bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisa Karakteristik Teori Antrian pada Jaringan IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) Menggunakan OPNET Modeler 14.5
Authors: Cahyadi Eko Fajar , Cahyani Refinda Dwi , Hikmaturokhman Alfin
Published: February 2016

Perkembangan teknologi telekomunikasi yang semakin pesat, membuat para operator dan vendor telekomunikasi harus dapat menyediakan layanan telekomunikasi yang aman, cepat, dan multi guna, untuk mendorong terciptanya ekosistem layanan telekomunikasi yang beragam bagi para penggunanya. Next Generation Network (NGN) merupakan sebuah teknologi masa depan yang mendukung beberapa layanan terintegrasi seperti voice, data, dan multimedia. Hal utama dari konsep NGN adalah konvergensi dan layanan yang berbasis IP sehingga diperlukan sebuah teknologi yang dikenal dengan IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Agar pengiriman data dalam layanan IMS menjadi lebih efektif dan efisien maka diperlukan sebuah teori antrian yang tepat untuk digunakan sebagai pengatur aliran paket data. Penelitian ini melakukan pengamatan terhadap beberapa layanan pada jaringan IMS dengan menggunakan tiga teori antrian yang berbeda yaitu First In First Out (FIFO), Priority Queuing (PQ), dan Weighted-Fair Queuing (WFQ). Pengamatan dilakukan terhadap layanan Video Conference dan VoIP. Dari hasil simulasi dapat diketahui bahwa teori antrian WFQ pada layanan video conference menghasilkan rata-rata delay sebesar 9.22 ms , delay variation sebesar 0.036 ms dan packet loss sebesar 0.88%. Sedangkan untuk layanan VoIP menghasilkan rata-rata delay sebesar 144 ms, delay variation sebesar 0.021 ms, dan packet loss sebesar 0.05% serta menghasilkan rata-rata throughput sebesar 7.052 Mbps, sehingga teori antrian yang tepat digunakan dalam jaringan IMS dalam penelitian ini adalah WFQ
Sistem Informasi Layanan SMS Gateway Bagi Bidan Dalam Program Pemantauan Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak (PWS KIA) di Kabupaten Bantul Provinsi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta
Authors: Hamzah Hamzah , Winardi Sugeng
Published: February 2016

Pemantauan wilayah setempat kesehatan ibu dan anak (PWS KIA) merupakan program pemerintah dalam monitoring perkembangan kesehatan ibu dan anak di suatu wilayah. Keberhasilan program PWS KIA tidak terlepas dari peran bidan dalam pengumpulan data dan luas cakupan wilayah sehingga pelaporan baru diperoleh pada periode tertentu sementara informasi yang dibutuhkan bersifat realtime layanan. Pemanfaatan teknologi telekomunikasi khususnya perangkat mobile merupakan teknologi yang banyak digunakan masyarakat dalam berkomunikasi . Pertukaran pesan melalui Sort Message Service (SMS) merupakan media komunikasi yang paling efektif dalam menyampaikan pesan. Perkembangan Teknologi SMS Gateway memungkinkan untuk mengolah data pesan SMS menjadi suatu informasi yang bermanfaat. Berdasarkan uraian  diatas, maka  adapun tujuan penelitian mengembangkan sistem layanan SMS gateway dalam program PWS KIA dengan metode waterfall dalam pengembangan  perangkat lunak. Pengembangan sistem menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP, DBMS MySQL dan Gammu SMS Gateway. Hasil penelitian diharapkan dapat memberikan kemudahan bagi bidan untuk melaporkan setiap layanan PWS KIA secara realtime dan diharapkan Dinas Kesehatan Bantul dapat memperoleh data terbaru  layanan PWS KIA  tanpa harus menunggu dalam periode tertentu.
Web Server Berbasis ATmega 128 Untuk Monitoring dan Kontrol Peralatan Rumah
Authors: Pramono Sigit , Wahyudi Eka
Published: February 2016

Penggunaan mikropengendali untuk mengendalikan perangkat yang ada di rumah tentu menjadi salah satu penerapan prinsip kerja yang praktis dan fleksibel.Mikropengendali dapat digunakan untuk memudahkan dalam mengendalikan lampu ruangan, pemantauan suhu, dan pengendalian sistem penggerak tirai.Dengan memanfaatkan modul jaringanNM7010A TCP/IP Starter Kit maka aplikasi rumah tersebut dapat dikendalikan melalui jaringan intranet. Pada mikropengendali ATmega128, data akan diproses dan dieksekusi untuk mengendalikan sistem kerja keseluruhan rangkaian. Dari hasil pengujian membuktikan bahwa mikropengendali dapat berperan sebagai Embedded Server untuk mengendalikan lampu, pengaktifan kanal Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) yang digunakan untuk memantau suhu.Hasil pengujian terhadap LM35 menunjukan bahwa rata-rata error konversi sebesar 0,64%. Untuk mengeksekusi sistem melalui jaringan TCP/IP diperlukan waktu tunda antara 0,5 sampai 1,2 detik.
Rancang Bangun Sistem Informasi Praktek Kerja Lapangan Berbasis Web dengan Metode Waterfall
Authors: Safitri S. Thya , Supriyadi Didi
Published: February 2016

