bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Combined Crude Extract of Costus afer, Culcasia scaden and Sarcocephalus latifolius on Neurobehaviour and Histology of the Temporal Lobe of Adult Wistar Rats.
Authors: Samuel O Okoronkwo , G.E Anyanwu
Published: October 2018

This combined extract is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of psychiatric disorder. This study investigated the effect of combined crude extracts of Costus afer, Culcasia scaden and Sarcocephalus latifolius on neurobehaviour and histology of the temporal lobe. The extract was prepared by mixing equal portions of the three extracts and dosage calculated base on the body weight of the animals. Twenty rats were divided into four groups (n=5) such as A, B, C and D. A served as negative control and was given distilled water. The D group served as positive control and received 2.5mg/kg of Diazepam, while B and C served as the experimental group and received 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg respectively for 14 days. The behavioural assay was carried out using elevated plus maze. The animals were sacrificed and the brains removed and processed using normal histological techniques. The result of the behavioural test showed an increase in close arm entry but when compared to the negative control the extract treated groups made more open arm entry and spent more time in the open arm (open arm activity) but less when compared to positive control (Diazepam). This is a measure of anxiolytic activities of the extract. Therefore the extract possesses anxiolytic property. The extract distorted the histoarchitecture of the temporal lobe showing extensive loss of brain tissues, sparsely dispersed cells, and focal loss of brain tissues at doses of 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg respectively. The extracts conclusively possess the potential to modify neurobehaviour and alter the histology of the temporal lobe.
The Impact of Oral Health on Systemic Health: Current Challenges and Future Prospective
Authors: Mahant Bhanupriya
Published: October 2018

Oral pathology is a broad topic, but this article will focus on the oral conditions that have an established or accepted relationship with systemic health: caries and the periodontal disease-gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental caries is probably the most common infectious disease across humanity. Primary anticipation of disease is the best move toward but often difficult to achieve. From a primary care point of view, it is vital that physicians and dentists augment collaboration and share in sequence that can impact the patient’s health. Optimization of patients’ physical condition is the aim of both the medical and dental professions.

Key Words: Oral Health, Systemic Health, Dental.
The autonomous intelligence challenge
Authors: Cotsaftis Michel
Published: October 2018

The considerable development of modern technology during last decades has been accom-panied by improvements in associated adapted machines� performance. The improvement process has always been guided by the same rules of researching higher efficiency and more secure effects each time. This leads to a progressive transfer of human action to more adapted and more specific effecting objects, from simple tools for elementary actions to more sophisticated machines for quite complex tasks. Each step of this transfer of human operator action has been realized by delegating to the effecting machine efficiency, accuracy, power and safety�basically all of technical nature and linked to power flux, with the human operator still keeping the mastery of the action to fulfil his own goals.
Status Gizi, Aktivitas Fisik dan Asupan Serat Berhubungan dengan Kadar Gula Darah Puasa Penderita DM Tipe 2
Authors: Audina Mia , Maigoda Tonny Cortis , W Tetes Wahyu
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship among nutritional status, activity physical and intake fiber with levels sugar blood fasting on type 2 DM patients in Puskesmas Pasar Ikan of Bengkulu city. Cross-sectional design is used in this research . The subject in research  is 33 respondents who have diagnosed DM type 2 by health providers that fulfills criteria inclusion. Collecting data was done by using anthropometrical measurements, interviews structured with PAL, SQ-FFQ. Blood sample was taken by using  electro based biosensor system and  Easy Touch tool. The statistic analysis was done by  Correlation test. This research showed that there was no  relationship between blood glucose level in fasting with  nutritional status  (p = 0.748) . There was a relationship activity physical with GDP (p = 0.029) with negative  patterned  r = -0.379. There was relationship between  fiber intake  with  GDP (p = 0.039) with negative patterned  r = -0.362. There was a significant relationship between physical activity, fiber intake with the fasting blood sugar levels on  patients with DM type 2
Biskuit “Fishbean” sebagai Alternatif MP-ASI Lokal Tinggi Protein dan Vitamin A
Authors: Yuliantini Emy , Kamsiah Kamsiah , Meriwati Meriwati
Published: October 2018

Less energy protein (PEM) and vitamin A deficiency have a close relationship. PEM in children can lead to a deficiency of vitamin A because it can lead to inhibition of absorption, transport, and the conversion of vitamin A. One of the local food sources of protein that can be used as a complementary feeding biscuits are catfish and red beans (Pangasius spp). This study aims to analyze the contribution of complementary feeding baby biscuit with substitution catfish and red beans on the adequacy of protein and vitamin A in infants. This research is purely experimental and quasi using a randomized block design (RBD) were performed with a preliminary study fishebean biscuit formulation development and the value of the nutrient content in the laboratory of Food Technology Ministry of Health polytechnic Bengkulu. The population is infants and toddlers in PHC Banyan Kingdom as the case group and control group Lempuing health centers. Total sample of 30 people, the sampling method Non-Probability Sampling. Data were collected by questionnaire respondents, organoleptic test form, and food recall intake for 3 days. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the average difference test by the independent method sample t-test. The result showed no difference in the intake of protein and vitamin A in the treatment group (fed babies biscuit fishbean) and control groups (infants fed biscuit pabrikkan) . There are differences in the intake of protein and vitamin A between the control group with the cases at an average contribution of the adequacy of protein biscuit fishbean baby was 19.60 grams .
PENGARUH HARGA PRODUK DAN MENCARI VARIASI TERHADAP TERHADAP PERPINDAHAN MEREK MOBIL MPV DI KOTA MEDAN
Authors: Hadian Arief
Published: October 2018

