bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ending Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Locating Men at Stake: An Ecological Approach
Authors: Di Napoli Immacolata , Procentese Fortuna , Carnevale Stefania , Esposito Ciro , Arcidiacono Caterina
Published: May 2019

Interventions for ending intimate partner violence (IPV) have not usually provided integrated approaches. Legal and social policies have the duty to protect, assist and empower women and to bring offenders to justice. Men have mainly been considered in their role as perpetrators to be subjected to judicial measures, while child witnesses of violence have not been viewed as a direct target for services. Currently, there is a need for an integrated and holistic theoretical and operational model to understand IPV as gender-based violence and to intervene with the goal of ending the fragmentation of existing measures. The EU project ViDaCS—Violent Dads in Child Shoes—which worked towards the deconstruction and reconstruction of violence’s effects on child witnesses, has given us the opportunity to collect the opinions of social workers and child witnesses regarding violence. Therefore, the article describes measures to deal with IPV, proposing functional connections among different services and specific preventative initiatives. Subsequently, this study will examine intimate partner violence and provide special consideration to interventions at the individual, relational, organizational and community levels. The final goal will be to present a short set of guidelines that take into account the four levels considered by operationalizing the aforementioned ecological principles.
Women’s Perceptions of Living a Traumatic Childbirth Experience and Factors Related to a Birth Experience
Authors: Rodríguez-Almagro Julián , Hernández-Martínez Antonio , Rodríguez-Almagro David , Quirós-García José Miguel , Martínez-Galiano Juan Miguel , Gómez-Salgado Juan
Published: May 2019

Although identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global health priority, maternal mental health does not receive much attention even in the health systems of developed countries. With pregnancy monitoring protocols placing priority on the physical health of the mother, there is a paucity of literature documenting the traumatising effects of the birth process. To address this knowledge gap, this qualitative descriptive study aimed to investigate women perceptions of living a traumatic childbirth experience and the factors related to it. Qualitative data, collected via semi-structured interviews with 32 participants recruited from parent support groups and social media in Spain, were analyzed through a six-phase inductive thematic analysis. Data analysis revealed five major themes―“Birth Plan Compliance”, “Obstetric Problems”, “Mother-Infant Bond”, “Emotional Wounds” and “Perinatal Experiences”—and 13 subthemes. The majority of responses mentioned feelings of being un/misinformed by healthcare personnel, being disrespected and objectified, lack of support, and various problems during childbirth and postpartum. Fear, loneliness, traumatic stress, and depression were recurrent themes in participants’ responses. As the actions of healthcare personnel can substantially impact a birth experience, the study findings strongly suggest the need for proper policies, procedures, training, and support to minimise negative consequences of childbirth.
A Robust Early Warning System for Preventing Flash Floods in Mountainous Area in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Thanh Van , Chou Tien Yin , Nguyen Ngoc Thach , Fang Yao Min , Yeh Mei Ling , Nguyen Quoc Huy , Nguyen Xuan Linh
Published: May 2019

The early-warning model for flash floods is based on a hydrological and geomorphological concept connected to the river basin, with the principle that flash floods will only occur where there is a high potential risk and when rainfall exceeds the threshold. In the model used to build flash-floods risk maps, the parameters of the basin are analyzed and evaluated and the weight is determined using Thomas Saaty’s analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The flash-floods early-warning software is built using open source programming tools. With the spatial module and online processing, a predicted precipitation of one to six days in advance for iMETOS (AgriMedia—Vietnam) automatic meteorological stations is interpolated and then processed with the potential risk maps (iMETOS is a weather-environment monitoring system comprising a wide range of equipment and an online platform and can be used in various fields such as agriculture, tourism and services). The results determine the locations of flash floods at several risk levels corresponding to the predicted rainfall values at the meteorological stations. The system was constructed and applied to flash floods disaster early warning for Thuan Chau in Son La province when the rainfall exceeded the 150 mm/d threshold. The system initially supported positive decision-making to prevent and minimize damage caused by flash floods.
Identifying the Pathological Domain of Alpha- Synuclein as a Therapeutic for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Shen Ning , Song Ge , Yang Haiqiang , Lin Xiaoyang , Brown Breanna , Hong Yuzhu , Cai Jianfeng , Cao Chuanhai
Published: May 2019

Alpha-synuclein is considered the major pathological protein associated with Parkinson’s disease, but there is still no effective immunotherapy which targets alpha-synuclein. In order to create a safer and more effective therapy against PD, we are targeting an epitope of alpha-synuclein rather than full-length alpha-synuclein. We have selected several antigenic domains (B-cell epitope) through antigenicity prediction, and also made several recombinant protein fragments from alpha-synuclein upon antigenicity prediction in an E. coli system. We then tested the function of each of the peptides and recombinant fragments in aggregation, their toxicity and antigenicity. We have discovered that the full-length recombinant (aa1–140) can aggregate into oligomers or even fibrils, and fragment aa15–65 can promote the aggregation of aa1–140. It is worth noting that it not only promotes whole protein aggregation, but also self-aggregates as seen by western blotting and silver staining assays. We have tested all candidates on primary neurons for their toxicity and discovered that aa15–65 is the most toxic domain compared to all other fragments. The antibody targeting this domain also showed both anti-aggregation activity and some therapeutic effect. Therefore, we believe that we have identified the most potent therapeutic domain of alpha synuclein as a therapeutic target.
Urinary Stem Cells as Tools to Study Genetic Disease: Overview of the Literature
Authors: Falzarano Maria Sofia , Ferlini Alessandra
Published: May 2019