Perkembangan teknologi dan komunikasi sangat membantu kinerja dan proses bisnis organisasi. Perkembanganya harus menghasilkan manfaat bagi organisasi dalam memperoleh informasi, serta membantu organisasi dalam menjalankan proses bisnis yang dibutuhkan sehingga membantu pengelola organisasi mengambil keputusan. Perubahan bentuk proses bisnis yang digunakan dengan perkembangan teknologi dan komunikasi diharapkan mampu mendorong organisasi untuk memiliki pengelolaan yang lebih baik. Salah satu proses bisnis yang terjadi pada Sekolah Tingggi Teknologi Telematika Telkom (ST3 TELKOM) Purwkerto adalah pengelolaan kegiatan praktek kerja lapangan (PKL). Pengelolaan kegiatan Praktek Kerja Lapangan di institusi ini masih menggunakan cara manual di sebagian proses bisnisnya, sehingga manfaat dari perkembangan teknologi dan komunikasi tidak sepenuhnya terpakai. Peneliti bermaksud dan memandang perlu untuk mengembangkan sistem informasi Praktek Kerja Lapangan yang menggunakan metida Waterfall. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan bahwa sistem mampu melakukan proses bisnis Praktek Kerja Lapangan dengan mudah tanpa harus menggunakan cara manual seperti registrasi untuk mengikuti PKL, menampilkan informasi yang dibutuhkan dalam kegiatan PKL, memanipulasi data yang digunakan yang akan digunakan dalam kegiatan PKL.
PEMBANGUNAN APLIKASI GAME ANDROID PENGENALAN POLA WARNA PADA PAUD POSDAYA
Authors: Permana Silvester Dian Handy
Published: February 2016

The Development of Early Childhood Education is an education before elementary school, which intended for children from two until six years old. Early childhood must know colors. They should know the different types of colors. It should be trained to prepare early childhood go into further education. In addition, the recognize color for early childhood also can detect and identify color blindness in children. It is very important for the continuation of a child's life and education that parents give to children. In this study will made color pattern recognition mobile game. Today, many parents are already using smart phones in everyday life so that we can take advantage of the smart phone to education. For make this application, I used Android Studio. This application is using methodology of Systems Development Life Cycle. The application is a game program that can be installed in smart phones, especially Android Operating Systems. Packaging of education in a game will also add to the interested children to learn something new.
PEMBANGUNAN APLIKASI PERHITUNGAN HONOR & PENGUKURAN KINERJA ASISTEN PRAKTIKUM BERBASIS SAAS
Authors: Susanti Fitri , Adrian Henry Rossi , Gea Nota Tema
Published: February 2016

Bagi suatu perguruan tinggi, kegiatan praktikum sangat penting untuk mendukung pembelajaran di kelas. Beberapa masalah yang muncul dalam pengelolaan kegiatan praktikum seperti keterlambatan pengumpulan berita acara praktikum (BAP) sehingga memperlambat perhitungan, pembayaran dan pelaporan honor asprak. Dibutuhkan waktu sekitar dua minggu untuk rekapitulasi dan validasi ratusan lembar BAP yang telah terkumpul setiap bulannya. Dibutuhkan pengolahan data lebih lanjut untuk menilai kinerja asprak berdasarkan data BAP. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan di atas maka dibangun aplikasi perhitungan honor dan kinerja asprak. Aplikasi ini digunakan untuk mengelola data BAP, perhitungan dan pelaporan honor, perhitungan nilai transkrip aktivitas kemahasiswaan (TAK) dan pencetakan sertifikat asprak. Keterbatasan SDM atau biaya menyebabkan tidak semua perguruan tinggi dapat langsung membuat aplikasi yang dibutuhkan. Oleh karena itu aplikasi ini dibangun berbasis Software as A Service (SaaS). Aplikasi ini dikembangkan dengan metode analisis perancangan terstruktur dengan model waterfall. Pengumpulan data kebutuhan aplikasi dilakukan dengan survey ke fakultas-fakultas di Universitas Telkom. Hasilnya dianalisis dan dikembangkan menjadi rancangan aplikasi. Aplikasi diimplementasikan pada pemrograman PHP. Pengujian dilakukan dengan metode black box testing. Hasilnya berupa aplikasi SaaS untuk perhitungan honor dan pengukuran kinerja asisten praktikum. Perguruan tinggi pengguna aplikasi SaaS ini dapat melakukan kostumisasi terhadap fitur yang ada sesuai dengan kebutuhan.
APLIKASI DIAGNOSIS KELAINAN REFRAKSI MATA DAN TIPS PERAWATAN MATA DENGAN METODE FORWARD CHAINING BERBASIS WEB (STUDI KASUS ROSYA OPTIKAL)
Authors: Fathima Sayyidah , Suryatiningsih Suryatiningsih , Sari Siska Komala
Published: February 2016

