na região amazônica. Agentes de saúde pública e agências governamentais devem trabalhar juntos para obter dados longitudinais sobre a transmissão de hepatite.
 
Palavras-Chave: hepatite, Amazônia brasileira, saúde pública
The Oil and Gas Chat Bots Are Coming
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: January 2019

Meet Sandy, Nesh, and Ralphie. They are newborn chat bot programs that have been designed specifically to seek out the answers to oil and gas professionals’ tough questions.

These bots, also termed virtual assistants, stem from a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) known as natural language processing (NLP), which has quickly entered the mainstream thanks to the efforts of tech giants Amazon, Apple, and Google.

Their software innovations have enabled many millions of people to engage in dialogue with laptops, smartphones, and speakers. Consumers are using NLP mostly inside their homes for simple requests; music and weather reports round out the top two uses in one recent survey.

But there is now a push to get this technology into the world’s offices where it has the potential to increase worker efficiency. This market test is just barely under way in the oil and gas business where adoption will hinge on a virtual assistant’s ability to quickly generate reliable assessments of complex issues involving reservoirs, seismic data, and well logs.

And like many nascent developments in the digital arena, the technology’s capabilities will also depend on the amount of training it receives from its earliest users.

These first movers are among those vying for the chance to make chat bots an essential part of the upstream sector’s future. 

Nesh

Houston-based startup Nesh has created a virtual assistant by the same name to help industry analysts and engineering techs build intelligence reports. The firm is in the middle of pilot projects with a European operator and one of the largest US shale producers.

Sidd Gupta is the chief executive officer and started the company last year after spending most of his career with Schlumberger, including a stint on one of its software teams. Gupta acknowledged that chat bots have been criticized in the past for being “dumb things” that can only complete a rigid set of pre-programmed steps.

Next-generation chat bots like Nesh aim to reverse this perception with more advanced programming that fetches data for inquisitive users from multiple, usually disconnected, sources.

Gupta drew inspiration for the new venture from a few sources, but one in particular exposed the need for a chat bot technology that could make using complex oil and gas software a more intuitive experience. After a friend was laid off during the recent downturn from his role as a reservoir engineer, Gupta said he was turned down for a job that seemed like a perfect fit, with just one exception: the friend was trained on a different reservoir simulator than what was used by the prospective firm.

“I thought that was a very weird reason to reject someone for a technical role,” he said. “I realized that this was a very systemic issue in the oil and gas industry—we judge people’s technical capabilities based on what software they can use.”
Q&A: An Interview With Visuray CEO Kambiz Safinya
Authors: Donnelly John
Published: January 2019

Q&A

How did your company get started?

Visuray was born out of a simple desire to help oil companies see inside their wells, thereby eliminating downtime on rigs where each moment of uncertainty translates to thousands of dollars lost. Conventional imaging in wells is fraught with issues, not least being the fact that most wells are filled with opaque fluid. The solution has been to use X-rays that pass through all types of well fluids and then to use the back-scattered X-rays to produce 2D and 3D images of the downhole hardware, even in the most opaque and troublesome well environments.

With start-up funds from Statoil, BP, and Shell, we first developed the foundation for our technology. In 2005, the first successful laboratory image was taken through mud. Two years later in 2007, a prototype 4m long and 9 in. in diameter was run in the Ullrigg test well just outside Stavanger. This prompted a second round of funding by our JIP partners. In early 2015, after 7 years and $90 million of investment, a 35/8-in. commercial wireline tool, called the VR90, was successfully tested in a well in Germany.

How big is your company now?

Visuray comprises a team of 60 professionals from 20 countries, who have developed the world’s first downhole X-ray platform. Visuray has developed cutting-edge technology and proprietary processes to deliver electronically produced radiation in an oil well at unprecedented levels of brightness in a perfectly safe manner. Coupled with the most sensitive high-temperature, solid state X-ray detectors, Visuray can see and diagnose problems inside oil wells with millimetric accuracy. The first commercial product stemming from the downhole platform is the VR90 downhole X-ray diagnostic tool. It has proven itself in the field with 100% successful jobs conducted in North America, Europe, and the Middle East since 2015.

What’s next for Visuray?