Urine specimens represent a novel and non-invasive approach to isolate patient-specific stem cells by easy and low-cost procedures, replacing the traditional sources (muscle/skin biopsy/adipose tissue) obtained with invasive and time-consuming methods. Urine-derived stem cells (USCs) can be used in a broad field of applications, such as regenerative medicine, cell therapy, diagnostic testing, disease modelling and drug screening. USCs are a good source of cells for generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and importantly, they can also be directly converted into specific cell lines. In this review, we show the features of USCs and their use as a promising in vitro model to study genetic diseases.
The Role of MicroRNAs in the Regulation of Gastric Cancer Stem Cells: A Meta-Analysis of the Current Status
Authors: Ruggieri Vitalba , Russi Sabino , Zoppoli Pietro , La Rocca Francesco , Angrisano Tiziana , Falco Geppino , Calice Giovanni , Laurino Simona
Published: May 2019

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. As for other types of cancers, several limitations to the success of current therapeutic GC treatments may be due to cancer drug resistance that leads to tumor recurrence and metastasis. Increasing evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are among the major causative factors of cancer treatment failure. The research of molecular CSC mechanisms and the regulation of their properties have been intensively studied. To date, molecular gastric cancer stem cell (GCSC) characterization remains largely incomplete. Among the GCSC-targeting approaches to overcome tumor progression, recent studies have focused their attention on microRNA (miRNA). The miRNAs are short non-coding RNAs which play an important role in the regulation of numerous cellular processes through the modulation of their target gene expression. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent findings on the role of miRNAs in GCSC regulation. In addition, we perform a meta-analysis aimed to identify novel miRNAs involved in GCSC homeostasis.
Vascular Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Prelude to the Pathological Process or a Consequence of It?
Authors: Govindpani Karan , McNamara Laura G , Smith Nicholas R , Vinnakota Chitra , Waldvogel Henry J , Faull Richard LM , Kwakowsky Andrea
Published: May 2019

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. Despite decades of research following several theoretical and clinical lines, all existing treatments for the disorder are purely symptomatic. AD research has traditionally been focused on neuronal and glial dysfunction. Although there is a wealth of evidence pointing to a significant vascular component in the disease, this angle has been relatively poorly explored. In this review, we consider the various aspects of vascular dysfunction in AD, which has a significant impact on brain metabolism and homeostasis and the clearance of β-amyloid and other toxic metabolites. This may potentially precede the onset of the hallmark pathophysiological and cognitive symptoms of the disease. Pathological changes in vessel haemodynamics, angiogenesis, vascular cell function, vascular coverage, blood-brain barrier permeability and immune cell migration may be related to amyloid toxicity, oxidative stress and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype. These vascular deficits may in turn contribute to parenchymal amyloid deposition, neurotoxicity, glial activation and metabolic dysfunction in multiple cell types. A vicious feedback cycle ensues, with progressively worsening neuronal and vascular pathology through the course of the disease. Thus, a better appreciation for the importance of vascular dysfunction in AD may open new avenues for research and therapy.
Hepatobiliary Events in Migraine Therapy with Herbs—The Case of Petadolex, A Petasites Hybridus Extract
Authors: Anderson Nora , Borlak Jürgen
Published: May 2019

Petadolex®, a defined butterbur extract has clinically proven efficacy against migraine attacks. However, spontaneous reports indicate cases of herbal induced liver injury (HILI). While most HILI patients presented mild serum biochemistry changes (<3 ULN, dose range 50 to 225 mg/day; treatment duration 4–730 days) nine developed severe HILI (average time-to-onset 103 days, ALT-range 3–153; AST 2–104-fold ULN). HILI cases resolved after medication withdrawal though two patients required liver transplantation. Liver biopsies revealed an inconsistent injury pattern, i.e. necrosis, macrovesicular steatosis, inflammation, cholestasis, and bile duct proliferation. Causality assessment rated 3 cases likely, 13 possible, 8 unlikely and 24 as unclassifiable/unclassified. Note, 22 patients reported hepatotoxic co-medications especially during periods of pain. A no-observable-adverse-effect-level at 15-fold of the maximal clinical dose (3 mg/kg/day MCD) was established for rats. At >45 and 90-fold MCD bile duct hyperplasia was observed but could not be confirmed in an explorative minipig study at 218-fold MCD. Human hepatocyte studies at 49-fold Cmax serum petasins (=active ingredient) and therapeutic Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Naratriptan concentrations evidenced liver transaminase and CYP-monooxygenase changes. Collectively, Petadolex® HILI cases are rare, idiosyncratic and frequently confounded by co-medications. A physician-supervised self-medication plan with herbs and pain relief medication is needed to minimize risk for HILI.
Beneficial Effect of Exercise on Cognitive Function during Peripheral Arterial Disease: Potential Involvement of Myokines and Microglial Anti-Inflammatory Phenotype Enhancement
Authors: Leardini-Tristao Marina , Charles Anne-Laure , Lejay Anne , Pizzimenti Mégane , Meyer Alain , Estato Vanessa , Tibiriçá Eduardo , Andres Emmanuel , Geny Bernard
Published: May 2019

