bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“A Different Way”: The Experiences of Latinx Parents with School Counselors
Authors: Tuttle Malti , Haskins Natoya
Published: May 2020

This phenomenological study aimed to identify the essence of the lived experiences of Latinx parents as they relate to school counselors. A Relational Cultural Theory (RCT) Framework was used to explore the experiences of Latinx parents with school counselors. Twelve Latinx parents were interviewed from three counties in a Southeastern state to share their experiences with school counselors to provide recommendations for practice to the school counseling specialty and school counselors in training. The five overarching themes identified were: (1) Disconnections Between Educational and Cultural Systems; (2) Growth Fostering Relationships Between Latino/a Parents and School Counselors; (3) Sense of Worth Based on Quality of Experiences with School Counselors; (4) Desired Connections Based on Experiences with School Counselors; and (5) Knowledge of the School Counselor Role Built on Mutuality. These findings provided insight as to how the parents experienced their interactions with school counselors to support a social justice call to action.
Göç ve Koronavirüs: Nüfus Hareketliliği Verileri Üzerinden KOVİD-19 Salgınının Analizi
Authors: Sirkeci Ibrahim , Yüceşahin M. Murat
Published: May 2020

Korona virüs salgınıyla ilgili tepkiler, önlemler ve söylemler dünya çapında önemli farklılıklar göstermektedir. İtalya'da olduğu gibi bazı ülkeler vaka ve ölüm sayılarının çok dramatik olduğu bir durumdayken, 10 Mart 2020 tarihi itibariyle Türkiye ve Endonezya gibi ülkelerde çok az sayıda vaka olduğu veya hiç vaka bulunmadığı açıklanmıştı. KOVİD-19 salgınının Çin'de başladığı ve yayıldığı konusunda bir uzlaşma olmasa da ilk vakalar Wuhan kentinde görüldüğü açıklandı. Bu bağlamda Wuhanla ilişkili seyahat yoğunluğu / hacminin yanı sıra Çinle bağlantılı uluslararası göç stoklarını ve/veya insan hareketliliğini anlamak önemli gözükmektedir. Bu çalışmada, 2019 yılı nın sonunda ortaya çıkışından beri Wuhan merkezli uluslararası seyahat hacminden hareketle KOVİD-19 salgınının yayılmasını insan hareketliliği / göç yoğunluğu modeliyle açıklamayı amaçladık. Araştırmamızda, ülkelerdeki Çin kökenli göçmen stoku nüfus ile Çin'deki uluslararası göçmen stokunun varlığının, diğer makro faktörlerle etkileşerek salgının dünya çapında yayılmasının tahmininde önemli göstergeler olduğunu ortaya koymaktayız. Bu noktadan hareketle çalışmamızda, göçmen stoku verilerinin ile seyahat hacmi verilerinin insan hareketliliği koridorlarına (köken ve hedef bölgelere) göre izlenmesinin, ülkelerin KOVİD-19 ve benzeri salgınların yayılmasını kontrol altına almak için daha erken önlemler alabilmede önemli bir faktör olabileceğini savunmaktayız.
ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH
Analysing the Spread of COVİD-19 Using Human Mobility Data
Reactions, measures as well as discourses dealing with the current pandemic vary significantly across the world. While some countries were completely locked down, as was the case in Italy, some had claimed to have very few or no cases, as was the case in Turkey and Indonesia by March 10th, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak is allegedly started in China and the spread has been linked to those travelling from Wuhan in Hubei province in Central China. Therefore, it is important to understand the travel density/volume of passengers carried as well as routes from Wuhan through connected main regional air travel hubs across China. In this study, we developed a model on migration and travel intensity that can explain outbreak and spread of COVID-19 since it appeared at the end of 2019. We show that the presence of migrant stock populations of Chinese origin and the immigrant stock in China are useful indicators in the prediction of the spread of the outbreak worldwide in the event of interaction with several other macro factors. We argue that monitoring immigrant stock data and travel volume data based on human mobility corridors (i.e. origins and destinations), countries could have been better prepared and taken early measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Islamic Communication Model in Therapeutic Communication Practices at Adam Malik Hospital
Authors: Ritonga Syafruddin , Zamri  , Riadi Selamat , Siregar Zakaria
Published: May 2020

Studies on Therapeutic Communication, especially its relationship to Islamic communication, are still rarely found in the field. This study aims to see how the practice of Islamic communication can be done well by doctors and nurses. This research uses a qualitative approach. The values of Islamic communication in Therapeutic communication can be seen from the way communication is carried out by doctors and nurses with their patients through ethics and good language. The implementation model of Islamic communication in therapeutic communication produces a marker communication model, that is, communication carried out on the basis of the awareness of the medical team. This communication model is not formally implemented, but in substance has similarities with the value of Islamic communication.
X-Phi and Impartiality Thought Experiments: Investigating the Veil of Ignorance
Authors: Paulo Norbert , Pölzler Thomas
Published: May 2020