After doing some 20 jobs from North America to the Middle East, the VR90 has reached a significant level of maturity and proven success, and the downhole X-ray platform (DXP) is now proving capable of providing a range of services. In the last 6 months, the VR90 has done 10 times as many jobs as it did in the previous 6-month period. So, you can say the uptake is increasing and is now limited only by the number of tools in our fleet. These tools are now being built at our product center in Katy, Texas and we are ramping up production to be able to service the demand in the market.
Technology Focus: Drilling Innovation (February 2019)
Authors: Weatherl Michael H.
Published: January 2019

Technology Focus

From the beginning, the name of the game has been innovation. No single word has characterized drilling design and operations more completely during the 160 years since Colonel Drake first probed the Pennsylvania landscape for oil. This fundamental aspect of our business applies now more than ever across geographical and corporate boundaries.

Examples of evolution in well construction during the past several years include new horizontal-well applications, breakthroughs in bit and directional-drilling technology, synthetic fluids, fracture-stimulation advancements, managed-pressure drilling, and the digital revolution.

All this being said, few could have imagined the present state of the industry unfolding with the development of unconventional resources. During the past 7 years alone, US oil production has again become a dominant global force, doubling from 5.5 million to more than 11 million B/D. Even greater effects on gas reserves have been realized with the expansion of infrastructure to deliver a rising tide of new gas production to consumers. Around the globe, the ultimate benefits of these current trends remain to be seen as new reserves continue to be identified within most of the world’s oil- and gas-producing regions.

Papers selected for this feature serve as superb examples of drilling evolution in a variety of locations, including US onshore, offshore Thailand, deepwater Gulf of Mexico, Sakhalin Island, and the North Sea. In each case, evolution in well design, equipment, and operational procedures has occurred, resulting in dramatic advancements in technical feasibility, efficiency, and safety. Paper SPE 191783, “Drilling Extended Laterals in the Marcellus Shale,” reveals advancements underpinning new unconventional production in that area as well as in the Permian Basin, the Bakken, the Eagle Ford, and the Utica fields. Successful results published by international and offshore operators in Papers SPE 191054 and OTC 29065 highlight not simply new tools or procedures but also far-reaching breakthroughs that fundamentally alter the outlook and value of these types of assets. Papers referenced in the pages that follow offer but a glimpse into a greater library and wealth of knowledge available to SPE readers desiring to remain connected with drilling innovations.

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

SPE 191090 Simultaneously Drilling and Underreaming Directional Topholes With Underreamer Below Mud Motor Saves a Trip in Collision-Free Operations: Offshore Sakhalin Island Case Study by Ruslan Kasumov, Schlumberger, et al.

IADC/SPE 191099 Complete Managed-Pressure-Drilling Rigs: Is This the Future? by Ben Gedge, PVD Well Service, et al.

SPE 191331 Drilling a Challenging Kvitebjørn Field 53/4-in. Section in a Single Run Using a New Mud-Motor-Modeling Engineering Work Flow and New Long-Life Elastomer by Hany Ahmed Beeh, Schlumberger, et al.

SPE 191338 Out-of-Zone Injection by A. Galiev, PJSC Tatneft, et al.
Urea‐Based Fertilizer as an Efficient Nitrogen Source in Perennial Cool‐Grass Forage Production
Authors: Gagnon Bernard , Ziadi Noura , Bélanger Gilles , Tremblay Gaëtan F. , Parent Gaétan
Published: January 2019

Core Ideas

Annual forage grass yields with spring‐applied polymer‐coated urea, a blend of 50% polymer‐coated urea and 50% urea, and urea treated with a urease inhibitor (NBPT) were similar to those with calcium ammonium nitrate.

Forage grass yields and N and nitrate concentrations were highest with NBPT‐treated urea in spring growth and with polymer‐coated urea in summer regrowth.

Economic return was greatest with NBPT‐treated urea and a blend of 50% polymer‐coated urea and 50% urea.

