bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus: Recent Findings about Its Occurrence in Pigs
Authors: de Oliveira Luís Guilherme , Mechler-Dreibi Marina L. , Almeida Henrique M. S. , Gatto Igor R. H.
Published: June 2020

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an important pathogen belonging to the Pestivirus genus, Flaviviridae family, which comprises viral species that causes an economic impact in animal production. Cattle are the natural host of BVDV and the main source of infection for pigs and other animal species. Due to its antigenic and genetic similarity with other important pestiviruses such as Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), several studies have been conducted to elucidate the real role of this virus in piglets, sows, and boars, not only in the field but also in experimental infections, which will be discussed in this paper. Although BVDV does not pose a threat to pigs as it does to ruminants, the occurrence of clinical signs is variable and may depend on several factors. Therefore, this study presents a survey of data on BVDV infection in pigs, comparing information on prevalence in different countries and the results of experimental infections to understand this type of infection in pigs better.
Complete Sequence, Genome Organization and Molecular Detection of Grapevine Line Pattern Virus, a New Putative Anulavirus Infecting Grapevine
Authors: Elbeaino Toufic , Kontra Levente , Demian Emese , Jaksa-Czotter Nikoletta , Slimen Amani Ben , Fabian Richard , Lazar Janos , Tamisier Lucie , Digiaro Michele , Massart Sebastien , Varallyay Eva
Published: June 2020

Grapevine line pattern virus (GLPV) was first described 30 years ago in Hungary. The lack of its genomic sequences and of an available antiserum made its detection impossible in other parts of the world. Three different high-throughput sequencing (HTS) protocols applied on a GLPV-infected vine allowed the construction of the full genome sequence of this virus. It includes three RNA segments, encoding four proteins: methyltransferase-helicase (1a), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (2a), movement protein (3a) and coat protein (3b). The obtained sequences were used to design specific primers for its detection by RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridization, respectively. These diagnostic methods were used to test the presence of GLPV in graft-inoculated plants and in 220 grapevine accessions of different Mediterranean origins. The three RNAs-encoding proteins of GLPV shared a very high amino acid identity with those of hop yellow virus, a tentative member of the Anulavirus genus, leaving no doubt that both are two isolates of the same viral species. A circular RNA originating from the RNA2 was found, for which an alternative silencing suppressor role is hypothesized. Further investigation is needed to determine this possibility and also the host range and pathological significance of the virus.
Identification and Functional Analysis of Temperate Siphoviridae Bacteriophages of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Badawy Shimaa , Pajunen Maria I. , Haiko Johanna , Baka Zakaria A. M. , Abou-Dobara Mohamed I. , El-Sayed Ahmed K. A. , Skurnik Mikael
Published: June 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that presents a serious clinical challenge due to its increasing resistance to all available antibiotics. Phage therapy has been introduced recently to treat antibiotic-incurable A. baumannii infections. In search for new A. baumannii specific bacteriophages, 20 clinical A. baumannii strains were used in two pools in an attempt to enrich phages from sewage. The enrichment resulted in induction of resident prophage(s) and three temperate bacteriophages, named vB_AbaS_fEg-Aba01, vB_AbaS_fLi-Aba02 and vB_AbaS_fLi-Aba03, all able to infect only one strain (#6597) of the 20 clinical strains, were isolated. Morphological characteristics obtained by transmission electron microscopy together with the genomic information revealed that the phages belong to the family Siphoviridae. The ca. 35 kb genomic sequences of the phages were >99% identical to each other. The linear ds DNA genomes of the phages contained 10 nt cohesive end termini, 52–54 predicted genes, an attP site and one tRNA gene each. A database search revealed an >99% identical prophage in the genome of A. baumannii strain AbPK1 (acc. no. CP024576.1). Over 99% identical prophages were also identified from two of the original 20 clinical strains (#5707 and #5920) and both were shown to be spontaneously inducible, thus very likely being the origins of the isolated phages. The phage vB_AbaS_fEg-Aba01 was also able to lysogenize the susceptible strain #6597 demonstrating that it was fully functional. The phages showed a very narrow host range infecting only two A. baumannii strains. In conclusion, we have isolated and characterized three novel temperate Siphoviridae phages that infect A. baumannii.
HSV-1-Specific IgG3 Titers Correlate with Brain Cortical Thinning in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Mancuso Roberta , Cabinio Monia , Agostini Simone , Baglio Francesca , Clerici Mario
Published: June 2020

Repeated reactivations of latent herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in the central nervous system (CNS) may contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Immune response is a key element for the control of viral reactivation. HSV-1 uses a number of strategies to evade immune recognition, Immunoglobulin G 3 (IgG3) alone counteracts humoral immunoevasion, as it is the only IgG subclass that is not blocked by the HSV-1 Fc receptor, a protein that protects virion and infected cells from antibody-mediated effector mechanisms. We examined HSV-1-specific IgG3 titers in serum of AD (n = 70) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 61) subjects comparing the results to those of 67 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC); associations between MRI-determined brain cortical health and HSV-1-specific IgG3 were analyzed in a subgroup of AD and MCI subjects. HSV-1-specific IgG3 were more frequently detected in MCI compared to AD and HC subjects. Significant inverse correlations were found between IgG3 titers and brain cortical thickness in areas typically involved in dementia and HSV-1 encephalitis in AD patients; interestingly, this negative correlation was much less important in MCI subjects. All together these results suggest that in AD an inefficient IgG3 humoral immune response, failing to block viral replication, contributes to progressive neurodegeneration.
West Nile Virus Restriction in Mosquito and Human Cells: A Virus under Confinement
Authors: Martin Marie-France , Nisole Sébastien
Published: June 2020