Diagnosis merupakan penentuan jenis-jenis penyakit berdasarkan penelitian sesuai dengan gejala-gejala yang dialami. Gejala gangguan penglihatan yang sering dialami adalah rabun. Rabun dapat berupa rabun melihat benda jauh, rabun melihat benda pada jarak dekat dan lain-lain. Semua jenis rabun mata pada intinya merupakan gangguan memfokuskan bayangan benda yang dilihat atau kelainan refraksi (Ametropia). Untuk mengetahui kelainan refraksi pada mata di Rosya Optikal masih menggunakan cara manual yaitu dengan pasien datang ke Rosya Optikal melakukan pendaftaran, pemeriksaan mata, refraksionis optisien mendiagnosis dan memberikan hasil diagnosisnya, memberikan tips perawatan mata beserta resep pembuatan kacamata diberikan kepada pasien. Cara ini merupakan hal yang biasa dilakukan, namun tidak semua orang mempunyai waktu dan kesempatan untuk melakukan pemeriksaan mata dikarenakan kesibukan pekerjaan yang harus dilakukan. Melihat alasan diatas, maka diperlukan pembuatan alat bantu untuk diagnosis kelainan refraksi pada mata dan memberikan tips perawatan mata. Pembuatan Aplikasi Diagnosis Kelainan Refraksi Pada Mata dan Tips Perawatan Mata dengan Metode Forward Chaining yaitu metode pencarian atau teknik pelacakan ke depan yang dimulai dengan informasi yang ada dan penggabungan rule untuk menghasilkan suatu kesimpulan atau tujuan. Pengujian aplikasi menggunakan black box testing yang dilakukan hanya mengamati hasil eksekusi melalui data uji dan memeriksa fungsional dari perangkat lunak.Dengan adanya alat bantu ini, pengguna dapat mengetahui kelainan mata yang dialami, mendapatkan tips perawatan mata sehingga dapat merawat dan mencegah penyakit mata yang berkelanjutan dan solusi jenis kacamata jika diperlukan.
PENGEMBANGAN DASHBOARD INFORMATION SYSTEM (DIS) STUDI KASUS : LEMBAGA PENELITIAN DAN PENGABDIAN MASYARAKAT (LPPM) DI ST3 TELKOM PURWOKERTO
Authors: Januarita Dwi , Dirgahayu Teduh
Published: February 2016

Perkembangan dan perubahan teknologi informasi saat ini harus dapat dimanfaatkan secara maksimal oleh organisasi. Informasi merupakan salah satu aset yang paling utama dalam mendukung kemajuan dan pencapaian tujuan suatu organisasi. Pengukuran kinerja dari suatu organisasi perlu dilakukan untuk memastikan ketercapaian yang telah ditetapkan. Dalam proses pengukuran kinerja diperlukan data dan informasi yang diambil dari bagian yang terkait ataupun keseluruhan. Hasil dari monitoring kinerja dapat langsung di lihat oleh user yang berkepentingan secara efektif dan efisien. Dashboard merupakan suatu alat yang dapat membantu pimpinan dari perguruan tinggi untuk memonitoring dan mengevaluasi kinerja organisasinya dengan menyajikan informasi Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dalam bentuk antar muka visual secara sekilas dalam satu layar, sehingga data dapat dianalisa dengan lebih efektif dan efisien. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah studi literatur dan studi kasus. Studi literatur dilakukan untuk mengkaji berbagai konsep mengenai dashboard, KPI dan visualisasi informasi. KPI yang digunakan dalam pengembangan dashboard di LPPM menggunakan indikator dari kontrak manajemen pada program customer dan learning growth yang diterapkan di ST3 Telkom Purwokerto. Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dengan menggunakan model waterfall pada penyampaian dashboard ke user yang telah dilakukan dengan 2 iterasi, dashboard ini sudah memenuhi kebutuhan dari LPPM dalam memantau kinerjanya.
Potential evapotranspiration change and its attribution in the Qinling Mountains and surrounding area, China, during 1960–2012
Authors: Jiang Chong , Nie Zhen , Mu Xingmin , Wang Fei , Liu Wenfeng
Published: February 2016

Based on the observational data of 47 meteorological stations in the northern and southern regions of the Qinling Mountains (NSQ) during 1960–2012, this paper estimated the potential evapotranspiration (ET0) by using the Penman–Monteith method. Further, a quantitative study was conducted of the ET0 spatial distribution pattern, temporal variation rules, influencing factors and attributions. The conclusions were as follows. (1) The spatial distribution of annual ET0 in NSQ decreased from northeast to southwest. The seasonal distribution was summer > spring > autumn > winter. (2) Further, 1979 and 1993 were the turning points of the ET0 trend, at which the value began to decrease or increase over the whole region and sub-regions. At the seasonal scale, in the period of 1960–1979, ET0 in spring, summer, and winter presented a decreasing trend; however, it increased slightly in autumn. During 1980–1993, ET0 in most seasons showed a downward trend except for autumn; in the period of 1994–2012, ET0 declined in summer and autumn, however it increased slightly in spring and winter. (3) The diurnal temperature range during 1960–1979 contributed most to ET0. The decrease of wind speed and solar radiation were the main cause of the ET0 decrease during 1980–2012, which offset the effect of the increase in temperature.
Multi-year optimal operation strategy of Danjiangkou Reservoir after dam heightening for the middle route of the south–north water transfer project
Authors: Lian Jijian , Sun Xiaozhong , Ma Chao
Published: February 2016

The middle route of the south–north water transfer project (SNWTP) was built to relieve the pressure of increasing water demand in northern China. Serving as one of the major storage systems, optimal operation rules should be proposed promptly for Danjiangkou Reservoir, completed by a heightening project. In this paper, in order to seek out the optimal operation rules for Danjiangkou Reservoir, a multi-objective optimal operation model is developed, considering the inflow uncertainty, multi-year regulation cycle and water supply for the SNWTP. Three evaluation indexes (hydropower generation, water impoundment condition and shortage index) are adopted to assess the impacts of three influence factors (starting regulation level (SRL), inflow condition and flood control level) on Danjiangkou Reservoir operations. Finally, some critical operation strategies for Danjiangkou Reservoir are proposed. The results show that the optimal SRL for Danjiangkou Reservoir is 158 m and the recommended range of the water level at the end of the first year varies between 162–166 m (very wet), 164–166 m (wet), and 162–164 m (normal) on the basis of setting 158 m as the SRL.
Removal of nickel(II) from aqueous solution by Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) pods biomass
Authors: Guyo Upenyu , Sibanda Kudakwashe , Sebata Edith , Chigondo Fidelis , Moyo Mambo
Published: February 2016