Pada penelian ini ingin melihat bagaimana pengaruh harga produk dan mencari variasi terhadap perpindahan merek mobil MPV di Kota Medan. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitaif dan sampel pada penelian ini sebesar 97 orang pemakai mobil MPV yang berpindah di Kota Medan. Teknik pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan penyebaran angket serta melaukan validitas dan reliabelitas. Teknik analisa data pada penelitian ini dengan menggunakan uji asumsi klasik dan analisa regresi linnier berganda. Hasil analisa regresi linnier berganda pada penelitian ini adalah Y = 5,5337 + 0,207 X1 + 0,284 X2 + e, serta variabel harga produk dan variabel mencari variasi mempunyai pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap perpindahan merek mobil MPV di Kota Medan. Nilai koefisien Adjusted R Square didapat sebesar 0,461, artinya bahwa sebesar 46,1% variabel perpindahan merek dapat dijelaskan oleh variabel harga produk dan variabel mencari variasi serta sisanya sebesar 53,9% dijelaskan oleh variabel-variabel lain yang tidak diteili dan tidak dimasukkan dalam model regresi linier berganda ini.
IMPLEMENTING MULTIPASS STRATEGY TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ SKILL IN READING COMPREHENSION
Authors: Harefa Hasrat Sozanolo
Published: October 2018

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan keterampilan mahasiswa dalam memahami bacaan dengan menggunakan Strategi Multipass di semester III Program Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris IKIP Gunungsitoli 2015/2016. Penelitian ini Penelitian Tindakan Kelas. Subyek penelitian adalah mahasiswa semester III kelas A Program Studi Bahasa Inggris sebanyak 22 orang. Data penelitian ini terdiri dari data kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Data kuantitatif diperoleh melalui nilai tugas dan nilai tes membaca. Dan data kualitatif melalui hasil pengamatan. Hasil pelitian dari siklus 1-siklus 3 menunjukkan bahwa Strategi Multipass mampu meningkatkan keterampilan mahasiswa dalam memahami bacaan.
Carlos Casares en Compostela: formación, compromiso e manifestación
Authors: López-Casanova Arcadio
Published: October 2018

Refírese e analízase neste relatorio a primeira etapa –pouco coñecida– de Carlos Casares en Compostela. Unha estadía de dous anos que representa o comezo da súa formación universitaria, a súa incorporación á actividade do grupo de mozos galeguistas, e a iniciación do seu traballo creador, autor –nese período– dunha destacada obra poética.
Carlos Casares e o pensamento solar
Authors: Iglesias Bieito
Published: October 2018

O texto repasa a obra de Carlos Casares relacionándoa co seu nicho ecolóxico ourensao e con diversas fontes literarias que van desde o neorrealismo italiano (en especial o primeiro Pavese) á moral da mesura de Albert Camus, desde o vitalismo do pensamento grego ou o neopaganismo de Nietzsche ás influencias cristiás dos anos mozos.
A urda do territorio e a trama da oralidade en Carlos Casares
Authors: Aleixandre Marilar
Published: October 2018

Este traballo aborda o modo en que a trama da oralidade se tece na urda do territorio na narrativa de Carlos Casares, e como o territorio é transformado a consecuencia do acto literario. A análise presta especial atención ás súas primeiras obras Cambio en tres e Xoguetes para un tempo prohibido. O traballo inspírase nos enfoques da xeocrítica que contemplan de forma dialéctica as relacións espazo – literatura – espazo. Discútense estas relacións dinámicas entre territorio e texto literario nas obras de Casares situadas nos espazos da infancia na Limia, Xinzo ou Beiro, e Ourense, e o modo en que a sobriedade do seu estilo reflicte a austeridade deses territorios, así como a súa influencia no autor limiao Antón Riveiro Coello. Analízase o discurso sobre as relacións entre territorio e literatura nos ensaios e textos xornalísticos de Casares, tanto reflexións sobre os espazos da súa infancia na Limia, como sobre estas relacións na literatura doutros autores, nomeadamente Otero Pedrayo. Argumentamos que unha das dimensións dese territorio da infancia de Casares é o discurso oral, os recursos e fontes da tradición oral galega e familiar.
Enxeñar un mundo posible: Casares e a reinvención da Literatura Infantil e Xuvenil (1986-2002)
Authors: Pena Presas Montse
Published: October 2018