This paper discusses “impartiality thought experiments”, i.e., thought experiments that attempt to generate intuitions which are unaffected by personal characteristics such as age, gender or race. We focus on the most prominent impartiality thought experiment, the Veil of Ignorance (VOI), and show that both in its original Rawlsian version and in a more generic version, empirical investigations can be normatively relevant in two ways: First, on the assumption that the VOI is effective and robust, if subjects dominantly favor a certain normative judgment behind the VOI this provides evidence in favor of that judgment; if, on the other hand, they do not dominantly favor a judgment this reduces our justification for it. Second, empirical investigations can also contribute to assessing the effectiveness and robustness of the VOI in the first place, thereby supporting or undermining its applications across the board.
Bone Response to Loading in Mice With Targeted Disruption of the Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein Gene
Authors: SENGUL A. , MOHAN S. , KESAVAN C.
Published: May 2020

Exercise induced bone response although established, little is known about the molecular components that mediate bone response to mechanical loading (ML). In our recent QTL study, we identified one such possible molecular component responding to ML: cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). To address the COMP role in mediating ML effects on bone formation, COMP expression was evaluated as a function of duration and age in response to ML in female B6 mice. A 9N load was applied using a four-point bending device at 2Hz frequency for 36 cycles, once per day for 2-, 4- and 12-days on the right tibia. The left tibia was used as an internal control. Loading caused an increase in COMP expression by 1.3-, 2- and 4-fold respectively after 2-, 4- and 12-days of loading. This increase was also seen in 16 and 36-week old mice. Based on these findings, we next used COMP knockout (KO) mice to evaluate the cause and effect relationship. Quantitative analysis revealed 2 weeks of ML induced changes in vBMD and bone size in the KO mice (5.9 % and 21 % vs. unloaded bones) was not significantly different from control mice (7 % and 24 % vs. unloaded bones). Our results imply that COMP is not a key upstream mediator of the anabolic effects of ML on the skeleton.
Impact of Variants Within Seven Candidate Genes on Statin Treatment Efficacy
Authors: VRABLÍK M. , HUBÁČEK J. A. , DLOUHÁ D. , LÁNSKÁ V. , RYNEKROVÁ J. , ZLATOHLÁVEK L. , PRUSÍKOVÁ M. , ČEŠKA R. , ADÁMKOVÁ V.
Published: May 2020

Statins are the most commonly used drugs in patients with dyslipidemia. Among the patients, a significant inter-individual variability with supposed strong genetic background in statin treatment efficacy has been observed. Genome wide screenings detected variants within the CELSR2/PSRC1/SORT1, CILP2/PBX4, APOB, APOE/C1/C4, HMGCoA reductase, LDL receptor and PCSK9 genes that are among the candidates potentially modifying response to statins. Ten variants (SNPs) within these genes (rs599838, rs646776, rs16996148, rs693, rs515135, rs4420638, rs12654264, rs6511720, rs6235, rs11206510) were analyzed in 895 (46 % men, average age 60.3±13.1 years) patients with dyslipidemia treated with equipotent doses of statins (~90 % on simvastatin or atorvastatin, doses 10 or 20 mg) and selected 672 normolipidemic controls (40 % men, average age 46.5 years). Lipid parameters were available prior to the treatment and after 12 weeks of therapy. Statin treatment resulted in a significant decrease of both total cholesterol (7.00±1.53→5.15±1.17 mmol/l, P<0.0001) and triglycerides (2.03±1.01→1.65±1.23 mmol/l, P<0.0005). Rs599838 variant was not detected in first analyzed 284 patients. After adjustment for multiple testing, there was no significant association between individual SNPs and statin treatment efficacy. Only the rs4420638 (APOE/C1/C4 gene cluster) G allele carriers seem to show more profitable change of HDL cholesterol (P=0.007 without and P=0.06 after adjustment). Results demonstrated that, although associated with plasma TC and LDL cholesterol per se, variants within the CELSR2/PSRC1/SORT1, CILP2/PBX4, APOB, APOE/C1/C4, HMGCoA reductase, LDL receptor and PCSK9 genes do not modify therapeutic response to statins.
Analysis, Design and Implementation of a Digital Marketing Strategy for Ecommerce
Authors: Sukandar Bernhart Farras , Galinium Maulahikmah , Mukadis Panji
Published: May 2020

This paper is an Analysis, Design and Implementation of a Digital Marketing Strategy for eCommerce. Marketers are faced with new challenges and opportunities within this digital age. Digital marketing is the utilization of electronic media by the marketers to promote the products or services into the market. The main objective of digital marketing is attracting users and allowing them to interact with the brand through digital media. This article focuses on the importance of digital marketing for both marketers and consumers. We examine the effect of digital marketing on MerekIndonesia.com. This study has described multiple channels of digital marketing, effectiveness of it and the impact it has on MerekIndonesia.com visitor. The examined sample consists of six digital marketing channel to prove the effectiveness of digital marketing. Collected data has been analyzed with the help of various statistical tools and techniques.
THE ACTIVE LEARNING STRATEGY OF EVERY TYPE IS A TEACHER HERE TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Authors: Candra Oriza , Yanto Doni Tri Putra
Published: May 2020