The potential to remove nickel(II) ions from aqueous solution using a biosorbent prepared from Vigna unguiculata pods (VUPs) was investigated in batch experiments. The batch mode experiments were conducted utilising the independent variables of pH (2 to 8), contact time (5 to 120 min), dosage concentration (0.2 to 1.6 g), nickel(II) concentrations (10 to 80 mg L−1) and temperature (20 to 50°C). The biosorption data fitted best to the Freundlich biosorption model with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.993 and lowest chi-squared value of 31.89. The maximum sorption capacity of the VUP for nickel(II) was 27.70 mg g−1. Kinetics studies revealed that the biosorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model as it had the lowest sum of square error value (0.808) and correlation coefficient close to unity (R2 = 0.998). The calculated thermodynamic parameters showed that the biosorption process was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. Consequently, the study demonstrated that VUP biomass could be used as a biosorbent for the removal of nickel(II) from aqueous solution.
Investigation into the bacterial pollution levels at various sites along the Diep and Plankenburg river systems, 3 Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Alegbeleye O. O. , Opeolu B. O. , Jackson V. A.
Published: February 2016

This study sought to investigate and compare bacterial contamination levels at six different sites along the Diep and Plankenburg river systems in the Western Cape, South Africa. Surface water and sediment samples were collected monthly from the six selected sampling sites along both river courses between January 2014 and December 2014 and were evaluated for bacterial contaminants. Microbial isolation, characterisation and identification were done using conventional techniques (serial dilution, Gram staining, and biochemical testing) and molecular identification techniques (polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing). A total of 19 bacterial isolates belonging to the genera Raoultella, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Escherichia, Enterobacter, Exiguobacterium, Acinetobacter, Serratia, Aeromonas, Staphylococcus and Citrobacter were isolated from the surface water and sediment samples at the end of the survey. Higher microbial load was obtained from sediment samples compared to surface water samples. Seasonal variation was also observed in terms of microbial counts. Higher microbial counts were obtained during summer sampling time compared to winter sampling time. The most contaminated site was located on Plankenburg River with average bacterial counts ranging between 3.1 × 105–6.9 × 108 CFU/ml and 3.9 × 106–2.88 × 109 CFU/ml from surface water and sediment, respectively, recorded at this site during winter and summer. Although lower microbial counts were recorded along the Diep River course, most of the bacterial counts recorded along both rivers exceeded the acceptable maximum limits for river water.
Decrease of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation by food waste materials
Authors: Maderova Zdenka , Horska Katerina , Kim Sang-Ryoung , Lee Chung-Hak , Pospiskova Kristyna , Safarikova Mirka , Safarik Ivo
Published: February 2016

The formation of bacterial biofilm on various surfaces has significant negative economic effects. The aim of this study was to find a simple procedure to decrease the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation in a water environment by using different food waste biological materials as signal molecule adsorbents. The selected biomaterials did not reduce the cell growth but affected biofilm formation. Promising biomaterials were magnetically modified in order to simplify manipulation and facilitate their magnetic separation. The best biocomposite, magnetically modified spent grain, exhibited substantial adsorption of signal molecules and decreased the biofilm formation. These results suggest that selected food waste materials and their magnetically responsive derivatives could be applied to solve biofilm problems in water environment.
Dual layer hollow fiber PVDF ultra-filtration membranes containing Ag nano-particle loaded zeolite with longer term anti-bacterial capacity in salt water
Authors: Shi Huyan , Xue Lixin , Gao Ailin , Zhou Qingbo
Published: February 2016

Dual layer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), antibacterial, hollow fiber, ultra-filtration composite membranes with antibacterial particles (silver (Ag) nano-particles loaded zeolite (Z-Ag)) in the outer layer were prepared with high water flux and desired pore sizes. The amounts of Ag+ released from the composite membranes, freshly made and stored in water and salt solution, were measured. The result indicated that dual layer PVDF antibacterial hollow fiber containing Z-Ag (M-1-Ag) still possessed the ability of continuous release of Ag+ even after exposure to water with high ionic content, showing a longer term resistance to bacterial adhesion and antibacterial activity than membrane doped with Z-Ag+ (M-1). Results from an anti-adhesion and bacteria killing test with Escherichia coli supported that the antibacterial efficiency of dual hollow fiber PVDF membranes with Z-Ag was much higher than those with Z-Ag+ after long time storage in water or exposure to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. This novel hollow fiber membrane may find applications in constructing sea water pretreatment devices with long term antifouling capability for the desalination processes.
Somatic coliphages as surrogates for enteroviruses in sludge hygienization treatments
Authors: Martín-Díaz Julia , Casas-Mangas Raquel , García-Aljaro Cristina , Blanch Anicet R. , Lucena Francisco
Published: February 2016