Este artigo afonda nas tarefas levadas a cabo por Carlos Casares como mediador (editor, tradutor e conferenciante, fundamentalmente) e escritor (un oficio que se ve mediatizado polas funcións anteriores) de literatura infantil durante o período 1986-2002. Aínda que se pensaba que as outras angueiras do intelectual total que era o afastaran deste campo literario, estas páxinas demostran como mantivo, tamén nesta etapa un interese e un traballo constantes a prol das letras para a infancia derivados, fundamentalmente, do seu labor como editor.
Carlos Casares e a literatura infantil
Authors: Senín Francisco Xavier
Published: October 2018

A literatura infantil e xuvenil galega débelle moito a Carlos Casares. El foi creador dos primeiros libros en galego para os nenos (A galiña azul ou As laranxas máis laranxas de todas as laranxas). Como tradutor, verqueu ao galego non poucos títulos doutras linguas, entre eles obras de Maria Gripe e, sobre todo, O principiño. De por parte, como editor, no tempo no que dirixiu a Editorial Galaxia o seu traballo supuxo un pulo importante para a literatura dirixida aos pequenos; a el débenselle coleccións como Árbore, Sete mares ou Costa Oeste. Casares era unha persoa divertida que procuraba tecer redes con persoas que traballaban no mundo da edición. A través destes contactos nas feiras internacionais do libro estaba ao tanto do que se publicaba noutros lugares.
Carlos Casares e a tradución como ponte intercultural
Authors: Dasilva Xosé Manuel
Published: October 2018

Neste artigo abórdase o esforzo permanente de Carlos Casares por estender redes de relacións con outras culturas desde o espazo galego. Analízase o contacto que propuxo co ámbito lusófono e a introdución da literatura galega que impulsou no Estado español, así como a comunicación que promoveu con outros ámbitos xeográficos. Alén diso, revísase a proxección da súa obra en diferentes idiomas, sinalándose un certo desaxuste entre a presenza internacional de Casares como intelectual e o número de versións dos seus libros. Por último, é obxecto de consideración o labor de Casares no eido da autotradución.
Organoloxía musical e outros aspectos de interese etnomusicolóxico nos Ensaios poéticos en dialecto berciano de Antonio Fernández Morales
Authors: Suárez Pérez Héctor Luís
Published: October 2018

Sobre o territorio da provincia de León coñecido como o Bierzo, no Noroeste Ibérico, o traballo de Morales achega unha particular lexicografía interdisciplinaria recollida en fala vernácula. Desde os planos investigadores da etnomusicoloxía, organoloxía musical, filoloxía e a etnografía, este corpus filolóxico constitúe un interesante referente para documentar no tempo e describir con minuciosidade distintos aspectos de toda índole. Repertorios, obxectos e instrumentos musicais, situacións e paisaxes sonoras da realidade cotiá popular e tradicional relacionadas con el e propias de finais da primeira metade do XIX, abórdanse tanto no ámbito rural como, contrastando co mesmo, no dos pequenos núcleos urbanos, cabeceiras desa comarca nos ámbitos profano e relixioso. Todo formulado desde un tratamento literario, de significado substrato e calado cultural sociopolítico acorde e habitual nas correntes máis internacionais do pensamento romántico do seu tempo ao que o autor, recoñecido progresista, non é alleo.
Investigating the Effect of Modifying Aggregate Surface by Micronized Calcium Carbonate on Increasing the Moisture Resistance of Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Sohrabi Mohsen , Shirmohammadi Hamid , Hamedi Gholam Hossein
Published: October 2018

The adhesion between aggregate and asphalt binder in dry conditions, and the amount of its reduction in wet conditions are amongst fundamental indicators that moisture sensitivity amount of asphalt mixtures is dependent to. Among different methods to increase adhesion, modification of aggregates surface with anti-stripping materials is known as an effective method. Therefore, the effect of covering aggregates surface with micronized calcium carbonate as a proper and inexpensive anti-stripping material was investigated. Accordingly, in order to evaluate mixes, first, mechanical methods were used, and then thermodynamic methods were employed to determine the mechanism of the effect of calcium carbonate on increasing asphalt mix resistance to moisture damage. In order to conduct this research, three types of aggregates including limestone, granite, and quartzite, for their different degrees of hydrophilic, and two types of asphalt binder 60–70 and 85–100 were used to produce mixtures. Results obtained by mechanical methods show that modification of aggregates surface causes an increase in the tensile strength ratio (TSR) in the samples made by both two types of asphalt binder. In addition, results of surface free energy method indicate the increase of adhesion energy (except in granite samples) and reduction of debonding energy in all modified samples. Generally, evaluations conducted by the use of both methods show that covering aggregates by micronized calcium carbonate has a positive effect on reducing moisture sensitivity of asphalt mixes.
An Unrecorded Critical Response to Pope's Imitations of Horace by William Popple, c. 1755
Authors: Gillespie Stuart
Published: October 2018

Bodleian MS Douce 201, one of four dispersed folio volumes which contain professional scribal copies of the later literary works of William Popple (1700–1764) in a form evidently intended for the printer, contains three extensive dialogues ‘between a certain … Doctor of D––y and A Critic’. The first and last of these discussions, none of which were printed in Popple's time, or have been printed since, are among the earliest critical works to address Alexander Pope's Imitations of Horace (first published 1733–8). They focus on Pope's versions of Horace's Satires 2.1 and 2.2 respectively, and their primary target is the editorial presentation of these texts by William Warburton in his edition of Pope's Works, 1751. They are closely related to Popple's own complete sequence of Horatian imitations (also largely unprinted) of the 1750s.
Rebundling higher educational research, teaching and service
Authors: Blair Erik
Published: October 2018