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging neurotropic flavivirus that naturally circulates between mosquitoes and birds. However, WNV has a broad host range and can be transmitted from mosquitoes to several mammalian species, including humans, through infected saliva during a blood meal. Although WNV infections are mostly asymptomatic, 20% to 30% of cases are symptomatic and can occasionally lead to severe symptoms, including fatal meningitis or encephalitis. Over the past decades, WNV-carrying mosquitoes have become increasingly widespread across new regions, including North America and Europe, which constitutes a public health concern. Nevertheless, mosquito and human innate immune defenses can detect WNV infection and induce the expression of antiviral effectors, so-called viral restriction factors, to control viral propagation. Conversely, WNV has developed countermeasures to escape these host defenses, thus establishing a constant arms race between the virus and its hosts. Our review intends to cover most of the current knowledge on viral restriction factors as well as WNV evasion strategies in mosquito and human cells in order to bring an updated overview on WNV–host interactions.
Immunization with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in Oil-Adjuvant Elicits IgM Antibody Response in Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus Sinensis)
Authors: Xu Cheng , Xu Jiehao , Chen Yu , Evensen Øystein , Munang’andu Hetron Mweemba , Qian Guoying
Published: June 2020

Immunoassays are among the frontline methods used for disease diagnosis and surveillance. Despite this, there are no immunoassays developed for the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), which has expanded into large scale commercial production in several Asian countries. One of the critical factors delaying the development of immunoassays is the lack of characterized soft-shelled turtle immunoglobulins. Herein, we used mass spectrometry together with the ProtQuest software to identify the soft-shelled turtle IgM heavy chain in serum, which again was used to produce a polyclonal anti-turtle-IgM in rabbits. Thereafter, the polyclonal anti-turtle-IgM was used as a secondary antibody in an indirect ELISA to evaluate antibody responses of soft-shelled turtles injected with the bovine serum albumin (BSA) model antigen. Our findings show that only turtle immunized with a water-in-oil BSA plus ISA 763A VG adjuvant (SEPPIC, France) emulsion had antibodies detected at 42 days post vaccination (dpv) while turtles injected with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) only as well as turtle injected with BSA dissolved in PBS had no significant antibody levels detected in serum throughout the study period. In summary, our findings show that rabbit polyclonal anti-turtle-IgM produced can be used in ELISA to measure serum antibody responses in immunized soft-shelled turtles. Future studies should explore its application in other immunoassays needed for the disease diagnosis and vaccine development for soft-shelled turtles.
Specificity of CD8+ T-Cell Responses Following Vaccination with Conserved Regions of HIV-1 in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Mohamed Yehia S. , Borthwick Nicola J. , Moyo Nathifa , Murakoshi Hayato , Akahoshi Tomohiro , Siliquini Francesca , Hannoun Zara , Crook Alison , Hayes Peter , Fast Patricia E. , Mutua Gaudensia , Jaoko Walter , Silva-Arrieta Sandra , Llano Anuska , Brander Christian , Takiguchi Masafumi , Hanke Tomáš
Published: June 2020

Sub-Saharan Africa carries the biggest burden of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)/AIDS epidemic and is in an urgent need of an effective vaccine. CD8+ T cells are an important component of the host immune response to HIV-1 and may need to be harnessed if a vaccine is to be effective. CD8+ T cells recognize human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-associated viral epitopes and the HLA alleles vary significantly among different ethnic groups. It follows that definition of HIV-1-derived peptides recognized by CD8+ T cells in the geographically relevant regions will critically guide vaccine development. Here, we study fine details of CD8+ T-cell responses elicited in HIV-1/2-uninfected individuals in Nairobi, Kenya, who received a candidate vaccine delivering conserved regions of HIV-1 proteins called HIVconsv. Using 10-day cell lines established by in vitro peptide restimulation of cryopreserved PBMC and stably HLA-transfected 721.221/C1R cell lines, we confirm experimentally many already defined epitopes, for a number of epitopes we define the restricting HLA molecule(s) and describe four novel HLA-epitope pairs. We also identify specific dominance patterns, a promiscuous T-cell epitope and a rescue of suboptimal T-cell epitope induction in vivo by its functional variant, which all together inform vaccine design.
Biodegradable PLGA-b-PEG Nanoparticles Induce T Helper 2 (Th2) Immune Responses and Sustained Antibody Titers via TLR9 Stimulation
Authors: Wilson Kirsty L. , Howard Gregory P. , Coatsworth Heather , Dinglasan Rhoel R. , Mao Hai-Quan , Plebanski Magdalena
Published: June 2020