This study aims to determine the improvement of student learning outcomes in Analyzing Circuits (MRL) subjects in class X TDTL SMK N 1 Padang, by using the active learning strategies type of Everyone is a Teacher Here. This type of research was quasi-experimental. The subjects of the research was class X TDTL with 32 students. The object of the research was active learning strategies type of Everyone Is a Teacher Here. The instrument used was the achievement test by using multiple-choice questions that had been tested for validity and reliability. From the results of the research, data showed the average value of student learning outcomes in the average pretest was 57. While at posttest by applying Active Learning Strategies Everyone is a Teacher Here, it showed an increase of 17.5 points, with an average of 74.5. The learning outcomes were tested by using Gainscore’s formula (g) which obtained 0.337 g with middle score criteria.
Gentrifikasi dan Akar-akar Masalah Sosial: Menakar Identifikasi, Diagnosis, dan Treatment Proses Gentrifikasi sebagai Masalah Sosial
Authors: Pratiyudha Pinurba Parama
Published: May 2020

Gentrifikasi pada dasarnya adalah perubahan kondisi demografi dan sosio spasial kawasan perkotaan. Perubahan yang terjadi membawa munculnya eskalasi-eskalasi pergolakan masyarakat dalam melawan proses tersebut. Transformasi pola surplus nilai di kawasan perkotaan dan keberperanan pemerintah menciptakan kawasan perkotaan yang marketable menjadi alasan dari munculnya proses tersebut. Artikel ini bermaksud untuk mengidentifikasi gentrifikasi sebagai bentuk dari masalah sosial yang menyebabkan perubahan rupa kondisi sosial kawasan perkotaan. Terjadi transformasi dari kelas pekerja atau daerah kosong di tengah kota menjadi kawasan hunian kelas menengah dan kawasan komersial dengan masuknya modal dan kelas menengah atas. Perubahan ini kemudian membawa gentrifikasi sebagai masalah sosial yang bersifat sistemik. Sehingga tulisan ini juga mengangkat terkait bagaimana diagnosa atas gentrifikasi sebagai suatu bentuk masalah sosial di kawasan perkotaan. Diagnosis yang dibangun memperlihatkan pula sebagai masalah sosial yang berakar dari system blame approach. Proses gentrifikasi muncul dari keberadaan sistem produksi ruang yang timpang, dengan bentuk relasi produksi yang terlalu dominan oleh salah satu aktor. Berikutnya tulisan ini menganalisa bentuk-bentuk treatment yang tepat dalam penciptaan inklusifitas pembangunan sosial di ruang perkotaan. Lebih lanjut lagi tulisan ini berargumen bahwa solusi hak atas kota sebagai wadah yang tepat dalam mengatasi gentrifikasi sebagai masalah sosial yang tersistem.
Features of simplified calculations at surveys of construction structures existing buildings (problems of admissibility and validity)
Authors: Baranov P. Yu. , Koshelieva N.M. , Bashkirov H.B.
Published: May 2020

The relevance of the discussed problem is shown. The recent researches and publications on the topic are analyzed. The tasks are developed for the specified goals achievement. For the most commonly used load-bearing structures the specific features of simplified calculations in the process of buildings and structures technical state inspection are considered. The civil structures simplified calculations are classified and systematized. The simplifications systematization and their admissibility justification are carried out, which promote the achievement of the calculations reliability and efficiency maximum level. The simplifications in the design schemes drawing up and existing loads and impacts determination, as well as the simplified calculations execution are analyzed. The area of simplified calculations admissibility is identified. The algorithm (stages) for civil structures simplified calculations is developed. Some example questions to a forensic expert are considered. The questions can be predicted and resolved based on the materials of this paper by means of the civil structures simplified calculations in the course of civil engineering forensic studies. Recommendations for further researches on the topic are provided. The study purpose is to substantiate the simplified calculations permissible range for the most commonly used load-bearing structures. The scientific novelty of the work is that for the first time the validity, admissibility and systematization problems of the load-bearing civil structures simplified calculations are considered. The study results are of practical importance for the construction engineering researches on the structures technical state assessment and forensics examinations.
The Interaction of Rights of Relief and Unjustified Enrichment in Scots Law
Authors: West Euan
Published: May 2020

In Scots law, a cautioner (i.e. a guarantor) who pays the guaranteed debt enjoys so-called “rights of relief” against the other parties liable for that debt: namely, a right to full compensation from the principal debtor (“total relief”) and a right to partial compensation from co-cautioners (“pro rata relief”). There has been an increasing tendency on the part of the Scottish courts to treat these rights of relief as a branch of the law of unjustified enrichment. This analysis, according to which a cautioner's payment of the guaranteed debt enriches the principal debtor and co-cautioners unjustifiably, thereby entitling the cautioner to redress, has been subject to academic criticism, with “enrichment” scholars arguing that rights of relief and unjustified enrichment are distinct areas of law. Building on the work of these scholars, this article explores the precise nature of the distinction between “enrichment” and “relief”, its implications for litigants faced with the choice whether to pursue a case on the basis of “relief” or “enrichment” and the extent to which these legal areas perform complementary roles.
Ultrasounds Used as Promoters of Heat-Transfer Enhancement of Natural Convection in Dielectric Fluids for the Thermal Control of Electronic Equipment
Authors: Bartoli Carlo , Franco Alessandro , Macucci Massimo
Published: May 2020