Conventional bacterial indicators present serious drawbacks giving information about viral pathogens persistence during sludge hygienization treatments. This calls for the search of alternative viral indicators. Somatic coliphages’ (SOMCPH) ability for acting as surrogates for enteroviruses was assessed in 47 sludge samples subjected to novel treatment processes. SOMCPH, infectious enteroviruses and genome copies of enteroviruses were monitored. Only one of these groups, the bacteriophages, was present in the sludge at concentrations that allowed the evaluation of treatment's performance. An indicator/pathogen relationship of 4 log10 (PFU/g dw) was found between SOMCPH and infective enteroviruses and their detection accuracy was assessed. The obtained results and the existence of rapid and standardized methods encourage the inclusion of SOMCPH quantification in future sludge directives. In addition, an existing real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for enteroviruses was adapted and applied.
Isolation of high-salinity-tolerant bacterial strains, Enterobacter sp., Serratia sp., Yersinia sp., for nitrification and aerobic denitrification under cyanogenic conditions
Authors: Mpongwana N. , Ntwampe S. K. O. , Mekuto L. , Akinpelu E. A. , Dyantyi S. , Mpentshu Y.
Published: February 2016

Cyanides (CN−) and soluble salts could potentially inhibit biological processes in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), such as nitrification and denitrification. Cyanide in wastewater can alter metabolic functions of microbial populations in WWTPs, thus significantly inhibiting nitrifier and denitrifier metabolic processes, rendering the water treatment processes ineffective. In this study, bacterial isolates that are tolerant to high salinity conditions, which are capable of nitrification and aerobic denitrification under cyanogenic conditions, were isolated from a poultry slaughterhouse effluent. Three of the bacterial isolates were found to be able to oxidise NH4-N in the presence of 65.91 mg/L of free cyanide (CN−) under saline conditions, i.e. 4.5% (w/v) NaCl. The isolates I, H and G, were identified as Enterobacter sp., Yersinia sp. and Serratia sp., respectively. Results showed that 81% (I), 71% (G) and 75% (H) of 400 mg/L NH4-N was biodegraded (nitrification) within 72 h, with the rates of biodegradation being suitably described by first order reactions, with rate constants being: 4.19 h−1 (I), 4.21 h−1 (H) and 3.79 h−1 (G), respectively, with correlation coefficients ranging between 0.82 and 0.89. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rates were 38% (I), 42% (H) and 48% (G), over a period of 168 h with COD reduction being highest at near neutral pH.
Dye removal from textile industrial effluents by adsorption on exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets: kinetic and equilibrium studies
Authors: Carvallho Marilda N. , da Silva Karolyne S. , Sales Deivson C. S. , Freire Eleonora M. P. L. , Sobrinho Maurício A. M. , Ghislandi Marcos G.
Published: February 2016

The concept of physical adsorption was applied for the removal of direct and reactive blue textile dyes from industrial effluents. Commercial graphite nanoplatelets were used as substrate, and the quality of the material was characterized by atomic force and transmission electron microscopies. Dye/graphite nanoplatelets water solutions were prepared varying their pH and initial dye concentration. Exceptionally high values (beyond 100 mg/L) for adsorptive capacity of graphite nanoplatelets could be achieved without complicated chemical modifications, and equilibrium and kinetic experiments were performed. Our findings were compared with the state of the art, and compared with theoretical models. Agreement between them was satisfactory, and allowed us to propose novel considerations describing the interactions of the dyes and the graphene planar structure. The work highlights the important role of these interactions, which can govern the mobility of the dye molecules and the amount of layers that can be stacked on the graphite nanoplatelets surface.
Biological treatment of colored wastewater by Streptomyces fulvissimus CKS 7
Authors: Buntić A. V. , Pavlović M. D. , Šiler-Marinković S. S. , Dimitrijević-Branković S. I.
Published: February 2016

This study aims to investigate the biological processes related to the biodegradable potential of growing microbial cells for contaminated water treatment. Thus, the use of the Streptomyces fulvissimus CKS 7 (CKS7) has been evaluated for decolorizing efficiency of a solution containing a cationic triphenylmethane dye, crystal violet. The color reduction was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis, through changes in their absorption spectrum and comparing the results with those of the respective controls. It was found that the CKS7 performed well and reached up to 100% effectiveness. The required process parameters have been apparently mild and include the reaction temperature of 27–30 °C, 10% inoculum size, under shaking conditions, whereas the time course of decolorization had been concentration dependent. A possible mechanism for removing dye from the working medium was accomplished in two steps: the binding of the dye on the bacterial cell surface, in addition to the dye biodegradation by the bacterial intracellular enzymes. After one cycle of the complete dye removal, the adapted culture was successfully reused for the same purpose. The phytotoxicity analysis revealed that non-toxic compounds were present in decolorized medium, indicating that the CKS7 bacteria seem to be a promising application for contaminated water treatment.
Differential Insulitic Profiles Determine the Extent of β-Cell Destruction and the Age at Onset of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Leete Pia , Willcox Abby , Krogvold Lars , Dahl-Jørgensen Knut , Foulis Alan K. , Richardson Sarah J. , Morgan Noel G.
Published: February 2016