Sustained immune responses, particularly antibody responses, are key for protection against many endemic infectious diseases. Antibody responses are often accompanied by T helper (Th) cell immunity. Herein we study small biodegradable poly (ethylene glycol)-b-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PEG-b-PLGA NPs, 25–50 nm) as antigen- or adjuvant-carriers. The antigen carrier function of PEG-b-PLGA NPs was compared against an experimental benchmark polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs, 40–50 nm), both conjugated with the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA-PS NPs, and OVA-PEG-b-PLGA NPs). The OVA-PEG-b-PLGA NPs induced sustained antibody responses to Day 120 after two immunizations. The OVA-PEG-b-PLGA NPs as a self-adjuvanting vaccine further induced IL-4 producing T-helper cells (Th2), but not IFN-γ producing T-cells (Th1). The PEG-b-PLGA NPs as a carrier for CpG adjuvant (CpG-PEG-b-PLGA NPs) were also tested as mix-in vaccine adjuvants comparatively for protein antigens, or for protein-conjugated to PS NPs or to PEG-b-PLGA NPs. While the addition of this adjuvant NP did not further increase T-cell responses, it improved the consistency of antibody responses across all immunization groups. Together these data support further development of PEG-b-PLGA NPs as a vaccine carrier, particularly where it is desired to induce Th2 immunity and achieve sustained antibody titers in the absence of affecting Th1 immunity.
Deletion of the Gene for the Type I Interferon Inhibitor I329L from the Attenuated African Swine Fever Virus OURT88/3 Strain Reduces Protection Induced in Pigs
Authors: Reis Ana Luisa , Goatley Lynnette C. , Jabbar Tamara , Lopez Elisabeth , Rathakrishnan Anusyah , Dixon Linda K.
Published: June 2020

Live attenuated vaccines are considered to be the fastest route to the development of a safe and efficacious African swine fever (ASF) vaccine. Infection with the naturally attenuated OURT88/3 strain induces protection against challenge with virulent isolates from the same or closely related genotypes. However, adverse clinical signs following immunisation have been observed. Here, we attempted to increase the OURT88/3 safety profile by deleting I329L, a gene previously shown to inhibit the host innate immune response. The resulting virus, OURT88/3ΔI329L, was tested in vitro to evaluate the replication and expression of type I interferon (IFN) and in vivo by immunisation and lethal challenge experiments in pigs. No differences were observed regarding replication; however, increased amounts of both IFN-β and IFN-α were observed in macrophages infected with the deletion mutant virus. Unexpectedly, the deletion of I329L markedly reduced protection against challenge with the virulent OURT88/1 isolate. This was associated with a decrease in both antibody levels against VP72 and the number of IFN-γ-producing cells in the blood of non-protected animals. Furthermore, a significant increase in IL-10 levels in serum was observed in pigs immunised with OURT88/3ΔI329L following challenge. Interestingly, the deletion of the I329L gene failed to attenuate the virulent Georgia/2007 isolate.
Impact of Influenza Vaccination on All-Cause Mortality and Hospitalization for Pneumonia in Adults and the Elderly with Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
Authors: Bechini Angela , Ninci Alessandra , Del Riccio Marco , Biondi Ilaria , Bianchi Jacopo , Bonanni Paolo , Mannucci Edoardo , Monami Matteo
Published: June 2020

Diabetes is a chronic condition that can be worsened by complications such as seasonal influenza virus infections. The aim of the present meta-analysis is the systematic retrieval and analysis of all available evidence on the effects of an influenza vaccine on diabetic patients. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane databases from inception until April 2019. We included all types of studies reporting on the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in adult and elderly patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess risk of bias, the GRADE methodology was used to assess the evidence for each outcome. A total of 2261 studies were identified, of those, 6 studies completely fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In the 6 studies included in the analysis, influenza vaccination was associated with a lower mortality rate (Mantel Haenszel Odds Ratio (MH-OR), 95% CI: 0.54 (0.40; 0.74), p < 0.001). Patients who received influenza vaccination showed a lower risk of hospitalization for pneumonia (MH-OR, 95% CI: 0.89; (0.80; 0.98), p = 0.18). A sensitivity analysis using fixed effect model confirmed the results (MH-OR, 95% CI: 0.91; (0.87; 0.96); p = 0.001). The results of this meta-analysis are clinically relevant and support the recommendation for all persons with diabetes to receive influenza vaccination.
Role of Opsonophagocytosis in Immune Protection against Malaria
Authors: Leitner Wolfgang W. , Haraway Megan , Pierson Tony , Bergmann-Leitner Elke S.
Published: June 2020

The quest for immune correlates of protection continues to slow vaccine development. To date, only vaccine-induced antibodies have been confirmed as direct immune correlates of protection against a plethora of pathogens. Vaccine immunologists, however, have learned through extensive characterizations of humoral responses that the quantitative assessment of antibody responses alone often fails to correlate with protective immunity or vaccine efficacy. Despite these limitations, the simple measurement of post-vaccination antibody titers remains the most widely used approaches for vaccine evaluation. Developing and performing functional assays to assess the biological activity of pathogen-specific responses continues to gain momentum; integrating serological assessments with functional data will ultimately result in the identification of mechanisms that contribute to protective immunity and will guide vaccine development. One of these functional readouts is phagocytosis of antigenic material tagged by immune molecules such as antibodies and/or complement components. This review summarizes our current understanding of how phagocytosis contributes to immune defense against pathogens, the pathways involved, and defense mechanisms that pathogens have evolved to deal with the threat of phagocytic removal and destruction of pathogens.
Current Status of Zika Virus Vaccines: Successes and Challenges
Authors: Pattnaik Aryamav , Sahoo Bikash R. , Pattnaik Asit K.
Published: June 2020