We present an experimental investigation of the effect of ultrasound application to increase the heat-transfer coefficient for natural convection of a dielectric fluid. An experimental analysis is carried out to estimate the increase of the convective heat-transfer coefficient between an electronic board and a refrigerant fluid, the Fluorinert Electronic Fluid FC-72. For this purpose, an experimental apparatus composed of an electronic board, its electronic control circuit, and data acquisition systems have been designed and implemented. The data collected appear to confirm in some situations of practical interest the enhancement effect of the convective heat-transfer coefficient in connection with the use of ultrasound. The most favorable condition was observed with the fluid in quite low subcooled conditions.
Chemical Variation and Implications on Repellency Activity of Tephrosia vogelii (Hook f.) Essential Oils Against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky
Authors: Kerebba Nasifu , Oyedeji Adebola O. , Byamukama Robert , Kuria Simon K. , Oyedeji Opeoluwa O.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this research is to characterize the variation in the chemical composition of Tephrosia vogelii essential oils from different locations and to investigate the repellency of essential oils against Sitophilus zeamais. Chemical variability in the components of T. vogelii essential oils from eastern Uganda was identified using principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). Based on the profiles of the compounds of the farnesene family, three chemotypes were found: farnesol (chemotype 1), springene (β-springene and α-springene) and β-farnesene were all distinctive in chemotype 2 and a mixed variety of farnesol and springene. In the three cases, alkyl benzenes (o-xylene, m-xylene and ethylbenzene) were significant components in the oil. The compounds 1,4-dihydroxy-p-menth-2-ene, 6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-one, and 3,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-carboxaldehyde were other prominent constituents. The yields of the essential oils did not vary significantly, however the chemical composition varied with harvesting time during the rainy and dry seasons. In choice repellency tests, chemotype 1 and chemotype 2 were more active against Sitophilus zeamais than the mixed chemotype. Farnesol was found to be effective only at a higher concentration as a repellent against S. zeamais. We therefore hypothesize that farnesol is a key player in this and we demonstrated the weak repellency of this compound. However, further study that aims to optimize and standardize the varieties and harvesting period is needed for recommendation to smallhold farmers.
Berry Quality of Grapevine under Water Stress as Affected by Rootstock–Scion Interactions through Gene Expression Regulation
Authors: Zombardo Alessandra , Mica Erica , Puccioni Sergio , Perria Rita , Valentini Paolo , Mattii Giovan Battista , Cattivelli Luigi , Storchi Paolo
Published: May 2020

Despite phenotypic plasticity that allows the adaptation to harsh environments, when vines experience severe abiotic stresses, they can suffer from metabolic damages affecting grape production and quality. Grafting is an affordable strategy to mitigate these negative consequences since the rootstock can increase the drought tolerance in the scion. This work explored the effects of pre-veraison water deficit on vines grafted on different rootstocks (Mgt 101-14 and 1103 Paulsen) to obtain physiological, biochemical, and molecular information about the influence on grape quality. Repeated measurements were carried out to assess vine physiology, production, technological maturity, and berry phenolic composition. qRT-PCRs were executed on berry skins at maturity to assess the expression levels of ten genes and five miRNAs involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Water stress caused significant alterations in grape technological maturity. The rootstock effect was not detected in primary metabolism while it was well defined in the accumulation of phenolic compounds in berries (such as anthocyanins). Finally, significant differences were identified in gene and miRNA expression between water-stressed and well-watered vines. In conclusion, the response to water stress can be modulated by rootstocks, which mainly act by regulating secondary metabolism, especially in grapes.
Effects of Ultraviolet Light Supplementation on Pekin Duck Production, Behavior, and Welfare
Authors: House Gabrielle M. , Sobotik Eric B. , Nelson Jill R. , Archer Gregory S.
Published: May 2020

Ducks, like other domestic poultry species, can visualize the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the light spectrum; however, the importance of UV light radiation in artificially lit duck growout facilities remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of UV light supplementation on Pekin duck production parameters, eye development, stress, and fear. Pekin ducks were reared with light-emitting diode (LED) lights supplemented with UV light or just LED lights (control). There were no differences in body weight (p = 0.32), feed conversion ratio (p = 0.38), or gait score (p = 0.89). Differences in eye morphology were observed, with ducks reared under UV light having narrower (12.3 ± 0.06632 mm; p = 0.010) and lighter (1.46 ± 0.01826 g; p = 0.025) eyes than the control (12.5 ± 0.05583 mm; 1.53 ± 0.02386 g). Ducks reared in UV environments had lower acute and chronic stress susceptibility with lower plasma corticosterone (6317 ± 593.79 pg/mL; p = 0.024), heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (0.43 ± 0.02889; p = 0.035), and composite asymmetry (0.58 ± 0.0298; p = 0.002) than control ducks (9242 ± 1120.7 pg/mL; 0.54 ± 0.04212; 0.76 ± 0.03726 mm, respectively). Ultraviolet ducks had a faster latency for the first head movement during tonic immobility (61.28 ± 9.4863 s, p = 0.026) and required more attempts to induce tonic immobility (1.71 ± 0.07333, p = 0.018) than control ducks (100.7 ± 14.846 s and 1.48 ± 0.06478, respectively). There were no differences in inversion testing (p = 0.91). These results indicate that UV lighting can lower stress and fear responses in Pekin ducks and can therefore increase welfare. Additionally, this study emphasizes the importance of choosing correct artificial lighting for all poultry species.
Transporter-Mediated Mitochondrial GSH Depletion Leading to Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Rescue with αB Crystallin Peptide in RPE Cells
Authors: Sreekumar Parameswaran G , Wang Mo , Spee Christine , Sadda Srinivas R. , Kannan Ram
Published: May 2020