Urea‐N fertilizers are widely used in agriculture but the efficiency of different forms has yet to be quantified for cool‐season forage grasses grown in northern areas. In a study conducted in eastern Canada during three growing seasons (2014–2016), polymer‐coated controlled release urea (PCU), a blend of 50% PCU and 50% urea, and urea treated with an inhibitor of urease (Urea+NBPT) broadcast in early spring were compared with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) broadcast in spring (60%) and after the first harvest (40%) on two timothy (Phleum pratense L.) fields with contrasting soil textures (clay and loam). Fertilizers were added at rates of 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha−1 and compared with an N‐unfertilized control. The three urea‐based fertilizers resulted in similar annual forage dry matter (DM) yields than CAN on the two soil types but in different forage DM yield seasonal distribution. The highest DM yield in spring growth was achieved with PCU/Urea and Urea+NBPT, while DM yields were the lowest with PCU in spring growth but highest in summer regrowth. Annual forage DM yields increased with increasing N rates for all fertilizers in both soils. Concentrations of forage N, nitrates, and non‐protein fractions were highest in spring growth after the spring application of 200 kg N ha−1 as Urea+NBPT in both soils. The N sources did not affect forage digestibility and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration. Economic return was the highest for Urea+NBPT and PCU/Urea. Therefore, these urea‐based fertilizers constitute valuable alternatives to CAN for grass‐based forages under eastern Canada conditions.
Real‐Time Estimates ofEscherichia coliConcentrations Using Ultraviolet‐Visible Spectrometers
Authors: Etheridge J. Randall , Randolph Morgan , Humphrey Charlie
Published: January 2019

Substantial effort has been invested in the development and testing of methods to rapidly measure the concentration of indicator bacteria in recreational waters. These efforts are driven by the need to quickly determine whether waters are contaminated and may pose excessive public health risks. In situ ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) spectrometers have been used to monitor levels of multiple contaminants in surface waters by relating the absorption spectra to the measured concentrations using regression models. In this study, three different regression models were tested to see if spectroscopy could be used to rapidly predictEscherichia coliconcentrations in a freshwater stream. The regression models did not produce acceptable results when tested for all of the samples collected during an 11‐mo period (R2< 0.2). When divided into multiple subsets based on temperature, concentration, or rainfall, models produced adequate results for subsets of samples collected in the cooler months (R2= 0.72) or on days when rainfall occurred (R2= 0.58). Pairing a UV‐vis spectrometer with regression models did not result in a model that could be used to estimateE. colilevels throughout the year, but the results promote further testing of this method when flow data is available in freshwaters, on beaches where rainfall causes elevated bacteria levels, and in shellfish growing waters.

Core Ideas

Current methods of measuring indicator bacteria can take hours to receive results.

UV‐vis spectrometers have the potential to estimate concentrations in seconds.

This method predictedE. coliconcentrations in a freshwater stream in cool months.

Predictions outside of the cool months were not accurate.

The method should be tested for other indicator bacteria and in saltwater.
Ecologically related transformation of the logistics theory: directions and content
Authors: Koblianska Inna
Published: January 2019

In the context of sustainable development, the need to improve the models of functioning and development of society, as well as the scientific knowledge underlying them is urgent. In particular, an ecologically oriented improvement of logistics science is needed to ensure the full use of its tools to resolve the modern socio-ecological and economic problems of resource use. In this regard, it is important to identify the directions and content of the ecologically related transformation of theoretical and methodological foundations of logistics, which is the purpose of this article. The paper outlines the main directions of logistic theory change in the context of the sustainable development paradigm. These changes embrace the improvement of the methodological basis of logistic science on the ground of provisions of ecological economics, environmental ethics, and principles of industrial ecology, etc. As a result, modern logistic management goals and objectives include environmental and social targets, and wider interpretation of material flow allows to manage the waste, emissions, secondary materials, and flaw components. The improvement of a methodical framework of logistic decision-making is associated with the environmentally adjusted calculation and analysis of total costs, proceeding from the assessment of environmental aspects of flow processes through the use of material flows analysis and life cycle assessment tools. Thus, the conceptual provisions of logistics may be used to solve various tasks in the context of sustainable development, in particular: to minimize the negative environmental impact of certain production process, enterprise, network (supply chain), as well as to form the regulatory framework for the promotion of ecoindustrial parks.
Reducing bend scour using in-phase and out-of-phase hydraulic jets
Authors: Tamoradi Zeinab , Ahadiyan Javad , Najarchi Mohsen , Hasounizadeh Houshang , Najafizadeh Mohammad Mahdi
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the effectiveness of a new method of reducing scour in river bends. In this method, a perforated tube was placed along the bend on the bed and water and air were separately injected into the bend flow from both ends of the tube. The goal was to make a water and air screen to block secondary flows and prevent them from reaching the outer bank. The air jet and water jet injection modes changed the location of maximum scour depth from the outer wall to the middle of the bend, which increased the navigable width. Increasing the spacing between tube ports decreased the maximum scour depth. A port spacing of 5 cm was determined to be the optimal amount. At a bend section of 90°, the decrease in maximum scour depth was estimated to be 85% and 91% under air jet injection (qa/Q = 2.74) and water jet injection (qw/Q = 0.17), respectively. At 170°, the decrease in maximum scour depth was 79% and 86% for the air jet and water jet, respectively. The results show that the optimal effect was obtained by water jet injection.
Fluorescence spectroscopy for assessing trihalomethane precursors removal by MIEX resin
Authors: Jutaporn P. , Laolertworakul W. , Armstrong M. D. , Coronell O.
Published: January 2019