The recently emerged Zika virus (ZIKV) spread to the Americas, causing a spectrum of congenital diseases including microcephaly in newborn and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in adults. The unprecedented nature of the epidemic and serious diseases associated with the viral infections prompted the global research community to understand the immunopathogenic mechanisms of the virus and rapidly develop safe and efficacious vaccines. This has led to a number of ZIKV vaccine candidates that have shown significant promise in human clinical trials. These candidates include nucleic acid vaccines, inactivated vaccines, viral-vectored vaccines, and attenuated vaccines. Additionally, a number of vaccine candidates have been shown to protect animals in preclinical studies. However, as the epidemic has waned in the last three years, further development of the most promising vaccine candidates faces challenges in clinical efficacy trials, which is needed before a vaccine is brought to licensure. It is important that a coalition of government funding agencies and private sector companies is established to move forward with a safe and effective vaccine ready for deployment when the next ZIKV epidemic occurs.
Game Analysis on the Evolution of Decision-Making of Vaccine Manufacturing Enterprises under the Government Regulation Model
Authors: Zhang Na , Yang Yingjie , Wang Xiaodong , Wang Xinfeng
Published: June 2020

The harm caused by defective vaccines to human health and social stability is immeasurable. Aiming at the government’s supervision of the vaccine market, an evolutionary game model is constructed to analyze the quality of supervision and the key factors in the dynamic interaction between government departments and vaccine manufacturers under different supervision modes in the vaccine manufacturing process. The results show that: (1) Severe punishment by government regulatory authorities, and increased costs of rectification after investigation and handling of involuntary behaviors of vaccine enterprises can effectively prevent involuntary behaviors of vaccine enterprises. (2) In the early stage of the game, the success rate of the government’s efficient supervision will make the vaccine enterprises continuously self-disciplined; when the vaccine market is relatively stable, the government’s supervision departments tend to be more conducive to passive supervision. (3) The success rate of government regulatory departments and the probability of a third-party reporting to play a great role in promoting the self-discipline of enterprises. (4) The power of government and regulation are conducive to promoting the active supervision of the government regulatory authorities but corruption of government and awareness of people are different. Once the phenomenon of vaccine enterprises’ non-discipline increases, the government regulation must change from passive regulation to active regulation. Therefore, the government should implement different measures according to the characteristics of each period in the manufacturing process to effectively prevent problematic vaccines. The conclusions and policy recommendations are significant for addressing the issue of insufficient self-discipline of vaccine manufacturers.
A Novel Algorithm for Controlling Active and Reactive Power Flows of Electric Vehicles in Buildings and Its Impact on the Distribution Network
Authors: El-Bayeh Claude Ziad , Alzaareer Khaled , Brahmi Brahim , Zellagui Mohamed
Published: June 2020

In the literature, many optimization algorithms were developed to control electrical loads, especially Electric Vehicles (EVs) in buildings. Despite the success of the existing algorithms in improving the power profile of charging EVs and reducing the total electricity bill of the end-users, these algorithms didn’t show significant contribution in improving the voltage profile on the network, especially with the existence of highly inductive loads. The control of the active power may not be sufficient to regulate the voltage, even if sophisticated optimization algorithms and control strategies are used. To fill the gap in the literature, we propose a new algorithm that is able to control both the active and reactive power flows using electric vehicles in buildings and homes. The algorithm is composed of two parts; the first part uses optimization to control the active power and minimize the electricity bill, while the second part controls the reactive power using the bidirectional converter in the EV in a way that the voltage profile on the distribution transformer respects its limits. The new approach is validated through a comparative study of four different scenarios, (i) without EV, (ii) with EV using uncoordinated charging, (iii) with EV using coordinated charging, (iv) with EV using our proposed algorithm. Results show that our algorithm has maintained the voltage within the recommended limits, and it has minimized the peak load, the electricity cost, and the techno-economic losses on the network.
A New Classification for Hemorrhoidal Disease: The Creation of the “BPRST” Staging and Its Application in Clinical Practice
Authors: Sobrado Júnior Carlos Walter , Obregon Carlos de Almeida , e Sousa Júnior Afonso Henrique da Silva , Sobrado Lucas Faraco , Nahas Sérgio Carlos , Cecconello Ivan
Published: June 2020

Purpose: Present an updated classification for symptomatic hemorrhoids, which not only guides the treatment of internal hemorrhoids but also the treatment of external components. In addition, this new classification includes new treatment alternatives created over the last few years.Methods: Throughout the past 7 years, the authors developed a method to classify patients with symptomatic hemorrhoids. This study, besides presenting this classification proposal, also retrospectively analyzed 149 consecutive patients treated between March 2011 and November 2013 and aimed to evaluate the association between the management adopted with Goligher classification and our proposed BPRST classification.Results: Both classifications had a statistically significant association with the adopted management strategies. However, the BPRST classification tended to have fewer management discrepancies when each stage of disease was individually analyzed.Conclusion: Although there is much disagreement about how the classification of hemorrhoidal disease should be updated, it is accepted that some kind of revision is needed. The BPRST method showed a strong association with the management that should be adopted for each stage of the disease. Further studies are needed for its validation, but the current results are encouraging.
Implementasi Prinsip Penggembalaan Menurut 1 Timotius 4:1-16 di GPdI Wilayah Waropen Barat, Papua
Authors: Wenggi Daniel
Published: June 2020