Mitochondrial glutathione (mGSH) is critical for cell survival. We recently reported the localization of OGC (SLC25A11) and DIC (SLC25A10) in hRPE. Herein, we investigated the suppression of OGC and DIC and the effect of αB crystallin chaperone peptide co-treatment on RPE cell death and mitochondrial function. Non-polarized and polarized human RPE were co-treated for 24 h with phenyl succinic acid (PS, 5 mM) or butyl malonic acid (BM, 5 mM) with or without αB cry peptide (75 µg/mL). mGSH levels, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and ETC proteins were analyzed. The effect of mGSH depletion on cell death and barrier function was determined in polarized RPE co-treated with PS, OGC siRNA or BM and αB cry peptide. Inhibition of OGC and DIC resulted in a significant decrease in mGSH and increased apoptosis. mGSH depletion significantly decreased mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, and altered ETC protein expression. αB cry peptide restored mGSH, attenuated apoptosis, upregulated ETC proteins, and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics and biogenesis. mGSH transporters exhibited differential polarized localization: DIC (apical) and OGC (apical and basal). Inhibition of mGSH transport compromised barrier function which was partially restored by αB cry peptide. Our findings suggest mGSH augmentation by its transporters may be a valuable approach in AMD therapy.
Study of Antioxidant Activity of Some Medicinal Plants Having High Content of Caffeic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Tajner-Czopek Agnieszka , Gertchen Mateusz , Rytel Elżbieta , Kita Agnieszka , Kucharska Alicja Z. , Sokół-Łętowska Anna
Published: May 2020

Recently, there has been increasing interest in medicinal plants, due to their content of health-promoting compounds, e.g., caffeic acids derivatives. Hence, the aim of this work was to study the antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from the following medicinal plants: caraway (Carum carvi L.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.), lovage (Levisticum officinale L.), tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) and white mulberry (Morus alba L.), characterized by their high content of caffeic acid derivatives. The water-ethanolic extracts were characterized on average by about 9 times higher contents of caffeic acid derivatives level than water extracts. Both in water and water-ethanolic extracts, the dominant phenolic acid was 5-CQA (5-O-caffeoylquinic acid) and 3,4-diCQA (3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid), then CCA-1 (chicoric acid isomer 1), which appeared only in water-ethanolic extracts. Extracts from dandelion contained compounds such as CTA (caftaric acid), CCA-1 (chicoric acid isomer 1) and CCA-2 (chicoric acid isomer 2), which were not detected in other plant extracts examined in this work. The water-ethanolic extracts from coltsfoot and tarragon were characterized by a high content of di-caffeoylquinic acids, especially 3,4-diCQA and 3,5-diCQA, respectively. It has been stated that there is a positive correlation between caffeic acid derivatives and antioxidant activity (radical cation scavenging activity (ABTS) and radical scavenging activity (DPPH)), especially in water-ethanolic extract of medicinal plants.
Evaluation of Apple Pomace Flour Obtained Industrially by Dehydration as a Source of Biomolecules with Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Antiobesity Effects
Authors: Gorjanović Stanislava , Micić Darko , Pastor Ferenc , Tosti Tomislav , Kalušević Ana , Ristić Slavica , Zlatanović Snežana
Published: May 2020

Apple pomace flour (APF) obtained at industrial scale level by the application of innovative technological process (dehydration (5 h, T ≤ 55 °C), grinding (300 µm)) was evaluated as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidative, antiobesity and antidiabetic effects. Proximate composition, individual (HPLC–DAD–MS/MS) and total phenols (TPC) as well as flavonoids content (TFC), antioxidant (AO) activity (DPPH, ABTS, HPMC), water and oil holding capacity (WHC and OHC) of APFs obtained from apple pomace from mixed and individual apple cultivars grown conventionally and organically were compared. The effect of APF supplementation on the glycaemic status and glucose tolerance (oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)) of C57BL/6J mice exposed to high-fat and sucrose diet was examined. High K content (4.2–6.4 g/kg), dietary fibres (35–45 g/100 g), TPC (4.6–8.1 mg GAE/g), TFC (18.6–34.6 mg QE/g), high water and oil holding capacity (4.7–6.4 and 1.3–1.6 g/g) were observed in the APFs. Content of major phenols (phlorizin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin), TPC and TFC correlated highly with prominent AO activity. APF supplementation lowered the increase of body weight gain and blood glucose, and improved glucose tolerance significantly. Health-promoting biomolecules, AO activity, functional properties and prevention of diet-driven glucose metabolism disorders pave the way to APF exploitation in human nutrition.
Effects of Tension–Compression Asymmetry on Bending of Steels
Authors: Mehrabi Hamed , Yang Richard (Chunhui) , Wang Baolin
Published: May 2020