This study investigated the applicability of fluorescence excitation–emission matrix spectroscopy (EEMS) to assess total trihalomethane formation potentials (TTHMFPs) and the ability of magnetic ion exchange (MIEX®) resin to reduce TTHMFP. We treated a surface water and secondary wastewater effluent with MIEX mimicking full-scale operation by repeatedly exposing the same resin batch to additional feed water, with batches ranging from 500 to 5,000 resin bed volumes. Results showed that MIEX was more effective at removing or reducing ultraviolet absorbance (UVA254), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and TTHMFP in surface water than in secondary effluent. The greater UVA254, DOC and TTHMFP removal for surface waters was explained by the stronger affinity of MIEX for terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM) compared to microbial DOM. Fluorescence EEMS results showed that the ratio between terrestrial and microbial fluorescent signals of DOM was significantly greater in surface water than in secondary effluent. Fluorescence surrogate parameters were strongly correlated with TTHMFP, namely, fluorescence intensity of humic-like peak C (R2 = 0.98, p < 0.01), protein-like peak T (R2 = 0.96, p < 0.01), and fulvic-like peak A (R2 = 0.87, p < 0.01). Correlations between fluorescence surrogate parameters and TTHMFP were substantially stronger than correlations between DOC and TTHMFP. Overall, the results indicate that fluorescent parameters extracted from EEMS data can be used as quick surrogate parameters to monitor TTHMFP for a diverse group of raw and MIEX-treated waters.
US military language group in signs of language and culture
Authors: Angaleva Maria Anatolyevna
Published: January 2019

The relevance of this study is determined by the importance of theoretical and practical analysis of issues related to intercultural communication. The object of this paper is the extralinguistic aspect of the U.S. military lingo. The subject area embraces distinctive linguistic phenomena of the military subcultural milieu, going back to the historical and cultural heritage of military society and thus characterized by extralinguistic context. As exemplified in English, the authors point out, that success of cross-cultural communication is largely determined both by a high level of linguistic competence and background knowledge.
Impacto da atualização do adicional do imposto sobre a renda nas empresas do Bovespa Mais
Authors: Da Silva Tatiane Moraes , Junior Olívio Alves , Gonzales Alexandre
Published: January 2019

Quando comparado a outros países da América Latina e com ao seu próprio Produto Interno Bruto (PIB), é possível verificar que o Brasil possui uma alta carga tributária. Diante desse cenário, este trabalho apresenta como problema de pesquisa o questionamento se a atualização da base adicional do imposto sobre a renda (IR) teria impacto relevante para as empresas, com o objetivo de entender se o resultado dessa variação é relevante, por meio da pesquisa exploratória, documental e revisão bibliográfica. Para verificar essa relevância, o artigo realizou a atualização da base do adicional de imposto sobre a renda pelo Índice Geral de Preço do Mercado (IGPM) e verificou, mediante o teste de Wilcoxom, se o impacto de tal revisão é significativo quando aplicado nas demonstrações das 16 empresas do Bovespa Mais, companhias estas que foram consideradas representantes das pequenas e médias empresas (PME) que formam 99% das empresas do Brasil, segundo o Sebrae. O teste estatístico constatou que há um impacto significativo e a comparação das variações percentuais dos impostos a pagar comparativos demonstraram que o efeito é realmente mais significativo para empresas de menor porte.
Computational Model Development of Drug-Target Interaction Prediction: A Review
Authors: Zhao Qi , Yu Haifan , Ji Mingxuan , Zhao Yan , Chen Xing
Published: January 2019