Higher educational research has been bashed for its aloofness and isolation as individuals question its impact and its worth. This essay aims to highlight how the unbundling of academia, where research has become separate from teaching and service, has left a reduced conception of educational identity in the higher education sector. In becoming isolated, research has become an easier target. Instead, it is proposed that rebundling the three core aspects of higher education - research, teaching and service – would allow for a more holistic conception of academic identity where the various components work together to offer a more robust, and less ‘bashable’, academic identity.
Internationalization and Performance of Vietnamese Manufacturing Firms: Does Organizational Slack Matter?
Authors: Thi Ngoc Huynh Hien , V. Nguyen Phuong , T. Tran Khoa
Published: October 2018

This paper aims to investigate the three-stage theory of international expansion in the long run from the perspective of firm behavior. Although this topic has been mostly explored using data from developed countries, this paper aims to fill the research gap in an emerging market by using an extensive unbalanced panel data of 12,704 unlisted Vietnam manufacturing enterprises from the General Statistics Office during 2007 to 2012. The findings illustrated a significant S-shaped relationship between internationalization and performance. Notably, the results depict significantly moderating effects of both high-discretion slacks and low-discretion slacks on the internationalization–performance relationship across three stages of global expansion as an enterprise enhances this relationship in the first and third stage although this worsens it in the middle stage. The empirical results suggest that firms should determine the optimum level of internationalization and slacks in addition to balancing their costs with their real gains.
Thermal Management Systems for Civil Aircraft Engines: Review, Challenges and Exploring the Future
Authors: Jafari Soheil , Nikolaidis Theoklis
Published: October 2018

This paper examines and analytically reviews the thermal management systems proposed over the past six decades for gas turbine civil aero engines. The objective is to establish the evident system shortcomings and to identify the remaining research questions that need to be addressed to enable this important technology to be adopted by next generation of aero engines with complicated designs. Future gas turbine aero engines will be more efficient, compact and will have more electric parts. As a result, more heat will be generated by the different electrical components and avionics. Consequently, alternative methods should be used to dissipate this extra heat as the current thermal management systems are already working on their limits. For this purpose, different structures and ideas in this field are stated in terms of considering engines architecture, the improved engine efficiency, the reduced emission level and the improved fuel economy. This is followed by a historical coverage of the proposed concepts dating back to 1958. Possible thermal management systems development concepts are then classified into four distinct classes: classic, centralized, revolutionary and cost-effective; and critically reviewed from challenges and implementation considerations points of view. Based on this analysis, the potential solutions for dealing with future challenges are proposed including combination of centralized and revolutionary developments and combination of classic and cost-effective developments. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions is also discussed with a complexity-impact correlation analysis.
Photo-Assisted Hydrogen Evolution with Reduced Graphene Oxide Catalyst on Silicon Nanowire Photocathode
Authors: Sim Yelyn , John Jude , Moon Joonhee , Sim Uk
Published: October 2018

The silicon-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion system has recently gained attention owing to its ability to provide cost-efficient and superior photoresponsive behavior with respect to other semiconductor photoelectrodes. Carbon-based co-catalysts have always been the focus of research as alternative metal-free electrocatalysts intended for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In particular, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a representative carbon-derived material, has attracted much attention as a non-metal catalyst for efficient and durable HER. Herein, we deposited rGO on a silicon nanowire (SiNW) structure, which showed the highest reduction in the overpotential for HER up to date. This can be attributed to the synergistic effects of rGO and SiNW with unique anisotropic morphology, facile tuning capabilities, and scalable fabrication methods. Combined with nanostructured photocathode, rGO-deposited SiNW showed better photon to current conversion efficiency of 3.16% (half solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency), which is 158 times higher than that of the bare planar Si system. In light of this development, we believe that rGO-SiNW photoelectrodes will pave the way for state-of-the-art highly efficient non-metal catalysts for energy conversion technologies.
Efficacy of Collagen-Based Membranes in Alveolar Bone Augmentation
Authors: Choi Na-Rae , Sándor George K. , Kim Yong-Deok
Published: October 2018

Collagen-based membranes (CBMs) have similar permissive bone formation capabilities when compared to non-absorbable membranes. CBMs have been classified as non-cross-linked membranes (NCLMs) and cross-linked membranes (CLMs) depending on whether the cross-linking between the collagen fibers was artificially increased. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bone maintenance capacity between NCLMs and CLMs by comparing resorption of regenerated bone. The inclusion criteria consisted of: (1) The use of a CBM, either being an NCLM or CLM for coverage of grafted bone; (2) follow-up for more than one year; (3) the presence of the patient's orthopantomographic X-ray (OPTG) immediately following the installation of implants and one year after. The bone resorption observed in the OPTG was determined by measuring the number of exposed threads of the implant. The number of thread exposures in the implant was compared according to CBM types. OPTGs taken immediately following the installation of implants and at one year after installation were compared. The subject of the measurement was always the implant in which the greatest number of exposed threads were present in each patient. A total of 56 subjects and 97 implants were used in this study. There was no significant difference between NCLM and CLM groups (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.02) between the groups when a bone graft was applied to both the maxilla and the mandible. The average number of thread exposures was less than 1.5. In this study, no comparison was made between commonly known causes of bone loss and membrane types.
Effect of Recycled Aggregate Quality on the Bond Behavior and Shear Strength of RC Members
Authors: Yanweerasak Thanapol , Kea Theang Meng , Ishibashi Hiroki , Akiyama Mitsuyoshi
Published: October 2018