Stainless steels (SUS) and dual-phase (DP) steels have tension-compression asymmetry (TCA) in mechanical responses to full loading cycles. This phenomenon can significantly influence sheet metal forming of such metals, however, it is difficult to describe this behaviour analytically. In this research, a novel analytical method for asymmetric elastic-plastic pure bending using the Cazacu–Barlat 2004 asymmetric yield function is proposed. It only uses material parameters in tension along with an asymmetry coefficient related to the yield function. Bending operations of SUS304 and DP980 are investigated as two case studies. In the pure bending for both SUS304 and DP980, moment–curvature diagrams are analytically obtained. Furthermore, linear and nonlinear springback behaviours of SUS304 are analytically investigated. Moreover, using the analytical model as a user-defined material, a numerical model is developed for both steels under pure bending. In the V-bending case of SUS304 with and without TCA effects, the springback behaviours of the material are investigated numerically. In addition, considering friction effects, the analytical method is further modified for predicting springback behaviours in the V-bending of 16 types of SUS304 with various strengths are determined. All the analytical and numerical results have good agreement with those experimental results from literature for validation.
Advanced Methods for Point Cloud Processing and Simplification
Authors: Chmelar Pavel , Rejfek Lubos , Nguyen Tan N. , Ha Duy-Hung
Published: May 2020

Nowadays, mobile robot exploration needs a rangefinder to obtain a large number of measurement points to achieve a detailed and precise description of a surrounding area and objects, which is called the point cloud. However, a single point cloud scan does not cover the whole area, so multiple point cloud scans must be acquired and compared together to find the right matching between them in a process called registration method. This method requires further processing and places high demands on memory consumption, especially for small embedded devices in mobile robots. This paper describes a novel method to reduce the burden of processing for multiple point cloud scans. We introduce our approach to preprocess an input point cloud in order to detect planar surfaces, simplify space description, fill gaps in point clouds, and get important space features. All of these processes are achieved by applying advanced image processing methods in combination with the quantization of physical space points. The results show the reliability of our approach to detect close parallel walls with suitable parameter settings. More importantly, planar surface detection shows a 99% decrease in necessary descriptive points almost in all cases. This proposed approach is verified on the real indoor point clouds.
Recommending Learning Objects with Arguments and Explanations
Authors: Heras Stella , Palanca Javier , Rodriguez Paula , Duque-Méndez Néstor , Julian Vicente
Published: May 2020

The massive presence of online learning resources leads many students to have more information than they can consume efficiently. Therefore, students do not always find adaptive learning material for their needs and preferences. In this paper, we present a Conversational Educational Recommender System (C-ERS), which helps students in the process of finding the more appropriated learning resources considering their learning objectives and profile. The recommendation process is based on an argumentation-based approach that selects the learning objects that allow a greater number of arguments to be generated to justify their suitability. Our system includes a simple and intuitive communication interface with the user that provides an explanation to any recommendation. This allows the user to interact with the system and accept or reject the recommendations, providing reasons for such behavior. In this way, the user is able to inspect the system’s operation and understand the recommendations, while the system is able to elicit the actual preferences of the user. The system has been tested online with a real group of undergraduate students in the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, showing promising results.
Plasma Enhanced Wet Chemical Surface Activation of TiO2 for the Synthesis of High Performance Photocatalytic Au/TiO2 Nanocomposites
Authors: Thi Thu Thuy Nguyen , Hoang Tung Do , Hong Manh Le , Kim Joon Heon , Kudryashov Sergey Ivanovich , Hong Minh Pham , The Hien Nguyen
Published: May 2020

To enhance the effectiveness of TiO2 as a photocatalyst, it was believed that the drawbacks of the large bandgap and the rapid electron-hole recombination can be overcome by coupling TiO2 with plasmonic metal nanoparticles. The incorporation of the nanoparticles onto the TiO2 surface requires a suitable procedure to achieve the proper particle adhesion. In this work, we propose a simple, clean, and effective surface activation of TiO2 using plasma enhanced wet chemical surface treatment. Under only 5 min of plasma treatment in a 3% NH3/3% H2O2 solution, gold nanoparticles were found better adhered onto the TiO2 surface. Hence, the methylene blue degradation rate of the Au/TiO2 under sunlight treated was improved by a factor of 3.25 times in comparison to non-treated Au/TiO2 and by 13 times in comparison to the bare rutile TiO2.
Nondestructive Detection of Gaps between Railway Track Slabs and Soil Foundation Using Leaked Air Waves
Authors: Park Seongbaek , Cho Hojin , Lim Yujin
Published: May 2020