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), leading to intermittent claudication, critical ischemia with rest pain, and/or tissue damage, is a public health issue associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the link between PAD, cognitive function, and whether exercise might reduce cognitive dysfunction in PAD patients, as previously observed concerning both quality of life and prognosis. This review highlights the fact that patients suffering from PAD often demonstrate cognitive dysfunction characterized by reduced performance in nonverbal reasoning, reduced verbal fluency, and decreased information processing speed and a greater risk for progression toward dementia. Further, the data presented support that physical exercise, likely through myokine secretion and microglial anti-inflammatory phenotype enhancement, might participate in the cognition protection in common clinical settings.
Suffering and Healing in the Context of LVAD Treatment
Authors: Kostick Kristin , Trejo Meredith , Blumenthal-Barby J.S.
Published: May 2019

Background: Illness narratives with meaningful, competent and targeted content have been shown to provide useful guides for patient decision-making and have positive influences on health behaviors. The use of narratives in decision aids can confer a sense of structure, plot and context to illness experiences and help patients make treatment decisions that feel sensible, informed, and transparent. Aim: This paper presents narratives of suffering and healing from patients and their caregivers with advanced heart failure who engaged in decision-making regarding Left Ventricular Device Assist (LVAD) treatment. Methods: Narratives were collected from in-depth interviews with patients who accepted (n = 15) versus declined (n = 15) LVAD implant, LVAD candidates who had received education about LVAD and were in the process of making a decision (n = 15), and caregivers (family or significant others) of LVAD patients (n = 15). Results: Participants shared “restitution” narratives that most commonly conveyed a shift from pre-implant physical suffering and “daily hell,” fatigue so intense it “hurts,” along with emotional suffering from inability to engage with the world, to post-implant improvements in mobility and quality of life, including positivity and family support, adaptation on a “journey,” “getting one’s life back” and becoming “normal” again. Conclusion: For LVAD patients, other patients’ illness narratives can help to give meaning to their own illness and treatment experiences and to more accurately forecast treatment impacts on lifestyle and identity. For clinicians, patient narratives can enhance patient–practitioner communication and understanding by highlighting perspectives and values that structure patients’ clinical experiences.
The Different Microbial Etiology of Prosthetic Joint Infections according to Route of Acquisition and Time after Prosthesis Implantation, Including the Role of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
Authors: Benito Natividad , Mur Isabel , Ribera Alba , Soriano Alex , Rodríguez-Pardo Dolors , Sorlí Luisa , Cobo Javier , Fernández-Sampedro Marta , del Toro María , Guío Laura , Praena Julia , Bahamonde Alberto , Riera Melchor , Esteban Jaime , Baraia-Etxaburu Josu , Martínez-Alvarez Jesús , Jover-Sáenz Alfredo , Dueñas Carlos , Ramos Antonio , Sobrino Beatriz , Euba Gorane , Morata Laura , Pigrau Carles , Horcajada Juan , Coll Pere , Crusi Xavier , Ariza Javier ,   on behalf of the REIPI (Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Disease) Group for the Study of Prosthetic Joint Infections/GEIO (Group for the Study of Osteoarticular Infections), SEIMC (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiolo
Published: May 2019

The aim of our study was to characterize the etiology of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs)—including multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO)—by category of infection. A multicenter study of 2544 patients with PJIs was performed. We analyzed the causative microorganisms according to the Tsukayama’s scheme (early postoperative, late chronic, and acute hematogenous infections (EPI, LCI, AHI) and “positive intraoperative cultures” (PIC)). Non-hematogenous PJIs were also evaluated according to time since surgery: <1 month, 2–3 months, 4–12 months, >12 months. AHIs were mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus (39.2%) and streptococci (30.2%). EPIs were characterized by a preponderance of virulent microorganisms (S. aureus, Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), enterococci), MDROs (24%) and polymicrobial infections (27.4%). Conversely, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Cutibacterium species were predominant in LCIs (54.5% and 6.1%, respectively) and PICs (57.1% and 15.1%). The percentage of MDROs isolated in EPIs was more than three times the percentage isolated in LCIs (7.8%) and more than twice the proportion found in AHI (10.9%). There was a significant decreasing linear trend over the four time intervals post-surgery for virulent microorganisms, MDROs, and polymicrobial infections, and a rising trend for CoNS, streptococci and Cutibacterium spp. The observed differences have important implications for the empirical antimicrobial treatment of PJIs.
Fabrication of Nanostructured Kaolinite Doped Composite Films from Silicone Rubber with Enhanced Properties
Authors: Zakaria Abdullah Muhammad , Dey Shaikat Chandra , Rahman Muhammad Mominur , Sarker Mithun , Ashaduzzaman Md. , Shamsuddin Sayed Md.
Published: May 2019