The principle of shepherding means a fundamental statement that can be considered a general truth that is used by pastors, both individuals, and groups, in working to achieve their goals. In this regard, 1 Timothy 4:1-16 explains some shepherding principles, namely: pastoral care; called to serve; service preparation; enter service and serve as God’s servants. The purpose of this study is to describe, analyze and implement the principles of shepherding according to 1 Timothy 4:1-16 and recommend these principles in the pastoral environment of the GPdI in the West Waropen Region-Papua. This study used qualitative research with a phenomenological approach because it uses the interpretation of the letter 1 Timothy 4:1-16 regarding the principles of shepherding as a theoretical basis. As for the technique used in data collection is through interviews. Conclusion: based on 1 Timothy 4:1-16 herding goals is called to serve, service preparation; enter service and serve as the Servant of the Lord the Savior of all man, therefore preach and teach, in this case demanding exemplary servitude.
COMPOSITE BINDERS FOR FINISHING COMPOSITIONS
Authors: Elistratkin M.Yu. , Minakova A.V. , Dzhamil' A. , Kukovickiy V. , El'yan Issa Zhamal Issa
Published: June 2020

Belgorod region is one of the leading regions in housing construction, especially private households. This is due to the high demand for finishing materials, in particular, dry plaster and putty mixtures, produced mainly on the basis of gypsum. However, local producers of such products can hardly compete with imported products due to lower prices. The reason for this is the absence in Belgorod Region, as in many other regions of Russia, of gypsum deposits and, as a result, its rather high cost exceeds that of Portland cement. Such a situation makes the actual development of cement-based finishing mixtures, corresponding to gypsum consumer qualities. The main problems of obtaining plaster compositions based on Portland cement is its excessive activity, low water-holding capacity and, as a result, poor workability and adhesion to the base. The classic solution to this problem is the introduction of a fine component (clay or lime) into such a solution, which makes the solution suitable for plastering, but does not allow Portland cement to realize its strength potential, therefore, does not ensure the effectiveness of its use. Giving the cement-sand mortar the desired properties due to polymer modifiers (structuring and thickening) is unjustified due to their high cost and high consumption. In this regard, at this stage of research, the task was to obtain a mineral system based on Portland cement with properties maximally adapted to obtain plaster mixtures, in order to further produce its modification with the above-mentioned additives at their minimum consumption. Composite binders consisting of a clinker part and a mineral additive were chosen as a tool for solving the problem posed. Due to the choice of the ratio of components, their type and dispersion, processing modes, it is possible to vary the properties of the products obtained within considerable limits.
STRUCTURE FORMATION IN ALKALI ACTIVATED ALUMINOSILICATE BINDING SYSTEMS USING NATURAL RAW MATERIALS WITH DIFFERENT CRYSTALLINITY DEGREE
Authors: Kozhuhova N. , Strokova V. , Kozhuhova M. , Zhernovskiy Igor'
Published: June 2020

the efficiency of traditional raw materials using as well as expanding of potential uses for non-conventional and alternative raw materials with different origin is the tasks exiting interest among material scientists and manufacture stuff. Investigation of the above is oriented on solution of such scientific problem as more deep understanding of structure and features of material. The results obtained also allow solution of some technological, technical and economical tasks.

Greatly, it is actual when using of new types of raw materials as well as when synthesis of new composites. Concerning the construction material science field, the classic problem is the looking for ways to study the reactivity of raw components under different conditions, its control and, generally, its increasing to produce higher performance materials.

Among the popular and widely-used construction materials are alkali-activated binders and relevant composites.

In this study the results of granulometric analysis of suspension based on alkali-activated aluminosilicate with different crystallinity degree are presented. It was found, when treatment of aluminosilicate grain by alkali activator leads to the grain solubilizing (but differently depending on crystallinity degree of aluminosilicate) and formation of alkali-aluminosilicate gel that reacts with unreacted part of the grain according to structure affinity principle. It was also determined the crystallinity degree of aluminosilicate component is inversely proportional to its solubility in highly-alkali environment. The model of structure formation for geopolymer system under alkali effect is offered.
THE ALGORITHM OF COMPLEX DIAGNOSTICS OF TECHNICAL CONDITION OF BUILDING STRUCTURES ON THERMOGRAMS ANALYSIS
Authors: Karpov D.
Published: June 2020

the algorithm of complex diagnostics of a technical condition of building constructions and structures on the analysis of thermograms is offered. An attempt is made to systematize and logically build a sequence of stages of energy inspection of heat-consuming and heat-generating construction projects and their structural elements. The presented algorithm includes the main stages performed in such surveys. It differs from the known technologies of energy monitoring of buildings and structures by the presence of two additional stages, which are an integral part of any energy survey: determination of the relative surface humidity of building structures and the actual mass flow of coolant through the heating device for the analysis of thermal images. The implementation of energy (thermal imaging) and technical inspections according to the presented structural scheme requires not only the presence of appropriate instrumentation and measurement base, but also the involvement of highly qualified specialists (civil engineers, thermal power engineers, thermal physicists, operators-thermographers, etc.).
Weight Loss and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Advanced Cancer Patients Treated with Platinum-based Chemotherapy
Authors: Gao Hui , Liu Dong Bo , Tong Jin , Han Jing , Liu Bo , Zhu Si Xian , Huang Liu , Yao Ying , Yu Shi Ying , Fu Qiang
Published: June 2020

Objective

This study assessed the weight loss changes and gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with advanced tumors receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 297 patients with advanced cancers [124 gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients, 119 lung cancer patients and 54 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients] receiving first-line chemotherapy at Tongji Hospital. The patients’ changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), and biochemical parameters (serum haemoglobin and albumin levels) were compared before and after two chemotherapy cycles.