During the aggregate crushing process, natural aggregate and clinging mortar from existing concrete will inevitably produce small cracks and weak bonds between the aggregate and the existing cement mortar. The weaknesses of the existing cement mortar, adhered to a natural aggregate, negatively affect the properties of a recycled aggregate concrete, which prevents its application in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Recycled aggregate can be classified into several categories, according to its physical and mechanical properties. The properties of concrete incorporated with the recycled aggregate of various qualities can be controlled, and the variability in its strength can also be reduced. This study aims to promote the application of recycled aggregate by investigating the effects of recycled aggregate quality (i.e., water absorption and the number of fine particles) classified by the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) on material properties, mechanical properties, and shear behavior of RC beams with recycled aggregate.
Shape Mapping Detection of Electric Vehicle Alloy Defects Based on Pulsed Eddy Current Rectangular Sensors
Authors: Zhang Kai , Dong Zhurong , Yu Zhan , He Yunze
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we investigate pulsed eddy current (PEC) testing based on a rectangular sensor for the purpose of defect shape mapping in electric vehicle lightweight alloy material. Different dimensional defects were machined on the 3003 aluminum alloy and detected using the A-scan technique and C-scan imaging in two scanning directions. The experiment results indicated that defect plane shape could be preliminarily obtained and length and width could be estimated based upon C-scan contour images. Consequently, the comparison of results between the two directions showed that the C-scan identification in the direction of magnetic flux was better than in the direction of the exciting current. Finally, subsurface defects and irregular defects were detected to verify the performance of shape mapping as a recommended approach. The conclusion drawn indicates that the proposed method, based on PEC rectangular sensors, is an effective approach in reconstructing a defect’s shape.
Cu-Doped TiO2: Visible Light Assisted Photocatalytic Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Mathew Snehamol , Ganguly Priyanka , Rhatigan Stephen , Kumaravel Vignesh , Byrne Ciara , Hinder Steven J. , Bartlett John , Nolan Michael , Pillai Suresh C.
Published: October 2018

Surface contamination by microbes is a major public health concern. A damp environment is one of potential sources for microbe proliferation. Smart photocatalytic coatings on building surfaces using semiconductors like titania (TiO2) can effectively curb this growing threat. Metal-doped titania in anatase phase has been proven as a promising candidate for energy and environmental applications. In this present work, the antimicrobial efficacy of copper (Cu)-doped TiO2 (Cu-TiO2) was evaluated against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) under visible light irradiation. Doping of a minute fraction of Cu (0.5 mol %) in TiO2 was carried out via sol-gel technique. Cu-TiO2 further calcined at various temperatures (in the range of 500–700 °C) to evaluate the thermal stability of TiO2 anatase phase. The physico-chemical properties of the samples were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–visible spectroscopy techniques. XRD results revealed that the anatase phase of TiO2 was maintained well, up to 650 °C, by the Cu dopant. UV–vis results suggested that the visible light absorption property of Cu-TiO2 was enhanced and the band gap is reduced to 2.8 eV. Density functional theory (DFT) studies emphasize the introduction of Cu+ and Cu2+ ions by replacing Ti4+ ions in the TiO2 lattice, creating oxygen vacancies. These further promoted the photocatalytic efficiency. A significantly high bacterial inactivation (99.9999%) was attained in 30 min of visible light irradiation by Cu-TiO2.
A Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) for Renewable Energy Plants Location Selection in Vietnam under a Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Wang Chia-Nan , Huang Ying-Fang , Chai Yu-Chien , Nguyen Van Thanh
Published: October 2018

In the context of increasing energy demands in Vietnam, and as a result of the limited supply of domestic energy (oil/gas/coal reserves are exhausted), the potential for renewable energy sources in Vietnam is significant. Thus, building wind power plants in Vietnam is necessary. Access to this type of renewable energy not only contributes to society’s energy supply but also helps to save energy and reduce environmental pollution. Although some works have reviewed applications of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) model in wind power plant site selection, little research has focused on this problem in a fuzzy environment. This is the reason why a hybrid Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) are developed for wind power plant site selection in Vietnam. In the first stages of this research, an FAHP model is proposed for determining the weight of each potential location for building a wind power plant, based on qualitative and quantitative factors. A TOPSIS is applied for ranking all potential alternatives in the final stage. The authors collected data from seven locations, which have good conditions for investment in a wind power plant. The results indicate that Binh Thuan (Binh Thuan Province is located on coast of South Central Vietnam) is the best place for building a wind power plant in Vietnam. The contributions of this work proposed an MCDM approach under fuzzy environments for wind power plant location selection in Vietnam. This paper also resides in the evolution of a new approach that is flexible and practical for a decision-maker. This work also provides a useful guideline for wind power plant location selection in others countries.
Hybrid Fibres as Shear Reinforcement in High-Performance Concrete Beams with and without Openings
Authors: Smarzewski Piotr
Published: October 2018