Naturally occurring nanomaterials are finding growing interests in tailoring properties of engineering polymers for advanced applications. The objective of this study was to develop environment-friendly nanocomposite films by reinforcing kaolinite nanofillers (1–10 wt%) in silicone rubber (SR) matrix using a simple solvent casting technique. Kaolinite-reinforced films showed substantial improvement in mechanical (tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and elongation at break) and thermal properties at very low filler loading (5 wt%). The improvement of solvent resistance nature of the fabricated films was another critical aspect of this study. Unfilled SR film showed ~19% weight loss when immersed in toluene for 4 h at 25 °C, whereas only ~4% weight loss was recorded in the case of 5% (w/w) kaolinite loaded film. Therefore, kaolinite has the potential to bring significant improvement in the properties of SR. This study indicates that there is plenty of room at the bottom for proper utilization of the potential of kaolinite for developing SR-based composite materials for potential applications in many industries, such as textile, household cleaning, construction, electronics, automotive, medical, etc.
Image Processing Using FPGAs
Authors: Bailey Donald G.
Published: May 2019

Nine articles have been published in this Special Issue on image processing using field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The papers address a diverse range of topics relating to the application of FPGA technology to accelerate image processing tasks. The range includes: Custom processor design to reduce the programming burden; memory management for full frames, line buffers, and image border management; image segmentation through background modelling, online K-means clustering, and generalised Laplacian of Gaussian filtering; connected components analysis; and visually lossless image compression.
Reduction of Hydrodynamic Noise of 3D Hydrofoil with Spanwise Microgrooved Surfaces Inspired by Sharkskin
Authors: Dang Zhigao , Mao Zhaoyong , Tian Wenlong
Published: May 2019

Loud hydrodynamic noise is not only potentially harmful to the health of organisms in the ocean, but it is also a threat to the survival of underwater vehicles. Different from the general noise reduction technologies at present, a new idea for a flow-induced noise reduction design with spanwise microgrooved surfaces inspired by sharkskin is introduced in this paper. Large eddy simulations (LES) combined with the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation are adopted to simulate the hydrodynamic noise of the three-dimensional (3D) hydrofoil. The accuracy of the numerical predictions is checked against existing experimental data, achieving good agreement. With the increase of observing distance, the noise reduction effect at the trailing edge direction is gradually apparent, and a maximum noise reduction of up to 7.28 dB can be observed. It is seen from the noise spectra of the biomimetic hydrofoil that the main peaks are eliminated, and the noise level at high frequency is also decreased. The cause of noise reduction lies in the secondary vortex generated in the microgrooves, which hinder the process of turbulence, consume the energy of the flow, and weaken the intensity of turbulent burst. The results of this study provide a new way to design low-noise underwater structures with hydrofoils.
A Study on the Wind Energy Potential in the Romanian Coastal Environment
Authors: Onea Florin , Rusu Liliana
Published: May 2019

At the European level, offshore wind projects are already considered a competitive market. Nevertheless, this is not yet the case of the enclosed sea basins, such as the Black Sea, where no offshore wind farm is operating at this moment. From this perspective, the objective of the present work is to identify the most suitable sites where a wind project can be developed in the Romanian coastal areas. Various parameters, such as wind speed, water depth, distance to shore, and turbine performance, are considered. A picture of the local wind characteristics is first provided considering 20 years of reanalysis data, which cover the time interval from January 1998 to December 2017. The results indicated that the best sites to implement a wind project are located in the northern sector of the Black Sea, close to the Danube Delta. It was also noticed an important variation of the wind speed between onshore and 20 km offshore, for which an increase of about 55% was estimated.
Clinical and Prognostic Significance of Cell Sensitivity to Chemotherapy Detected In Vitro on Treatment Response and Survival of Leukemia Patients
Authors: Kolesnikova Maria , Sen’kova Aleksandra , Tairova Sofia , Ovchinnikov Viktor , Pospelova Tatiana , Zenkova Marina
Published: May 2019