Results

More than half [54.88% (163/297)] of the patients had experienced unintentional weight loss in the 6 months before chemotherapy, and weight loss ≥ 5% and ≥ 10% of the body mass was noted in 35.69% and 20.20% of the patients, respectively. After two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy, the proportions of patients with a > 5% reduction in body weight among patients with GI, lung, and head and neck cancers were 47.5% (59/124), 44.53% (53/119), and 46.2% (25/54), respectively. The patients with GI and lung cancers were more vulnerable to extreme weight loss (≥ 10%) than those with HNC (P = 0.025). The serum hemoglobin levels were also remarkably decreased relative to those before chemotherapy (all P < 0.05). Common GI symptoms reported by all patients included anorexia (61.28%), vomiting (52.53%), and nausea (51.18%). A higher proportion of patients with ≥ 10% weight loss experienced anorexia and vomiting (OR = 12.21 and 3.61, P = 0.008 and 0.047, respectively).

Conclusions

For advanced cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy, the GI symptoms are the major factor related to their nutritional status. Appropriate nutritional screening, evaluation and treatment should be applied during the treatment of cancer in order to reduce GI symptoms and improve the patient’s nutritional status.
Disparities in Students’ Propensity to Consent to Learning Analytics
Authors: Li Warren , Sun Kaiwen , Schaub Florian , Brooks Christopher
Published: June 2020

Use of university students’ educational data for learning analytics has spurred a debate about whether and how to provide students with agency regarding data collection and use. A concern is that students opting out of learning analytics may skew predictive models, in particular if certain student populations disproportionately opt out and biases are unintentionally introduced into predictive models. We investigated university students’ propensity to consent to learning analytics through an email prompt, and collected respondents’ perceived beneﬁts and privacy concerns regarding learning analytics in a subsequent online survey. In particular, we studied whether and why students’ consent propensity diﬀers among student subpopulations by sending our email prompt to a sample of 4,000 students at our institution stratiﬁed by ethnicity and gender. 272 students interacted with the email, of which 119 completed the survey. We identiﬁed that institutional trust, concerns with the amount of data collection versus perceived beneﬁts, and comfort with instructors’ data access were key determinants in students’ decision to participate in learning analytics. We ﬁnd that students identifying ethnically as Black were signiﬁcantly less likely to respond and self-reported lower levels of institutional trust. Female students reported concerns with data collection but were also more comfortable with use of their data by instructors . Students’ comments corroborate these ﬁndings and we discuss the implications of these concerns on educational data collection.
Impacto de la educación superior en la movilidad social de un grupo de egresados de la Universidad de Antioquia
Authors: Brand Monsalve Edinson Gabriel , Guerra Zabala Víctor Daniel , Duque Mejía Carlos Arturo
Published: June 2020

El objetivo de este artículo es exponer los resultados de una investigación que valoró el impacto que tuvo la educación superior en la experiencia de vida de egresados de la Seccional Oriente, de la Universidad de Antioquia, en procura de aportar datos a más de tres décadas de presencia institucional en la región, en las que no se cuenta con ningún estudio a la fecha, desde esta perspectiva. En este estudio se implementó un modelo de investigación cuantitativo no experimental, basado en encuesta, para la medición de variables de tipo demográfico, socioeconómico, relacional, ocupacional y cultural. El instrumento estuvo constituido por 84 ítems, distribuidos en tres momentos de la trayectoria de vida de un grupo de 255 egresados: la vida antes de ingresar a la universidad, la experiencia de formación en la universidad, y el transcurso del ejercicio profesional. El principal hallazgo fue evidenciar que la formación superior posibilitó transformar dimensiones materiales y simbólicas de origen social de la población abordada y de sus grupos cercanos. El aporte central, además de los datos específicos, es el abordaje de la movilidad social, desde una perspectiva que, valorando las características económicas, considera factores culturales y relacionales.
PEMBANGUNAN KEPARIWISATAAN DAN PERUBAHAN SOSIAL
Authors: Morissan Morissan
Published: June 2020

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perubahan sosial yang terjadi pada masyarakat dimana wilayahnya dilaksanakan pembangunan kepariwisataan. Dengan menggunakan teori mengenai dampak sosiokultural sebagai akibat pembangunan kepariwisataan, studi ini meneliti kondisi masyarakat sebelum dan setelah pelaksanaan pembangunan kepariwisataan. Pertanyaan penelitian yang diajukan adalah: dampak positif atau negatif apa saja yang muncul sebagai akibat pembangunan kepariwisataan di suatu wilayah? Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan meta-analisis kualitatif dengan mempelajari berbagai laporan penelitian dalam bentuk jurnal ilmiah (journal database). Penelitian ini mempelajari perubahan yang terjadi pada masyarakat yang berada di 10 lokasi wista yang tersebar di seluruh Indonesia. Analisa data dilakukan dengan menggunakan analisis isi induktif (inductive content analysis). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat tiga dampak negatif pembangunan kepariwisataan di Indonesia yang terkait dengan keamanan, interaksi sosial dan adat-istiadat yang berkurang.
ADAPTASI MUSLIM MILENIAL DALAM PERJALANAN WISATA HALAL DI NEGARA NON-MUSLIM
Authors: Pratiwi Miftha , Andarini Rindang Senja
Published: June 2020