In the medical field, drug-target interactions are very important for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, they also can help researchers predict the link between biomolecules in the biological field, such as drug-protein and protein-target correlations. Therefore, the drug-target research is a very popular study in both the biological and medical fields. However, due to the limitations of manual experiments in the laboratory, computational prediction methods for drug-target relationships are increasingly favored by researchers. In this review, we summarize several computational prediction models of the drug-target connections during the past two years, and briefly introduce their advantages and shortcomings. Finally, several further interesting research directions of drug-target interactions are listed.
Fenofibrate Solid Dispersion Processed by Hot-Melt Extrusion: Elevated Bioavailability and Its Cell Transport Mechanism
Authors: Wen Ting , Niu Boyi , Wu Qiaoli , Zhou Yixian , Pan Xin , Quan Guilan , Wu Chuanbin
Published: January 2019

Background:

Fenofibrate (FNB) is an effective drug for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia,
hypercholesterolemia as well as mixed hyperlipidemia. However, due to its poor aqueous solubility,
FNB has the problem of poor oral absorption followed by low bioavailability.

Objective:

The aim of this research was to construct FNB amorphous solid dispersion employing PVP
VA64 as the carrier by hot-melt extrusion method, in order to improve the oral bioavailability. Additionally,
the cell transport experiment was conducted to further investigate the mechanism of promoted
osmotic absorption.

Methods:

The physical state of the obtained solid dispersion was characterized using SEM, DSC and
XRD. Besides, in vitro Caco-2 cells were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the carrier and mimic
gastrointestinal drug permeation. At last, in vitro dissolution test and in vivo bioavailability study were
also carried out.

Results:

The prepared FNB solid dispersion was found to be an amorphous state after hot-melt extrusion
process. In vitro cytotoxicity test on Caco-2 cells confirmed the excellent biocompatibility of the
carrier PVP VA64. Besides, transwell cell transport assay and in vitro dissolution test revealed that
FNB released from amorphous solid dispersion was equipped with an improved transmembrane transport
and dissolution rate. Moreover, pharmacokinetic study in beagle dogs showed that comparing with
commercial micronized product Lipanthyl®, the oral bioavailability of FNB solid dispersion was significantly
enhanced (2.45 fold).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, PVP VA64 can be regarded as a promising polymer to enhance the
bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs such as FNB processed by hot-melt extrusion. Besides,
investigations on the mechanism of the enhanced penetration are expected to lay a foundation on the
subsequent development of effective and practical solid dispersion.
Cell-penetrating Peptides: Efficient Vectors for Vaccine Delivery
Authors: Yang Jieru , Luo Yacheng , Shibu Mohini Anjna , Toth Istvan , Skwarczynskia Mariusz
Published: January 2019

Subunit vaccines are composed of pathogen fragments that, on their own, are generally poorly immunogenic. Therefore, the incorporation of an immunostimulating agent, e.g. adjuvant, into vaccine formulation is required. However, there are only a limited number of licenced adjuvants and their immunostimulating ability is often limited, while their toxicity can be substantial. To overcome these problems, a variety of vaccine delivery systems have been proposed. Most of them are designed to improve the stability of antigen in vivo and its delivery into immune cells. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are especially attractive component of antigen delivery systems as they have been widely used to enhance drug transport into the cells. Fusing or co-delivery of antigen with CPPs can enhance antigen uptake, processing and presentation by antigen presenting cells (APCs), which are the fundamental steps in initiating an immune response. This review describes the different mechanisms of CPP intercellular uptake and various CPP-based vaccine delivery strategies.
Health Research Using Facebook to Identify and Recruit Pregnant Women Who Use Electronic Cigarettes: Internet-Based Nonrandomized Pilot Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lee Harold H , Hsieh Yuli Patrick , Murphy Joe , Tidey Jennifer W , Savitz David A
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND

Participant recruitment is often a challenge, particularly enrolling individuals with relatively rare characteristics. The wide reach of social media may provide a mechanism to overcome these challenges.