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in leukemia treatment. The objective of this study was to identity predictors of MDR to allow for rapid and economical assessment of the efficacy of planned antitumor therapy for leukemia patients. The study included 113 patients with acute and chronic leukemias. Prior to antitumor therapy, we measured the sensitivity of tumor cells of patients to the panel of chemotherapeutic drugs, together with MDR1 mRNA and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression as one of the mechanisms of MDR, and compared these data with the response to therapy. The scales for leukemia patients according to therapy response, drug sensitivity of tumor cells, MDR1 mRNA and P-gp levels, and the presence of unfavorable immunological and cytogenetic markers were introduced for subsequent correlation analysis. We show that the drug resistance of tumor cells of leukemia patients estimated in vitro at diagnosis correlates with a poor response to chemotherapy and is usually combined with aberrant and immature immunological markers, cytogenetic abnormalities, and a high expression of MDR1 mRNA and P-gp. All together, these factors indicate unfavorable prognosis and low survival of leukemia patients. Thus, the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs measured in vitro at diagnosis may have prognostic value for individual types of leukemia.
Exploring Predictors of Genetic Counseling and Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Findings from the 2015 U.S. National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Allen Caitlin G. , Roberts Megan , Guan Yue
Published: May 2019

Despite efforts to increase the availability of clinical genetic testing and counseling for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian (HBOC)-related cancers, these services remain underutilized in clinical settings. There have been few efforts to understand the public’s use of cancer genetic services, particularly for HBOC-related cancers. This analysis is based on data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a U.S.-based nationwide probability sample, to better understand the public’s use of HBOC-related clinical cancer genetic services. Bivariate analyses were used to compute percentages and examine the associations of familial cancer risk for three genetic services outcomes (ever had genetic counseling for cancer risk, ever discussed genetic testing for cancer risk with a provider, and ever had genetic testing for cancer risk). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association of familial cancer risk and other demographic and health variables with genetic services. Most women (87.67%) in this study were at low risk based on self-reported family history of breast and ovarian cancer, 10.65% were at medium risk, and 1.68% were at high risk. Overall, very small numbers of individuals had ever had genetic counseling (2.78%), discussed genetic testing with their physician (4.55%) or had genetic testing (1.64%). Across all genetic services outcomes, individuals who were at higher familial risk were more likely to have had genetic counseling than those at lower risk (high risk: aOR = 5.869, 95% CI = 2.911–11.835; medium risk: aOR = 4.121, 95% CI = 2.934–5.789), discussed genetic testing (high risk: aOR = 5.133, 95% CI = 2.699–9.764; medium risk: aOR = 3.649, 95% CI = 2.696–4.938), and completed genetic testing (high risk: aOR = 8.531, 95% CI = 3.666–19.851; medium risk aOR = 3.057, 95% CI = 1.835–5.094). Those who perceived themselves as being more likely to develop cancer than the average woman were more likely to engage in genetic counseling (aOR = 1.916, 95% CI = 1.334–2.752), discuss genetic testing (aOR = 3.314, 95% CI = 2.463–4.459) or have had genetic testing (aOR = 1.947, 95% CI = 1.13–3.54). Personal cancer history was also a significant predictor of likelihood to have engaged in genetic services. Our findings highlight: (1) potential under-utilization of cancer genetic services among high risk populations in the U.S. and (2) differences in genetic services use based on individual’s characteristics such as self-reported familial risk, personal history, and beliefs about risk of cancer. These results align with other studies which have noted that awareness and use of genetic services are low in the general population and likely not reaching individuals who could benefit most from screening for inherited cancers. Efforts to promote public awareness of familial cancer risk may lead to better uptake of cancer genetic services.
Multi-Period Investment Strategies under Cumulative Prospect Theory
Authors: Deng Liurui , Pirvu Traian
Published: May 2019

In this article, inspired by Shi et al., we investigate the optimal portfolio selection with one risk-free asset and one risky asset in a multiple period setting under the cumulative prospect theory (CPT) risk criterion. Compared with their study, our novelty is that we consider a stochastic benchmark and portfolio constraints. By performing a numerical analysis, we test the sensitivity of the optimal CPT investment strategies to different model parameters.
Optimism in Financial Markets: Stock Market Returns and Investor Sentiments
Authors: Limongi Concetto Chiara , Ravazzolo Francesco
Published: May 2019

This paper investigates how investor sentiment affects stock market returns and evaluates the predictability power of sentiment indices on U.S. and EU stock market returns. As regards the American example, evidence shows that investor sentiment indices have an economic and statistical predictability power on stock market returns. Concerning the European market instead, investigation provides weak results. Moreover, comparing the two markets, where investor sentiment of U.S. market tries to predict the European stock market returns, and vice versa, the analyses indicate a spillover effect from the U.S. to Europe.
A Cointegration of the Exchange Rate and Macroeconomic Fundamentals: The Case of the Indonesian Rupiah vis-á-vis Currencies of Primary Trade Partners
Authors: Salim Agus , Shi Kai
Published: May 2019

Since the appearance of persistent research finding a disconnection between the exchange rate and its macroeconomic fundamentals, the empirical debate has not stopped. Studies employ various methods to explain the presence of the exchange rate disconnect puzzle, including applying models to the case of emerging market economies. However, the exchange rate has different determinants in some countries. To revisit this puzzle in an emerging market currency, we analyzed the cointegration of the exchange rate of the Indonesian Rupiah vis-á-vis currencies of primary trade partners and its macroeconomic fundamentals. The empirical results based on Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) models show that the fundamental variables consistently drive the exchange rate. The trade surplus as an extended nonlinear variable revealed high feedback to the exchange rate volatility in the long-run.
Moving Towards Body-to-Body Sensor Networks for Ubiquitous Applications: A Survey
Authors: Meharouech Amira , Elias Jocelyne , Mehaoua Ahmed
Published: May 2019