Meningkatnya populasi muslim millennial sebagai wisatawan turut mendorong pertumbuhan industri pariwisata. Pertumbuhan industri wisata ini diikuti oleh ketertarikan muslim millennial untuk mengunjungi negara-negara non-muslim sebagai destinasi wisata. Banyak negara non-muslim kemudian mengusung konsep pariwisata halal. Mereka menyesuaikan fasilitas dan layanan pariwisata sesuai kebutuhan dan karakter para muslim traveler. Penelitian ini fokus pada aspek sosiokultural yang turut andil dalam interaksi antarbudaya traveler dan destinasi yang dikunjungi. Melalui metode kualitatif, penelitian ini akan mengungkap dua hal (1) bagaimana interaksi antarbudaya antara muslim millennial dengan pelaku industri pariwisata halal di negara minoritas muslim (2) bagaimana fenomena adaptasi budaya yang terjalin. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus melalui wawancara mendalam dan analisis dokumen sebagai teknik pengumpulan dan analisis data. Narasumber yang dipilih adalah narasumber yang berada pada rentang usia millennial dan gemar berwisata ke negara-negara non-muslim. Studi ini menemukan bahwa para muslim traveler Indonesia memiliki tingkat toleransi dan adaptasi yang baik. Sekalipun konsep wisata halal yang ditawarkan dinegara-negara non-muslim masih terbatas, mereka mampu menikmati pengalaman wisata yang menyenangkan. Adapun beberapa hambatan yang dialami para muslim traveler Indonesia antara lain: culture shock, stereotip terhadap masyarakat Indonesia yang masih muncul, permasalahan kompetensi komunikasi yang disebabkan kendala bahasa.
IMPLEMENTASI SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE PADA PREDIKSI HARGA SAHAM GABUNGAN (IHSG)
Authors: Eka Patriya Eka
Published: June 2020

Saham adalah instrumen pasar keuangan yang banyak dipilih oleh investor sebagai alternatif sumber keuangan, akan tetapi saham yang diperjual belikan di pasar keuangan sering mengalami fluktuasi harga (naik dan turun) yang tinggi. Para investor berpeluang tidak hanya mendapat keuntungan, tetapi juga dapat mengalami kerugian di masa mendatang. Salah satu indikator yang perlu diperhatikan oleh investor dalam berinvestasi saham adalah pergerakan Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG). Tindakan dalam menganalisa IHSG merupakan hal yang penting dilakukan oleh investor dengan tujuan untuk menemukan suatu trend atau pola yang mungkin berulang dari pergerakan harga saham masa lalu, sehingga dapat digunakan untuk memprediksi pergerakan harga saham di masa mendatang. Salah satu metode yang dapat digunakan untuk memprediksi pergerakan harga saham secara akurat adalah machine learning. Pada penelitian ini dibuat sebuah model prediksi harga penutupan IHSG menggunakan algoritma Support Vector Regression (SVR) yang menghasilkan kemampuan prediksi dan generalisasi yang baik dengan nilai RMSE training dan testing sebesar 14.334 dan 20.281, serta MAPE training dan testing sebesar 0.211% dan 0.251%. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat membantu para investor dalam mengambil keputusan untuk menyusun strategi investasi saham.
IMPLEMENTASI DATA MINING UNTUK MENENTUKAN TINGKAT PENJUALAN PAKET DATA TELKOMSEL MENGGUNAKAN METODE K-MEANS CLUSTERING
Authors: Handoko Suhandio , Fauziah Fauziah , Handayani Endah Tri Esti
Published: June 2020

Perkembangan industri telekomunikasi saat ini sangat pesat karena telekomunikasi sudah menjadi kebutuhan utama bagi masyarakat sehingga banyak perusahaan yang bergerak di industry telekomunikasi. Banyaknya industry Telekomunikasi menuntut para pengembang untuk menemukan strategi atau suatu pola yang dapat meningkatkan penjualan dan pemasaran produk, salah satu strateginya adalah dengan memanfaatkan data transaksi. Paket data merupakan produk dibidang telekomunikasi. Proses Clustering saat ini masih di lakukan secara manual sehingga membutuhkan waktu, proses perhitungan dan ketelitian yang tinggi. Pada penelitian ini dibuat aplikasi berbasis website dengan tujuan untuk mempermudah Clustering data sehingga dapat digunakan sebagai referensi dalam perencanaan promosi produk telkomsel ke berbagai daerah. Metode yang digunakan untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut yaitu metode Clustering dengan menggunakan Algoritma K-Means. Algoritma K-Means merupakan algoritma pengelompokkan sejumlah data menjadi menjadi kelompok-kelompok data tertentu. Pada penelitian ini data penjualan dikelompokkan menjadi 3 yaitu data penjualan rendah, data penjualan sedang dan data penjualan tinggi. Pengujian clustering dengan algoritma K-Means pada aplikasi terhadap data transaksi penjualan paket telkomsel diperoleh persentase kesesuaian yaitu 100% dibandingkan dengan clustering manual.
APLIKASI PERHITUNGAN ESTIMASI REKAYASA HIDROLOGI SEBAGAI DASAR DESAIN REKAYASA BANJIR PADA SUNGAI CILIWUNG BERBASIS WEB
Authors: Darmayantie Astie , Siltya Amalia Indah , Hasanah Hana Nurbaiti , Soepomo Fani Yayuk
Published: June 2020