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from a T cell–mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells following the infiltration of leukocytes (including CD8+, CD4+, and CD20+ cells) into and around pancreatic islets (insulitis). Recently, we reported that two distinct patterns of insulitis occur in patients with recent-onset T1D from the U.K. and that these differ principally in the proportion of infiltrating CD20+ B cells (designated CD20Hi and CD20Lo, respectively). We have now extended this analysis to include patients from the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (U.S.) and Diabetes Virus Detection (DiViD) study (Norway) cohorts and confirm that the two profiles of insulitis occur more widely. Moreover, we show that patients can be directly stratified according to their insulitic profile and that those receiving a diagnosis before the age of 7 years always display the CD20Hi profile. By contrast, individuals who received a diagnosis beyond the age of 13 years are uniformly defined as CD20Lo. This implies that the two forms of insulitis are differentially aggressive and that patients with a CD20Hi profile lose their β-cells at a more rapid rate. In support of this, we also find that the proportion of residual insulin-containing islets (ICIs) increases in parallel with age at the onset of T1D. Importantly, those receiving a diagnosis in, or beyond, their teenage years retain ∼40% ICIs at diagnosis, implying that a functional deficit rather than an absolute β-cell loss may be causal for disease onset in these patients. We conclude that appropriate patient stratification will be critical for correct interpretation of the outcomes of intervention therapies targeted to islet-infiltrating immune cells in T1D.
Meta-Analysis of Inquiry-Based Learning
Authors: Lazonder Ard W. , Harmsen Ruth
Published: February 2016

Research has consistently shown that inquiry-based learning can be more effective than other, more expository instructional approaches as long as students are supported adequately. But what type of guidance is adequate, and for whom? These questions are difficult to answer as most previous research has only focused on one type of guidance and one type of learner. This meta-analysis therefore synthesized the results of 72 studies to compare the effectiveness of different types of guidance for different age categories. Results showed facilitative overall effects of guidance on learning activities (d = 0.66, 95% CI [0.44, 0.88]), performance success (d = 0.71, 95% CI [0.52, 0.90]), and learning outcomes (d = 0.50, 95% CI [0.37, 0.62]). Type of guidance moderated the effects on performance success but not on the other two outcome measures. Considerable variation was found in the effects of guidance on learning activities, but the relatively low number of studies do not allow for any definitive conclusion on possible age-related differences.
The Decline of Hugh MacLennan
Authors: Vacante Jeffery
Published: February 2016

This article examines the critical reassessment in the 1960s of Hugh MacLennan's novel Two Solitudes. It argues that the novel's fading appeal in that decade had less to do with questions about its literary value and more with changing attitudes about who could legitimately write about French Canadians. By the sixties, critics no longer believed that MacLennan understood Quebec society and thus could not believe that he could produce a realistic fictional portrait of the province. This attitude framed the critical response to his novel The Return of the Sphinx (1967) as well as the reconsideration of Two Solitudes. The shift away from MacLennan as a source for understanding Quebec and toward presumably more authentic French-language voices during this decade also signalled the beginning of a larger disengagement from Quebec on the part of English-Canadian writers, who came to believe that they lacked the legitimacy to write about Quebec.
Opera Addict:The Rake's Progressand W.H. Auden's Operatic Theory
Authors: Carlson Matthew Paul
Published: February 2016

The article demonstrates how W.H. Auden's newfound knowledge of the operatic tradition influenced his approach to writing the libretto for The Rake's Progress, his 1951 collaboration with co-librettist Chester Kallman and composer Igor Stravinsky. It contends that the opera's protagonist, Tom Rakewell, ironically dramatizes Auden's evolving ideas about the singular capacities of music and opera to represent the subjective experience of the will's free movement within the bounds of time. Forsaking any claim to realist objectivity, The Rake's Progress celebrates artifice as it explores the relationships between tradition and innovation, cyclicality and linearity, and recurrence and becoming.
DNA binding and cleavage properties of the Ce (III) complex of a diaza-crown ether
Authors: Li Fangzhen , Feng Famei , Wu Jiaoyi , Xie Jiaqing , Li Shuo
Published: February 2016

The hydrolytic cleavage of pUC19 DNA as promoted by the trivalent cerium complex (CeL) of diaza-crown ether ligand L (1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclooctadecane) was examined in detail. The interaction of CeL with calf thymus DNA was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, studies on the effects of pH, reaction time, and the concentration of CeL on cleavage of pUC19 DNA were carried out by gel electrophoresis. The results indicate that CeL can bind to DNA electrostatically with a binding constant of 2.18x104 M−1; CeL can promote the cleavage of plasmid pUC19 DNA from supercoiled to the nicked form under the appropriate conditions, and the optimal pH value is 7.54. The lack of effect of radical scavengers indicates that the cleavage involves hydrolytic cleavage.
Non-isothermal curing kinetics, chemorheological behaviour, and IR spectral study of two trifunctional phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomers compared with the corresponding bifunctional structure
Authors: Liu Changwei , Qu Chunyan , Wang Chengyang , Cao Dianxue , Wang Dezhi , Xiao Wanbao , Feng Hao , Liu Ping , Bai Xuefeng
Published: February 2016