Thanks to their arising abilities to influence the human lifestyle, along with reducing the healthcare systems’ cost, wireless body area networks (WBANs) still form a strongly growing research field. Recent advances focus on the opportunities of coexistence and communication between a group of WBANs, that will forward the sensing data, using persons as network relays, until reaching a remote analysis server or cloud servers via the Internet, forming thus a body-to-body network (BBN). Such new-style networks support a range of innovative and promising applications, including ubiquitous healthcare (U-health), interactive games, and military, to cite a few. In this paper, we first present the evolution of the single WBAN concept to the cooperative network of multiple WBANs, giving rise to the BBN concept. A synopsis of the WBAN and BBN respective standards and applications is given, and the emerging BBN challenges are highlighted. Then, we present and discuss the existing WBAN proposals, especially the candidate WBAN protocols that could be adapted and used in BBNs, focusing on four intrinsically related axes of great importance for BBN design: energy efficiency, mobility prediction, quality of service (QoS) and security. Further BBN open issues are also investigated, namely, the wireless propagation between humans carrying wearable devices, the interference, storage and privacy issues as well as the heterogeneity of BBN devices and traffic.
Statistical Properties of Energy Detection for Spectrum Sensing by Using Estimated Noise Variance
Authors: Hu Xiao-Li , Ho Pin-Han , Peng Limei
Published: May 2019

In energy detection for cognitive radio spectrum sensing, the noise variance is usually assumed given, by which a threshold is set to guarantee a desired constant false alarm rate (CFAR) or a constant detection rate (CDR). However, in practical situations, the exact information of noise variance is generally unavailable to a certain extent due to the fact that the total noise consists of time-varying thermal noise, receiver noise, and environmental noise, etc. Hence, setting the thresholds by using an estimated noise variance may result in different false alarm probabilities from the desired ones. In this paper, we analyze the basic statistical properties of the false alarm probability by using estimated noise variance, and propose a method to obtain more suitable CFAR thresholds for energy detection. Specifically, we first come up with explicit descriptions on the expectations of the resultant probability, and then analyze the upper bounds of their variance. Based on these theoretical preparations, a new method for precisely obtaining the CFAR thresholds is proposed in order to assure that the expected false alarm probability can be as close to the predetermined as possible. All analytical results derived in this paper are testified by corresponding numerical experiments.
Assessing the Role of the Perceived Impact of Climate Change on National Adaptation Policy: The Case of Rice Farming in Indonesia
Authors: Rondhi Mohammad , Fatikhul Khasan Ahmad , Mori Yasuhiro , Kondo Takumi
Published: May 2019

Climate change (CC) is one of the primary threats to the agricultural sector in developing countries. Several empirical studies have shown that the implementation of adaptation practices can reduce the adverse effects of CC. The likelihood of farmers performing adaptation practices is mostly influenced by the degree of CC impact that they perceive. Thus, we identified the characteristics of farmers that affect the degree of the CC impact that they perceive. We used data from the Indonesian Rice Farm Household survey consisting of 87,330 farmers. An ordered probit regression model was used to estimate the effect of each variable on the degree of the perceived impact of CC. The results of this study confirm those of previous empirical studies. Several variables that have been identified as having a positive effect on farmer adaptation practices, such as farmer education, land tenure, irrigation infrastructure, cropping system, chemical fertilizer application, access to extension services, and participation in farmer groups, negatively affect the degree of the perceived impact of CC. However, a different result was found in the estimation of the gender variable. We found that female farmers have a higher CC resilience and ability to withstand climatic shocks and risks than male farmers. Female farmers have a more positive perception of future farming conditions than male farmers. We recommend the implementation of a national adaptation policy that use and expand the channel of agricultural extension services to deliver the planned adaptation policy, and prioritizes farmers with insecure land tenure. Additionally, we encourage the increasing of female involvement in the CC adaptation practices and decision-making processes.
Performance Evaluation of MQL Parameters Using Al2O3 and MoS2 Nanofluids in Hard Turning 90CrSi Steel
Authors: Duc Tran Minh , Long Tran The , Chien Tran Quyet
Published: May 2019