OBJECTIVE

This paper aimed to provide information to researchers who seek to recruit participants from rare populations using social media for studies with demanding protocols. We aimed to describe a pilot study protocol that identified and enrolled pregnant women (second or third trimester) who were exclusive users of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). We have described the recruitment methods, time, and cost; examined advertisement types that were more or less successful; discussed participant retention and relationship management; and described the process of collecting biological data.

METHODS

In an open-access, nonrandomized pilot study, we placed Facebook advertisements that were selectively targeting women who were likely to be pregnant and interested in e-cigarettes or vaping. The advertisements invited individuals to complete a fully automated eligibility screener based on Qualtrics. Eligible participants were asked to (1) complete a Web-based survey that collected detailed information on the use of e-cigarettes, including the exact type of device and electronic liquid, (2) report the frequency and intensity of e-cigarette use for 3 months before pregnancy and during each trimester, and (3) provide a saliva specimen for a nicotine biomarker assay. We collected a photograph of each participant’s e-cigarette device, 8 weeks after the mother’s due date, to allow corroboration of the self-report and the baby’s birth weight and gestational age from the participant’s physician.

RESULTS

Participants were recruited between August 19 and October 26, 2017. We enrolled 20 participants in 2 months at a cost of US $3421.28. Baseline data were collected for all 20 participants. Of the 20 women enrolled, 16 provided a saliva sample, 4 provided a photo of the e-cigarette device, and 10 provided physician contact information. Of the 10 physicians contacted by mail, 6 responded with information on the participants and their babies.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings suggest that Facebook’s targeting criteria should focus on e-cigarette users to maximize advertisement exposure of potentially eligible women. In addition, saliva sample collection was feasible among pregnant women (second or third trimester) who were exclusive e-cigarette users, but obtaining photographs and physician reports was problematic and called for further refinement. These lessons are likely useful to others who are seeking to use social media to recruit participants from rare populations into studies with demanding protocols.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/12444
Penanaman Kaliandra Sebagai Kayu Energi dan Hijauan Makanan Ternak Pada Pertanaman Agroforestri Masyarakat Desa Gerbosari, Samigaluh Kulon Progo
Authors: Prasetyo Eko , Wiyono Wiyono , Lestari Puji , Hidayat Rochmat , Oktalina Hidayat Nur , Ngadianto Agus , Nugroho Prasetyo
Published: January 2019

The purposes of community service entitled "Kaliandra Planting as Energy Wood and Forage Livestock Feed on Agroforestry Crops Gerbosari Village Community Samigaluh Kulon Progo" are 1). To provide additional knowledge of Kaliandra (Calliandracallothyrsus) utilisation other than HMT that is as a raw material of energy source and 2). To practice the technique of Kaliandra planting on agroforestry system in Gerbosari Village. The way cattle developed in Dusun Keceme is "cut and carry system" or grazing system. Grazing systems make farmers provide land for HMT planting either in the form of grass or tree leaves. Public dissemination and discussion with the community resulted in an agreement that the program is not only Kaliandra planting, but the utilisation of Kaliandra as an energy wood and wood pellet introduction is needed by Keceme Hamlet community. Methods of implementation of community service are through 4 stages in one unity of scheme. The methods are 1) program dissemination, 2) counselling, 3) practice of using a wood pellet stove and 4) planting. The community service program can provide an initial understanding of the community of Keceme Hamlet about the benefits of Kaliandra as an alternative to renewable energy that is in the form of wood pellets. The technique of agroforestry cultivation of Kaliandra has long been practised by the people of Keceme Hamlet that is on the edge of the terrace of the land.
Pembuatan Training Kit Pneumatik untuk SMKN I Ngawen Kabupaten Gunungkidul
Authors: Basuki Budi
Published: January 2019