The article presents the results of research work aimed at testing the use of hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre as a strengthening solution to upgrade reinforced high-performance concrete (HPC) beams with openings (BO1 ÷ BO3) and without (B1 ÷ B3). A total of six simply supported beams were tested under four-point bending. The test beams had a cross section of 200 × 400 mm and a total length of 2500 mm. Two square openings in each shear span were located symmetrically about the mid-point in three BO beams. Research was carried out with regard to the quantity and type of reinforcement. Beams B1 and BO1 were constructed with traditional reinforcement made of steel bars. As regards the remaining beams, instead of stirrups and compressive bars, fibre reinforcement of varying fibre volume contents was applied. In the analysis, a non-contact system for three-dimensional measurements of strain and displacement was used. Analysis of the behaviour of the beams under static load was based on the measurements of cracks, deflections and strains. The test results show that the first diagonal crack and the ultimate shear strength increase significantly as the fibre content increases. The above study showed that the hybrid fibres have a positive effect, reducing crack width and ensuring an increase in the load-bearing capacity.
Cloud Detection from Radio Occultation Measurements in Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Lasota Elżbieta , Rohm Witold , Liu Chian-Yi , Hordyniec Paweł
Published: October 2018

Tropical cyclones (TC) are one of the main producers of clouds in the tropics and subtropics. Hence, most of the clouds in TCs are dense, with large water and ice content, and provide conditions conducive to investigate clouds’ impact on Radio Occultation (RO) measurements. Although the RO technique is considered insensitive to clouds, recent studies show a refractivity positive bias in cloudy conditions. In this study, we analyzed the RO bending angle sensitivity to cloud content during tropical cyclone seasons between 2007 and 2010. Thermodynamic parameters were obtained from the ERA-Interim reanalysis, whereas the water and ice cloud contents were retrieved from the CloudSat profiles. Our experiments confirm the positive mean RO refractivity bias in cloudy conditions that reach up to more than 0.5% at the geometric height of around 7 km. A similar bias but larger and shifted up is visible in bending angle anomaly (1.6%). Our results reveal that the influence of clouds is significant and can exceed the RO bending angle standard deviation for 21 out of 50 (42%) investigated profiles. Mean clouds’ impact is detectable between 9.0 and 10.5 km, while, in the case of single events, clouds in most of the observations are significant between 8 and 14 km. Almost 15% of the detectable clouds reach 16 km height, while the influence of the clouds below 5 km is insignificant. For more than half of the significant cases, the detection range is less than 3 km but for one observation this range spreads to 7–8 km.
A Review on Bioconversion of Agro-Industrial Wastes to Industrially Important Enzymes
Authors: Ravindran Rajeev , Hassan Shady S. , Williams Gwilym A. , Jaiswal Amit K.
Published: October 2018

Agro-industrial waste is highly nutritious in nature and facilitates microbial growth. Most agricultural wastes are lignocellulosic in nature; a large fraction of it is composed of carbohydrates. Agricultural residues can thus be used for the production of various value-added products, such as industrially important enzymes. Agro-industrial wastes, such as sugar cane bagasse, corn cob and rice bran, have been widely investigated via different fermentation strategies for the production of enzymes. Solid-state fermentation holds much potential compared with submerged fermentation methods for the utilization of agro-based wastes for enzyme production. This is because the physical–chemical nature of many lignocellulosic substrates naturally lends itself to solid phase culture, and thereby represents a means to reap the acknowledged potential of this fermentation method. Recent studies have shown that pretreatment technologies can greatly enhance enzyme yields by several fold. This article gives an overview of how agricultural waste can be productively harnessed as a raw material for fermentation. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of studies conducted in the production of different commercially important enzymes using lignocellulosic food waste has been provided.
pH-Sensitive Co-Adsorption/Release of Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel by Carbon Nanotube, Fullerene, and Graphene Oxide in Combination with N-isopropylacrylamide: A Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Rezaian Milad , Maleki Reza , Dahri Dahroud Mohammad , Alamdari Abdolmohammad , Alimohammadi Milad
Published: October 2018