Two trifunctional phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomers, m-TPEPA and p-TPEPA, were systematically compared with the corresponding bifunctional phenylethynyl-terminated imide oligomer, BPEPA. The non-isothermal curing kinetics, Master Plots method, and rheological behaviour of the three high performance oligomers were systematically studied by dynamic DSC, small amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry, and infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the activation energy ( Ea) depended on the extent of conversion evaluated with three different methods, and the lower Ea values of the trifunctional oligomers, which may lead to different curing reactions, compared with the sustained growth of Ea values of BPEPA. The chemorheological properties of the oligomers were measured and fit numerically with the dual Arrhenius model and gel model. Moreover, the degree of cure (agel ) at the gel time (tgel ) was calculated by the value of glass transform temperature at different curing temperature combined with rheological and isothermal DSC results. According to structural changes during the curing reaction characterised using FTIR spectra, it was inferred that the structures of the cured trifunctional imide resins have cis-configurations, which may change the part of the configuration from cis to trimerisation with the lower activation energies found in the later part of the conversion, while the difunctional imide structure is trans.
A Comparative antimicrobial analysis of Tridax procumbens L. various extracts on waterborne bacterial pathogens
Authors: Pandey Madhu , Pandey Anand , Kumar Rajesh , Pathak Ashutosh , Dikshit Anupam
Published: February 2016

The present study focussed on the bactericidal effect of Tridax procumbens L. against water borne bacterial pathogens. The bacterial species used in present study were Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which cause serious diseases like Diarrhoea, Cholera, Salmonellosis, Pneumonia, etc. CLSI recommended broth microdilution method was used in this study for assessing the antibacterial efficacy of the candidate plant extract. Results were depicted in the form of IC50 (mg/ml) and MIC (mg/ml) values. On the basis of this study it can be interpreted that Tridax procumbens L. proved to be a very potential source of antibacterial agent against some water borne bacterial.Pandey et al., International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, February 2016, 5(3): 22-26
Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Gram-Positive Bacteria from Egg Shell of Hen and to See Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern
Authors: Fardows Jannatul , Siddique Abu Bakar , Moureen Adneen , Islam Tasmin Afroz Binte , Farhana Nasrin , Naheen Chowdhury Rafia
Published: February 2016

Background: Food-borne disease is a major public health problem affecting developed as well as developing countries. Inaccurately treated eggs can be one of its causes. So we designed this study to observe the possibility of transmission of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria from market eggs to the community.Objectives: To identify different Gram-positive bacteria in eggs and to observe their antimicrobial susceptibility.Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. Shells of 150 eggs collected from different markets of Dhaka city were tested. Bacteria were isolated and identified by culture and relevant biochemical tests.Results: Out of 150 egg shells, 120 (80%) yielded growth of different bacteria. Of them, Staphylococcus spp. were 80 (66.67%), Streptococcus spp. 8 (6.67%), Bacillus subtilis 20 (16.67%) and Bacillus cereus 12 (10%). Out of 80 Staphylococcus spp., 30 (25%) were Staphylococcus aureus and 50 (41.67%) were Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Most of the Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and imipenem. No MRSA and VRSA were found.Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that Gram-positive bacteria from market eggs may be an important source of infection to the community.J Enam Med Col 2016; 6(1): 15-18
Reviewers in this Issue 6(1)
Authors: Editor The
Published: February 2016

Abstract not availableJ Enam Med Col 2016; 6(1): 60
A Geometric Orthogonal Projection Strategy for Computing the Minimum Distance Between a Point and a Spatial Parametric Curve
Authors: Li Xiaowu , Wu Zhinan , Hou Linke , Wang Lin , Yue Chunguang , Xin Qiao
Published: February 2016

A new orthogonal projection method for computing the minimum distance between a point and a spatial parametric curve is presented. It consists of a geometric iteration which converges faster than the existing Newton’s method, and it is insensitive to the choice of initial values. We prove that projecting a point onto a spatial parametric curve under the method is globally second-order convergence.
Construction and Experimental Validation of a Quantitative Kinetic Model of Nitric Oxide Stress in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Robinson Jonathan , Brynildsen Mark
Published: February 2016

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are responsible for large outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis, which can progress to life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) due to the release of Shiga-like toxins (Stx). The presence of a functional nitric oxide (NO·) reductase (NorV), which protects EHEC from NO· produced by immune cells, was previously found to correlate with high HUS incidence, and it was shown that NorV activity enabled prolonged EHEC survival and increased Stx production within macrophages. To enable quantitative study of EHEC NO· defenses and facilitate the development of NO·-potentiating therapeutics, we translated an existing kinetic model of the E. coli K-12 NO· response to an EHEC O157:H7 strain. To do this, we trained uncertain model parameters on measurements of [NO·] and [O2] in EHEC cultures, assessed parametric and prediction uncertainty with the use of a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach, and confirmed the predictive accuracy of the model with experimental data from genetic mutants lacking NorV or Hmp (NO· dioxygenase). Collectively, these results establish a methodology for the translation of quantitative models of NO· stress in model organisms to pathogenic sub-species, which is a critical step toward the application of these models for the study of infectious disease.
Applications of Computational Modelling and Simulation of Porous Medium in Tissue Engineering
Authors: German Carrie , Madihally Sundararajan
Published: February 2016

In tissue engineering, porous biodegradable scaffolds are used as templates for regenerating required tissues. With the advances in computational tools, many modeling approaches have been considered. For example, fluid flow through porous medium can be modeled using the Brinkman equation where permeability of the porous medium has to be defined. In this review, we summarize various models recently reported for defining permeability and non-invasive pressure drop monitoring as a tool to validate dynamic changes in permeability. We also summarize some models used for scaffold degradation and integrating mass transport in the simulation.
Preparation, Crystal and Properties of Nitrogen-Rich Energetic Salt of Bis(semicarbazide) 5,5′-Bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate
Authors: Zhang Zhi-Bin , Yin Lei , Yin Xin , Zhang Jian-Guo
Published: February 2016