Hard machining has gained much attention to be an alternative solution for many traditional finish grinding operations due to high productivity, ease to adapt to complex part contours, the elimination of cutting fluids, good surface quality, and the reduction of machine tool investment. However, the enormous amount of heat generated from the cutting zone always requires the high-grade inserts and limits the cutting conditions. The MQL technique with nanofluids assisted for hard machining helps to improve the cutting performance while ensuring environmentally friendly characteristics. This paper focuses on the development of MQL technique by adding Al2O3 and MoS2 nanoparticles to the base fluids (soybean oil and water-based emulsion) for the hard turning of 90CrSi steel (60÷62 HRC). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to evaluate the performance of MQL parameters in terms of cutting forces and surface roughness. The study reveals that a better performance of coated carbide inserts is observed by using MQL with Al2O3 and MoS2 nanofluids. In addition, the fluid type, nanoparticles and nanoparticle concentration have a strong effect on cutting performance. The interaction influence among the investigated variables is also studied in order to provide the technical guides for further studies using Al2O3 and MoS2 nanofluids.
5-[(Z)-5-Chloro-2-oxoindolin-3-ylidene]-3-{(E)-[(4-hydroxyphenyl)imino]methyl}-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one
Authors: Safer Abdelmounaim , Khaldoun Khadidja , Saidi-Besbes Salima
Published: May 2019

N-aminorhodanine as well as isatin are highly solicited motifs known for their wide potential for biological activity. The objective of this work was to synthesize hybrid molecules as kinase inhibitors from these two motifs. In order to study the reactivity of the two active centers in aminorhodanine (N-amino group and the 5-methylene group) toward two carbonyl groups (aromatic aldehyde and ketone of isatin), we decided to carry out a one-pot multi-component reaction by simultaneously introducing aminorhodanine, isatin, and an aromatic aldehyde in ethanol in the presence of AcOEt. Under these conditions, this reaction led to a single adduct. The reaction product structure was confirmed by 1H, 13C-NMR, X-ray single crystal analysis, and high-resolution mass HRMS analysis. As a result, the method used has been very effective and totally stereo- and regioselective.
Investigation on the Flame Retardant Properties and Fracture Toughness of DOPO and Nano-SiO2 Modified Epoxy Novolac Resin and Evaluation of Its Combinational Effects
Authors: Häublein Markus , Peter Karin , Bakis Gökhan , Mäkimieni Roi , Altstädt Volker , Möller Martin
Published: May 2019

In this study, the flame-retardant, thermal and mechanical properties of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and nano-SiO2 modified epoxy novolac resin is evaluated, and the combinational effects of both additives are verified. As a hardener, an isophorone diamine (IPDA) and polyetheramine blend is stoichiometrically added to obtain a low viscous epoxy resin system, suitable for resin injection and infusion techniques. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and the silica dispersion quality is affected by the DOPO modification and the nano silica particles. The flame-retardant (FR) and mechanical properties of the additives are investigated separately. The fracture toughness could be increased with the incorporation of both FR additives; however, the effect is deteriorated for higher DOPO amount which is referred to silica particle agglomeration and consequently reduced shear yielding mechanism. Flame-retardant properties, especially the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and the total heat release (THR) could be decreased from 1373.0 kW/m2 of neat novolac to 646.6 kW/m2 measured by resins with varying phosphorous and silica content. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements show the formation of a high temperature stable char layer above 800 °C which is attributed to both additives. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are taken to get deeper information of the flame-retardant mechanism, showing a dense and stable char layer for a certain DOPO silica mixture which restrains the combustible gases from the burning zone in the cone calorimeter test and influences the fire behavior of the epoxy resin.
Assessment of the Condition of Wharf Timber Sheet Wall Material by Means of Selected Non-Destructive Methods
Authors: Nowak Tomasz , Karolak Anna , Sobótka Maciej , Wyjadłowski Marek
Published: May 2019

This paper presents an assessment of the condition of wood coming from a wharf timber sheet wall after 70 years of service in a (sea) water environment. Samples taken from the structure’s different zones, i.e., the zone impacted by waves and characterised by variable water-air conditions, the zone immersed in water and the zone embedded in the ground, were subjected to non-destructive or semi-destructive tests. Also, the basic parameters of the material, such as its density and moisture content, were determined. Moreover, the ultrasonic, stress wave and drilling resistance methods were used. Then, an X-ray microtomographic analysis was carried out. The results provided information about the structure of the material on the micro and macroscale, and the condition of the material was assessed on their basis. Also, correlations between the particular parameters were determined. Moreover, the methods themselves were evaluated with regard to their usefulness for the in situ testing of timber and to estimate, on this basis, the mechanical parameters needed for the static load analysis of the whole structure.
Parametric Analysis on the Circular CFST Column and RBS Steel Beam Joints
Authors: Li Rui , Yu Yang , Samali Bijan , Li Chengyu
Published: May 2019

This research analyzes the results of parametric studies of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns to the reduced beam section (RBS) beam joint with through diaphragm, using ANSYS. Several indices that are able to characterize the cyclic behavior of the composite joints are investigated, including the stiffness degradation, strength deterioration, stress distribution, and energy dissipation capacity. Four main model parameters, including the distance from the diaphragm edge to the cut start, the cut length, the cut depth, and inner diameter of through diaphragm, are analyzed via comparative studies to investigate their impacts on seismic properties of the joint. Finally, the orthogonal experiment is conducted to study the effects of these parameters on the strength and energy dissipation, the results of which are capable of achieving optimal seismic behavior of the joints.
HYRON—An Installation to Produce High Purity Hydrogen and Soft Iron Powder from Cellulose Waste
Authors: Stefanoiu Dan , Culita Janetta , Stanasila Octavian Nicolae
Published: May 2019