Gaps generated underneath railway track slabs may cause unstable conditions. Such gaps can form because of different reasons, including settlement of soft soil, unsuitable construction of a concrete slab on loosely compacted soil, and drastic stiffness change in a transition zone between the bridge deck and embankment. The gaps underneath railway track slabs are not easily detectable by common nondestructive test methods. A nondestructive test (NDT) based on a wavelet time–frequency concept is proposed for the practical purpose of detecting gaps under track slabs. The method uses a microphone sensor to catch leaked Rayleigh acoustic waves in the air and an accelerometer to measure surface Rayleigh waves on the slab. In order to investigate the possibility of developing the test system, a finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to simulate Rayleigh wave generation on the concrete surface and in the air. A test system module composed of a microphone and an accelerometer, data acquisition system (DAQ), and an analyzer program was also assembled for a small backyard pilot test. It was verified that the new NDT test system could be successfully adapted for detecting gaps underneath railway track slabs and track bed soil.
Decentralized Optimization of Electricity-Natural Gas Flow Considering Dynamic Characteristics of Networks
Authors: Wu Weicong , Yu Tao , Li Zhuohuan , Zhu Hanxin
Published: May 2020

The interconnection of power and natural gas systems can improve the flexibility of system operation and the capacity of renewable energy consumption. It is necessary to consider the interaction between both, and carry out collaborative optimization of energy flow. For space-time related line packs, this paper studies the optimal multi-energy flow (OMEF) model of an integrated electricity-gas system, taking into account the dynamic characteristics of a natural gas system. Besides, in order to avoid the problem of large data collection in centralized algorithms and consider the characteristics of decentralized autonomous decision-making for each subsystem, this paper proposes a decentralized algorithm for the OMEF problem. This algorithm transforms the original non-convex OMEF problem into an iterative convex programming problem through penalty convex-concave procedure (PCCP), and then, uses the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm at each iteration of PCCP to develop a decentralized collaborative optimization of power flow and natural gas flow. Finally, numerical simulations verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the algorithm proposed in this paper, and analyze the effects of dynamic characteristics of networks on system operation.
Formulation Strategies to Improve Oral Bioavailability of Ellagic Acid
Authors: Zuccari Guendalina , Baldassari Sara , Ailuno Giorgia , Turrini Federica , Alfei Silvana , Caviglioli Gabriele
Published: May 2020

Ellagic acid, a polyphenolic compound present in fruit and berries, has recently been the object of extensive research for its antioxidant activity, which might be useful for the prevention and treatment of cancer, cardiovascular pathologies, and neurodegenerative disorders. Its protective role justifies numerous attempts to include it in functional food preparations and in dietary supplements, and not only to limit the unpleasant collateral effects of chemotherapy. However, ellagic acid use as a chemopreventive agent has been debated because of its poor bioavailability associated with low solubility, limited permeability, first pass effect, and interindividual variability in gut microbial transformations. To overcome these drawbacks, various strategies for oral administration including solid dispersions, micro and nanoparticles, inclusion complexes, self-emulsifying systems, and polymorphs were proposed. Here, we listed an updated description of pursued micro and nanotechnological approaches focusing on the fabrication processes and the features of the obtained products, as well as on the positive results yielded by in vitro and in vivo studies in comparison to the raw material. The micro and nanosized formulations here described might be exploited for pharmaceutical delivery of this active, as well as for the production of nutritional supplements or for the enrichment of novel foods.
Improved Solar Operation Control for a Solar Cooling System of an IT Center
Authors: Albers Jan
Published: May 2020

In this contribution, a model predictive control algorithm is developed, which allows an increase of the solar operating hours of a solar cooling system without a negative impact on the auxiliary electricity demand, e.g., for heat rejection in a dry cooler. An improved method of the characteristic equations for single-effect H 2 O / LiBr absorption chillers is used in combination with a simple dry-cooler model to describe the part load behavior of both components. The aim of the control strategy is to find a cut-in and a cut-off condition for the solar heat operation (SHO) of an absorption chiller cooling assembly (i.e., including all the supply pumps and the dry cooler) under the constraint that the specific electricity demand during SHO is lower than the electricity demand of a reference cooling technology (e.g., a compression chiller cooling assembly). Especially for the cut-in condition, the model predictive control algorithm calculates a minimum driving temperature, which has to be reached by the solar collector and storage in order to cover the cooling load with a low cooling water temperature but restricted auxiliary electricity demand. Measurements at a solar cooling system for an IT center were used for the testing and a first evaluation of the control algorithm.
Real-Time Hybrid Navigation System-Based Path Planning and Obstacle Avoidance for Mobile Robots
Authors: Gia Luan Phan , Thinh Nguyen Truong
Published: May 2020

In this work, we present a complete hybrid navigation system for a two-wheel differential drive mobile robot that includes static-environment- global-path planning and dynamic environment obstacle-avoidance tasks. By the given map, we propose a multi-agent A-heuristic algorithm for finding the optimal obstacle-free path. The result is less time-consuming and involves fewer changes in path length when dealing with multiple agents than the ordinary A-heuristic algorithm. The obtained path was smoothed based on curvature-continuous piecewise cubic Bézier curve (C2 PCBC) before being used as a trajectory by the robot. In the second task of the robot, we supposed any unforeseen obstacles were recognized and their moving frames were estimated by the sensors when the robot tracked on the trajectory. In order to adapt to the dynamic environment with the presence of constant velocity obstacles, a weighted-sum model (WSM) was employed. The 2D LiDAR data, the robot’s frame and the detected moving obstacle’s frame were collected and fed to the WSM during the movement of the robot. Through this information, the WSM chose a temporary target and a C2 PCBC-based subtrajectory was generated that led the robot to avoid the presented obstacle. Experimentally, the proposed model responded well in existing feasible solution cases with fine-tuned model parameters. We further provide the re-path algorithm that helped the robot track on the initial trajectory. The experimental results show the real-time performance of the system applied in our robot.
Data Reduction in the String Space for Efficient kNN Classification Through Space Partitioning
Authors: Valero-Mas Jose J. , Castellanos Francisco J.
Published: May 2020