Nanotechnology based drug delivery systems for cancer therapy have been the topic of interest for many researchers and scientists. In this research, we have studied the pH sensitive co-adsorption and release of doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PAX) by carbon nanotube (CNT), fullerene, and graphene oxide (GO) in combination with N-isopropylacrylamide (PIN). This simulation study has been performed by use of molecular dynamics. Interaction energies, hydrogen bond, and gyration radius were investigated. Results reveal that, compared with fullerene and GO, CNT is a better carrier for the co-adsorption and co-release of DOX and PAX. It can adsorb the drugs in plasma pH and release it in vicinity of cancerous tissues which have acidic pH. Investigating the number of hydrogen bonds revealed that PIN created many hydrogen bonds with water resulting in high hydrophilicity of PIN, hence making it more stable in the bloodstream while preventing from its accumulation. It is also concluded from this study that CNT and PIN would make a suitable combination for the delivery of DOX and PAX, because PIN makes abundant hydrogen bonds and CNT makes stable interactions with these drugs.
Dosimetric Comparison of Proton Radiation Therapy, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, and Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy Based on Intracranial Tumor Location
Authors: Adeberg Sebastian , Harrabi Semi B. , Bougatf Nina , Verma Vivek , Windisch Paul , Bernhardt Denise , Combs Stephanie E. , Herfarth Klaus , Debus Juergen , Rieken Stefan
Published: October 2018

(1) Background: Selecting patients that will benefit the most from proton radiotherapy (PRT) is of major importance. This study sought to assess dose reductions to numerous organs-at-risk (OARs) with PRT, as compared to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), as a function of tumor location. (2) Materials/Methods: Patients with intracranial neoplasms (all treated with PRT) were stratified into five location-based groups (frontal, suprasellar, temporal, parietal, posterior cranial fossa; n = 10 per group). Each patient was re-planned for 3DCRT and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using similar methodology, including the originally planned target and organ-at-risk (OAR) dose constraints. (3) Results: In parietal tumors, PRT showed the most pronounced dose reductions. PRT lowered doses to nearly every OAR, most notably the optical system and several contralateral structures (subventricular zone, thalamus, hippocampus). For frontal lobe cases, the greatest relative dose reductions in mean dose (Dmean) with PRT were to the infratentorial normal brain, contralateral hippocampus, brainstem, pituitary gland and contralateral optic nerve. For suprasellar lesions, PRT afforded the greatest relative Dmean reductions to the infratentorial brain, supratentorial brain, and the whole brain. Similar results could be observed in temporal and posterior cranial fossa disease. (4) Conclusions: The effectiveness and degree of PRT dose-sparing to various OARs depends on intracranial tumor location. These data will help to refine selection of patients receiving PRT, cost-effectiveness, and future clinical toxicity assessment.
Mixed Chlorometallate Ionic Liquids as C4 Alkylation Catalysts: A Quantitative Study of Acceptor Properties
Authors: Pang Xiaoying , Liu Ying , Wang Juanfang
Published: October 2018

The acceptor properties of mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids for isobutane-butene alkylation (C4 alkylation) reaction were studied. These ionic liquids were prepared by mixing metal chlorides with either triethylamine hydrochloride or 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride in various molar ratios. Using triethylphosphine oxide as a probe, Gutmann Acceptor Numbers (AN) of the catalysts were determined, and the Lewis acidity of mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids was quantitatively measured. Additionally, AN value was developed to determine the relationship between Lewis acidity and catalytic selectivity. The favorite AN value for the C4 alkylation reaction should be around 93.0. The [(C2H5)3NH]Cl–AlCl3−CuCl appears to be more Lewis acidity than that of [(C2H5)3NH]Cl–AlCl3. The correlation of the acceptor numbers to speciation of the mixed chlorometallate ionic liquids has also been investigated. [AlCl4]−, [Al2Cl7]−, and [MAlCl5]− (M = Cu, Ag) are the main anionic species of the mixed chlorometallate ILs. While the presence of [(C2H5)3N·M]+ cation always decreases the acidity of the [(C2H5)3NH]Cl−AlCl3−MCl ionic liquids.
Cytogenetic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Endometrial MSC Retaining Proliferative Activity after Sublethal Heat Shock
Authors: Shilina Mariia , Grinchuk Tatiana , Anatskaya Olga , Vinogradov Alexander , Alekseenko Larisa , Elmuratov Artem , Nikolsky Nikolai
Published: October 2018

Temperature is an important exogenous factor capable of leading to irreversible processes in the vital activity of cells. However, the long-term effects of heat shock (HS) on mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) remain unstudied. We investigated the karyotype and DNA repair drivers and pathways in the human endometrium MSC (eMSC) survived progeny at passage 6 after sublethal heat stress (sublethal heat stress survived progeny (SHS-SP)). G-banding revealed an outbreak of random karyotype instability caused by chromosome breakages and aneuploidy. Molecular karyotyping confirmed the random nature of this instability. Transcriptome analysis found homologous recombination (HR) deficiency that most likely originated from the low thermostability of the AT-rich HR driving genes. SHS-SP protection from transformation is provided presumably by low oncogene expression maintained by tight co-regulation between thermosensitive HR drivers BRCA, ATM, ATR, and RAD51 (decreasing expression after SHS), and oncogenes mTOR, MDM2, KRAS, and EGFR. The cancer-related transcriptomic features previously identified in hTERT transformed MSC in culture were not found in SHS-SP, suggesting no traits of malignancy in them. The entrance of SHS-SP into replicative senescence after 25 passages confirms their mortality and absence of transformation features. Overall, our data indicate that SHS may trigger non-tumorigenic karyotypic instability due to HR deficiency and decrease of oncogene expression in progeny of SHS-survived MSC. These data can be helpful for the development of new therapeutic approaches in personalized medicine.
Characterization and Drug Sensitivity of a New High-Grade Myxofibrosarcoma Cell Line
Authors: Miserocchi Giacomo , De Vita Alessandro , Mercatali Laura , Recine Federica , Liverani Chiara , Spadazzi Chiara , Pieri Federica , Riva Nada , Bongiovanni Alberto , Casadei Roberto , Fausti Valentina , Ibrahim Toni
Published: October 2018