The paper aims to describe a new technology of producing a gaseous mixture of type H2 + CO from cellulose waste that generates high purity hydrogen, without using technical oxygen. The physico-chemical process takes place in an installation designed and built for this purpose, namely HYRON, whose scheme and functionality are presented in the article, as well. The process relies on natural decomposition of cellulose waste into H2, CO, CO2 and water vapor, as a result of overheating. In subsidiary, the HYRON installation allows producing soft iron powder, with very low carbon content, from shredded iron ore, by using part of the obtained hydrogen as reducing agent. The chemical reactions underlying the gasification and redox processes, as well as the design approach of the various parts of the HYRON plant, are described in the article at length. The experimental tests made with the installation prototype (after proper calibration) showed that the resulted hydrogen had a purity of at least 99%, while the soft iron powder had over 88% pure iron in the composition. After a short economical analysis, it turned out that the costs of such products are reasonable.
Fluoride Fiber-Based Plasmonic Biosensor with Two-Dimensional Material Heterostructures: Enhancement of Overall Figure-of-Merit via Optimization of Radiation Damping in Near Infrared Region
Authors: Sharma Anuj K. , Pandey Ankit Kumar , Kaur Baljinder
Published: May 2019

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure materials show captivating properties for application in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. A fluoride fiber-based SPR sensor is proposed and simulated with the inclusion of a 2D heterostructure as the analyte interacting layer. The monolayers of two 2D heterostructures (BlueP/MoS2 and BlueP/WS2, respectively) are considered in near infrared (NIR). In NIR, an HBL (62HfF4-33BaF2-5LaF3) fluoride glass core and NaF clad are considered. The emphasis is placed on figure of merit (FOM) enhancement via optimization of radiation damping through simultaneous tuning of Ag thickness (dm) and NIR wavelength (λ) at the Ag-2D heterostructure–analyte interfaces. Field distribution analysis is performed in order to understand the interaction of NIR signal with analyte at optimum radiation damping (ORD) condition. While the ORD leads to significantly larger FOM for both, the BlueP/MoS2 (FOM = 19179.69 RIU−1 (RIU: refractive index unit) at dm = 38.2 nm and λ = 813.4 nm)-based sensor shows massively larger FOM compared with the BlueP/WS2 (FOM = 7371.30 RIU−1 at dm = 38.2 nm and λ = 811.2 nm)-based sensor. The overall sensing performance was more methodically evaluated in terms of the low degree of photodamage of the analyte, low signal scattering, high power loss, and large field variation. The BlueP/MoS2-based fiber SPR sensor under ORD conditions opens up new paths for biosensing with highly enhanced overall performance.
Prediction and Sensitivity Analysis of Bubble Dissolution Time in 3D Selective Laser Sintering Using Ensemble Decision Trees
Authors: Ly Hai-Bang , Monteiro Eric , Le Tien-Thinh , Le Vuong Minh , Dal Morgan , Regnier Gilles , Pham Binh Thai
Published: May 2019

The presence of defects like gas bubble in fabricated parts is inherent in the selective laser sintering process and the prediction of bubble shrinkage dynamics is crucial. In this paper, two artificial intelligence (AI) models based on Decision Trees algorithm were constructed in order to predict bubble dissolution time, namely the Ensemble Bagged Trees (EDT Bagged) and Ensemble Boosted Trees (EDT Boosted). A metadata including 68644 data were generated with the help of our previously developed numerical tool. The AI models used the initial bubble size, external domain size, diffusion coefficient, surface tension, viscosity, initial concentration, and chamber pressure as input parameters, whereas bubble dissolution time was considered as output variable. Evaluation of the models’ performance was achieved by criteria such as Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The results showed that EDT Bagged outperformed EDT Boosted. Sensitivity analysis was then conducted thanks to the Monte Carlo approach and it was found that three most important inputs for the problem were the diffusion coefficient, initial concentration, and bubble initial size. This study might help in quick prediction of bubble dissolution time to improve the production quality from industry.
Effect of Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Properties of Clad Plates 316L/Q370qE
Authors: Wang Zimeng , Kang Shumei , Xu Meiling , Cheng Yanqiang , Dong Ming
Published: May 2019

Mechanical properties of Q370qE carbon steel can be improved by cladding it with 316L stainless steel. After rolling these materials together, microstructure, hardness, shear strength, and corrosion properties of the cladded metals were evaluated. Hardness and shear tests were performed according to appropriate standards to evaluate the bonds. The results show that the remarkable diffusion of Ni and Cr formed a hard transition zone. The width of this diffusion zone increases with increasing temperature. The shear strength of the clad interface reached a minimum of 385 MPa. In addition, the surfaces of samples were examined by neutral salt spray (NSS) tests and potentiodynamic polarization tests to examine corrosion behavior. The 316L side primarily exhibited pitting corrosion, while the Q370qE side was dominated by uniform corrosion.