Within the Pattern Recognition field, two representations are generally considered for encoding the data: statistical codifications, which describe elements as feature vectors, and structural representations, which encode elements as high-level symbolic data structures such as strings, trees or graphs. While the vast majority of classifiers are capable of addressing statistical spaces, only some particular methods are suitable for structural representations. The kNN classifier constitutes one of the scarce examples of algorithms capable of tackling both statistical and structural spaces. This method is based on the computation of the dissimilarity between all the samples of the set, which is the main reason for its high versatility, but in turn, for its low efficiency as well. Prototype Generation is one of the possibilities for palliating this issue. These mechanisms generate a reduced version of the initial dataset by performing data transformation and aggregation processes on the initial collection. Nevertheless, these generation processes are quite dependent on the data representation considered, being not generally well defined for structural data. In this work we present the adaptation of the generation-based reduction algorithm Reduction through Homogeneous Clusters to the case of string data. This algorithm performs the reduction by partitioning the space into class-homogeneous clusters for then generating a representative prototype as the median value of each group. Thus, the main issue to tackle is the retrieval of the median element of a set of strings. Our comprehensive experimentation comparatively assesses the performance of this algorithm in both the statistical and the string-based spaces. Results prove the relevance of our approach by showing a competitive compromise between classification rate and data reduction.
A Data-Driven Analysis on the Impact of High-Speed Rails on Land Prices in Taiwan
Authors: Low Joyce M.W. , Lee Byung Kwon
Published: May 2020

High-speed rail (HSR) networks boost inter-city accessibility across a country and stimulate economic growth in inner cities. These economic gains, however, can often be accompanied by sharp increases in land and property prices along the lines that raise governmental concerns. This study examined the effect of the introduction of HSR on land prices in Taiwan and how the extent of such an effect varied with the stages of economic, societal, and infrastructural developments in different cities in Taiwan. Based on extensive published data, an empirical study was conducted using an integrated methodology comprising system dynamics, multivariate regression, and principal component analysis to examine the interacting relationships between the presence of HSR transportation and other important dimensions of city development in determining land prices. The study found that while land prices correlated with the greater locational accessibility brought about HSR, the extent of land price increases depended significantly on economic, societal, and infrastructural considerations such as the unemployment rate, risk-free interest rate, population density, and the existence of free trade zones, etc. This understanding of system behavior will be helpful for policy makers in devising ways to curb the escalation of property price while enjoying the benefits of HSR.
Effects of Different Feature Parameters of sEMG on Human Motion Pattern Recognition Using Multilayer Perceptrons and LSTM Neural Networks
Authors: Song Jiyuan , Zhu Aibin , Tu Yao , Huang Hu , Arif Muhammad Affan , Shen Zhitao , Zhang Xiaodong , Cao Guangzhong
Published: May 2020

In response to the need for an exoskeleton to quickly identify the wearer’s movement mode in the mixed control mode, this paper studies the impact of different feature parameters of the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal on the accuracy of human motion pattern recognition using multilayer perceptrons and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks. The sEMG signals are extracted from the seven common human motion patterns in daily life, and the time domain and frequency domain features are extracted to build a feature parameter dataset for training the classifier. Recognition of human lower extremity movement patterns based on multilayer perceptrons and the LSTM neural network were carried out, and the final recognition accuracy rates of different feature parameters and different classifier model parameters were compared in the process of establishing the dataset. The experimental results show that the best accuracy rate of human motion pattern recognition using multilayer perceptrons is 95.53%, and the best accuracy rate of human motion pattern recognition using the LSTM neural network is 96.57%.
How Deeply to Fine-Tune a Convolutional Neural Network: A Case Study Using a Histopathology Dataset
Authors: Kandel Ibrahem , Castelli Mauro
Published: May 2020

Accurate classification of medical images is of great importance for correct disease diagnosis. The automation of medical image classification is of great necessity because it can provide a second opinion or even a better classification in case of a shortage of experienced medical staff. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) were introduced to improve the image classification domain by eliminating the need to manually select which features to use to classify images. Training CNN from scratch requires very large annotated datasets that are scarce in the medical field. Transfer learning of CNN weights from another large non-medical dataset can help overcome the problem of medical image scarcity. Transfer learning consists of fine-tuning CNN layers to suit the new dataset. The main questions when using transfer learning are how deeply to fine-tune the network and what difference in generalization that will make. In this paper, all of the experiments were done on two histopathology datasets using three state-of-the-art architectures to systematically study the effect of block-wise fine-tuning of CNN. Results show that fine-tuning the entire network is not always the best option; especially for shallow networks, alternatively fine-tuning the top blocks can save both time and computational power and produce more robust classifiers.