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) belongs to the group of sarcoma tumors, which represent only 1% of the totality of adult tumors worldwide. Thus, given the rare nature of this cancer, this makes the availability of MFS cell lines difficult. In an attempt to partially fill this gap, we immortalized a primary culture of MFS (IM-MFS-1) and compared the cell morphology with patient’s tumor tissue. IM-MFS-1 was genetically characterized through a Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) array and the mesenchymal phenotype was evaluated using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence staining. Drug sensitivity for MFS therapies was monitored over time in cultures. We confirmed the conservation of the patient’s tumor cell morphology and of the mesenchymal phenotype. Conversely, the synthesis and expression of CD109, a TGFβ co-receptor used to facilitate the diagnosis of high-grade MFS diagnosis, was maintained constant until high cancer cell line passages. The CGH array revealed a complex karyotype with cytogenetic alterations that include chromosome regions associated with genes involved in tumor processes. Cytotoxicity assays show drug sensitivity constantly increased during the culture passages until a plateau was reached. In conclusion, we established and characterized a new MFS cell line that can be used for future preclinical and molecular studies on soft tissue sarcomas.
Making a “Pledge”: Moral Suasion and Health Promotion Practice
Authors: Laverack Glenn
Published: October 2018

Moral suasion offers a versatile and low-cost approach to influence social norms and risky health behaviours, but is often neglected in health promotion in favour of using educational approaches. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges and the benefits of using moral suasion in health promotion. Past and present experiences of using moral suasion to promote health are discussed in conjunction with other approaches, such as harm reduction. The challenge of using moral suasion as an approach is that it focuses on individual behaviour change, rather than addressing the broader structural causes of poor health. However, the paper concludes that the versatility of the moral suasion approach and the success of using “pledges” means that it can be an important intervention, alongside other educational and motivational techniques, to help to change behaviours at the individual and collective levels.
Relationship between City Size, Coastal Land Use, and Summer Daytime Air Temperature Rise with Distance from Coast
Authors: Takebayashi Hideki , Tanaka Takahiro , Moriyama Masakazu , Watanabe Hironori , Miyazaki Hiroshi , Kittaka Kosuke
Published: October 2018

The relationship between city size, coastal land use, and air temperature rise with distance from coast during summer day is analyzed using the meso-scale weather research and forecasting (WRF) model in five coastal cities in Japan with different sizes and coastal land use (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Sendai) and inland cities in Germany (Berlin, Essen, and Karlsruhe). Air temperature increased as distance from the coast increased, reached its maximum, and then decreased slightly. In Nagoya and Sendai, the amount of urban land use in coastal areas is less than the other three cities, where air temperature is a little lower. As a result, air temperature difference between coastal and inland urban area is small and the curve of air temperature rise is smaller than those in Tokyo and Osaka. In Sendai, air temperature in the inland urban area is the same as in the other cities, but air temperature in the coastal urban area is a little lower than the other cities, due to an approximate one degree lower sea surface temperature being influenced by the latitude. In three German cities, the urban boundary layer may not develop sufficiently because the fetch distance is not enough.
Photoluminescence Property of Eu3+ doped CaSiO3 Nano-phosphor with Controlled Grain Size
Authors: Niraula Boris B. , Rizal Conrad
Published: October 2018

A series of Eu3+ doped CaSiO3/SiO2 nano-phosphor powder of controlled grain size, crystalline structure, and chemical composition were synthesized using the microemulsion technique. The morphology, size, and shape of the synthesized nanophosphorous powder were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. XRD profiles of samples sintered over 600 °C, suggested phase shift from amorphous powder grain to more ordered polycrystalline powder of triclinic type wollastonite, CaSiO3, with preferred crystal phase orientation of (112) and tetragonal type cristobalites of SiO2. The grain size, crystallinity, and chemical composition of the host matrix, activator and sensitizer strongly affected both the absorption and emission bands of these samples. The amplitude of both the orange and red emission bands significantly increased with sintering temperature. The emission band is red-shifted with decreasing grain sizes. These bands displayed good sensitivity to ionic concentration of the Si4+, Ca2+, and Eu3+. With increasing Ca2+ ion concentration both the intensity of the red photoluminescence (PL) band increased and a concentration quenching observed. Increase in Si4+ ion concentration led to quenching in PL intensity of both the orange and red bands, whereas the amplitude of the blue-band slightly increased. With increasing Eu3+ ion concentration the red-band initially increased whereas it started decreasing at higher sample concentration. In the presence of Ca2+ ion as a sensitizer, the sample showed a remarkable PL property-including–about 100% photon conversion efficiency and a two-fold increase in excitation and emission photons.