Community Service Activities (PKM) of Department of Mechanical Engineering (DTM), Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada 2015 is entitled the development of pneumatic training kit for SMK N I Ngawen, Gunungkidul Regency. The school located in Jono Hamlet, Tancep Village, Ngawen District, Gunungkidul Regency, has a land area of 15,300 m2. There are four competency expertise held in this school, namely: Light Vehicle Technique, Heavy Equipment, Computer and Network Engineering, and Batik Clothing. SMK N I Ngawen and Vocational College (in this case Mechanical Engineering Department as a PKM team directly involved) have established cooperation in the field of heavy equipment education. SMK N I Ngawen actively has planning and effort of developing PLC control technique as a tool of practice to support the competence of machine expertise. After conducting surveys and coordination with the Principal and its staff, the PLC's control engineering development activities are planned to include scheduling, coordination of PLC training for educator staff, procurement of PLC units, the creation of pneumatic training kit simulators and completeness, the administration of activities and technical details . The procurement of PLC control techniques and pneumatic training kits was successfully carried out for 6 (six) months smoothly from April to October 2015. This activity was conducted on campus of DTM SV - UGM and in SMK N I Ngawen. Implementation of this training kit was conducted by PKM team and education staffs of SMK N I Ngawen Gunungkidul. The preparation of pneumatic training kits begins with the purchase and preparation of training components to the preparation of layouts and testing of training kits. The delivery of pneumatic training kits was done after the teaching staffs of SMK N I Ngawen Gunungkidul attended training kit training.
Pemetaan Lahan Kritis Untuk Analisis Kesesuaian Pemanfaatan Lahan di Kabupaten Kulon Progo
Authors: Widyatmanti Wirastuti , Murti Sigit Heru , Syam Prima Dinta
Published: January 2019

Uncontrolled and unsupported changes in land use by good watershed conservation efforts will lead to degradation of watershed quality, caused by declining land functions as buffer zones, both from production and water availability aspects. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the function and land use so that the watershed quality is in a balanced and sustainable condition. One way that can be implemented to make land use arrangements is to look at the critical aspect of land in the region. This study aims to map critical lands in Kulon Progo regency using spatial data analysis from remote sensing image interpretation and existing thematic maps; and analyze the linkage between existing land use to existing critical land. Spatial analysis is done by overlaying some spatial data (critical land determinants) to generate a new mapping unit to be used as an analytical unit. The scoring method accommodates different types of parameter data available to determine the degree of criticality of the land. The result of the analysis shows that in Kulon Progo Regency 16.7% or 9541,21 ha from the area of the district is uncritical, while 47.8% or 27,397 ha is potentially critical land, or if not managed properly can become critical land; and 35.5% or 20,329 ha are areas with land critical status from somewhat critical, critical to very critical.
What I Have Learned from Conservative Students Teaching American Politics at a Predominantly White Institution (PWIs): Reflections of a Minority College Professor
Authors: Bracey Earnest N.
Published: January 2019

Disruptive, conservative college students are a symptom of a larger problem that we have in higher education today. Also, many of our students are unprepared academically, but some think that they should pass American politics—and other controversial courses—anyway, without doing the necessary work. Of course, this higher education issue has taken on new gravity, given that liberal college professors are being verbally attacked and threatened by these conservative, college students, especially if they are from a minority group, or if they are African Americans at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Their major complaint is always about there being a liberal bent in academia, but many are tricked into thinking in a certain, conservative way. These are carefully crafted, politically motivated attacks, because some of these students don’t respect or believe in the veracity of anything told by minority professors, particularly their diversity of ideas about current political issues. As we might imagine, for example, the social injustices and racial terrorism of the past toward minorities, in the United States, just doesn’t register with some of these conservative students, with latent prejudices, because they mostly want to just rail against liberal professors of all stripes, ratcheting up the divisions we have at the higher education level. Moreover, these conservative students also applaud the tactics and rationale behind their verbal, classroom attacks and threats, as they monitor certain (liberal) college professors. Perhaps they have a prevalent belief that most liberal professors are somehow evil. Finally, these disruptive students believe what they want to believe, which isn’t the best way to consider important policy matters today. Indeed, these misguided students should think more critically about the social and political issues, without blindly following someone because they tell the best story, or because of their conservative values. In the final analysis, we must wonder if the traditional ways of teaching students at Liberal Arts College and Universities are dead.