A novel energetic salt of Bis(semicarbazide) 5,5′-bitetrazole-1,1′-diolate [2(SCZ)·BTO] was synthesized by using semicarbazide hydrochloride and 1H,1’H-5,5’-bitetrazole-1,1’-diol (BTO) as raw materials, and its structure was characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy, 13C NMR spectrum and mass spectrum. The single crystal of the title salt was obtained and its structure was determined by an X-ray single-crystal diffractometer. Results show that 2(SCZ)·BTO belongs to the monoclinic space group P21/c with a density of 1.685 g·cm−3. The thermal decomposition behavior was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) analyses, and non-isothermal kinetic parameters were also calculated. The results indicated that it has a good thermal stability with a decomposition temperature above 200 °C. The apparent activation energies were 231.2 kJ·mol−1 (Kissinger's method) and 228.1 kJ·mol−1 (Ozawa-Doyle's method), respectively, and the critical temperature of thermal explosion is 240.6 °C. The enthalpy of formation for the salt was calculated as 158.1 kJ·mol−1. The detonation pressure (P) and detonation velocities (D) of the salt were determined by using the Kamlet-Jacobs equation. The results indicated that the title salt has potential applications in the field of energetic materials.
Definition and Counting of Configurational Microstates in Steady-State Two-Phase Flows in Pore Networks
Authors: Valavanides Marios , Daras Tryfon
Published: February 2016

Steady-state two-phase flow in porous media is a process whereby a wetting phase displaces a non-wetting phase within a pore network. It is an off-equilibrium stationary process—in the sense that it is maintained in dynamic equilibrium at the expense of energy supplied to the system. The efficiency of the process depends on its spontaneity, measurable by the rate of global entropy production. The latter has been proposed to comprise two components: the rate of mechanical energy dissipation at constant temperature (a thermal entropy component, Q/T, in the continuum mechanics scale) and the configurational entropy (a Boltzmann–Gibbs entropy component, klnW), due to the existence of a canonical ensemble of flow configurations, physically admissible to the externally imposed macrostate conditions. Here, we propose an analytical model to account the number of microstates, lnW, in two-phase flows in pore networks. Combinatorial analysis is implemented to evaluate the number of identified microstates per physically admissible internal flow arrangement, compatible with the imposed steady-state flow conditions. Then, Stirling’s approximation is applied to downscale the large factorial numbers. Finally, the number of microstates is estimated by contriving an appropriate mixing scheme over the canonical ensemble of the physically admissible flow configurations. Indicative computations are furnished.
Stability Analysis and Synchronization for a Class of Fractional-Order Neural Networks
Authors: Li Guanjun , Liu Heng
Published: February 2016

Stability of a class of fractional-order neural networks (FONNs) is analyzed in this paper. First, two sufficient conditions for convergence of the solution for such systems are obtained by utilizing Gronwall–Bellman lemma and Laplace transform technique. Then, according to the fractional-order Lyapunov second method and linear feedback control, the synchronization problem between two fractional-order chaotic neural networks is investigated. Finally, several numerical examples are presented to justify the feasibility of the proposed methods.
Fractal Representation of Exergy
Authors: Canivet Yvain , Queiros-Condé Diogo , Grosu Lavinia
Published: February 2016

We developed a geometrical model to represent the thermodynamic concepts of exergy and anergy. The model leads to multi-scale energy lines (correlons) that we characterised by fractal dimension and entropy analyses. A specific attention will be paid to overlapping points, rising interesting remarks about trans-scale dynamics of heat flows.
Simulation of Individual Polymer Chains and Polymer Solutions with Smoothed Dissipative Particle Dynamics
Authors: Litvinov Sergey , Xie Qingguang , Hu Xiangyu , Adams Nikolaus , Ellero Marco
Published: February 2016

In an earlier work (Litvinov et al., Phys.Rev.E 77, 066703 (2008)), a model for a polymer molecule in solution based on the smoothed dissipative particle dynamics method (SDPD) has been presented. In the present paper, we show that the model can be extended to three-dimensional situations and simulate effectively diluted and concentrated polymer solutions. For an isolated suspended polymer, calculated static and dynamic properties agree well with previous numerical studies and theoretical predictions based on the Zimm model. This implies that hydrodynamic interactions are fully developed and correctly reproduced under the current simulated conditions. Simulations of polymer solutions and melts are also performed using a reverse Poiseuille flow setup. The resulting steady rheological properties (viscosity, normal stress coefficients) are extracted from the simulations and the results are compared with the previous numerical studies, showing good results.
Diabetes Mellitus, ArterialWall, and Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Authors: Kozakova Michaela , Palombo Carlo
Published: February 2016

Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease or stroke than adults without diabetes. The two major features of diabetes, i.e., hyperglycemia and insulin-resistance, trigger arterial stiffening and increase the susceptibility of the arterial wall to atherosclerosis at any given age. These pathological changes in the arterial wall may provide a functional and structural background for cardiovascular events. The present paper provides a critical overview of the clinical evidence linking diabetes-related metabolic abnormalities to cardiovascular risk, debates the pathophysiologic mechanisms through which insulin resistance and hyperglycemia may affect the arterial wall, and discusses the associations between vascular biomarkers, metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular events.