Perubahan pola cuaca yang ekstrim, salah satunya pada pola intensitas hujan, merupakan salah satu kontibutor terjadinya bencana hidrometerologi. Analisis pengalihragaman hujan dan rekayasa hidrologi dilakukan untuk memberikan gambaran terhadap desain rencana mitigasi bencana alam salah satunya adalah bencana banjir. Pada penelitian ini dibuat sebuah aplikasi berbasis web yang dapat dimanfaatkan dalam melakukan perhitungan estimasi desain rekayasa hidrologi, khususnya rekayasa banjir. Aplikasi yang dibangun memberikan hasil berupa estimasi nilai penurunan debit sesuai dengan jumlah sodetan, dan volume reservoir yang direncanakan. Aplikasi yang dibangun mampu membandingkan enam metode pendekatan Analisa distribusi frekuensi intensitas curah hujan rencana. Enam metode ini kemudian diuji menggunakan metode uji Smirnov-Kolmogorov untuk menentukan metode akhir yang digunakan. Berdasarkan penelitian ini, metode analisa distribusi gumbel memberikan hasil terbaik dalam pengujian kecocokan sebaran. Data hujan rencana yang dihasilkan dari perhitungan metode gumbel kemudian digunakan untuk menghasilkan Kurva Intensitas-Durasi-Frekuensi (IDF). Data ini selanjutnya digunakan untuk melakukan estimasi rekayasa hidrologi seperti, penurunan debit sungai dan volume reservoir serta jumlah sodetan. Pada aplikasi ini estimasi penurunan debit air rekayasa dengan dua skema perhitungan yaitu perhitungan untuk memperoleh nilai debit air sungai rekayasa sesuai dengan variabel desain normalisasi sungai yang direncanakan dan simulasi estimasi jumlah reservoir yang dibutuhkan berdasarkan jumlah sodetan dan penurunan debit yang diinginkan.
Characterization of laser-induced vibration on concrete surface toward highly efficient laser remote sensing
Authors: Mikami Katsuhiro , Hasegawa Noboru , Kitamura Toshiyuki , Okada Hajime , Kondo Shuji , Nishikino Masaharu
Published: June 2020

Laser remote sensing (LRS) using irradiation of high-power laser pulses provides characteristic vibrations (CVs) which are accompanied by internal deterioration. While the principle of LRS is the same as that of the traditional hammering inspection, optimizing the irradiation parameters of laser pulses for vibrating samples is essential for effective LRS. In this study, the frequencies and magnitudes of CVs on a concrete specimen exhibiting a mock inside defect were evaluated by laser pulse irradiation and pendulum impact. When laser pulses were irradiated, the magnitude of CVs increased linearly with increasing laser pulse energy, and higher-order vibration was observed. On the other hand, an optimal spot size was indicated by the non-linear correlation between the fluence and the magnitude of CVs. To obtain an effective LRS, we propose that both high laser fluence and an optimized laser spot size are essential.
ASPECTOS EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS DE HEPATITE B E C NO MUNICÍPIO DE CASCAVEL/PR NO PERÍODO DE 2013 A 2017
Authors: Berton Ana Beatriz Araujo , Cavalli Luciana Osório
Published: June 2020

As hepatites B e C são doenças que afetam o fígado e podem acarretar graves problemas se não diagnosticadas e tratadas de maneira correta e precocemente. Este estudo visa analisar o sexo, a faixa etária, a provável fonte de contaminação, a forma clínica em que os pacientes foram diagnosticados e a situação vacinal em que os mesmos se encontravam, no caso da hepatite B, notificadas no Departamento de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Secretaria de Saúde do Município de Cascavel/PR no período de 2013 a 2017, para que medidas sejam tomadas a fim de que haja redução dos casos dessas doenças no município e região, já que o oeste do Paraná tem alta taxa de prevalência das mesmas. Esse estudo demonstrou que nessa região o sexo afetado predominantemente foi o masculino e a provável fonte de contaminação foi a sexual, nos dois tipos de hepatite estudados.
PERFIL EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DO CÂNCER DE PULMÃO E BRÔNQUIOS EM RELAÇÃO AO TIPO HISTOLÓGICO UM ESTUDO EPIDEMIOLÓGICO NA CIDADE DE CASCAVEL-PR EM COMPARAÇÃO COM O PARANÁ
Authors: Bergamin Luana Pantano , Da Silveira Kauana , De Oliveira Juliano Karvat , Zanini Elaine De Oliveira
Published: June 2020

O câncer representa um problema de saúde pública tanto nos países desenvolvidos como nos países em desenvolvimento, especialmente o câncer de pulmão. Apesar de sua incidência vir diminuindo desde a década de 1980 para os homens e desde os anos 2000 entre as mulheres, ele ainda é responsável por grande letalidade no Brasil. Devido a extrema importância desse câncer em relação a morbimortalidade no mundo, o presente artigo tem como finalidade apresentar um estudo epidemiológico que analisa os fatores de risco (escolaridade, sexo, histórico de consumo de tabaco, faixa etária, histórico familiar, raça/cor e tipo histológico), os quais contribuem para o câncer de pulmão e brônquios, na cidade de Cascavel e no estado do Paraná entre os anos 2013 a 2017.
CONTRAST ENHANCED SUPERPIXEL BASED SEGMENTATION OF RETINAL IMAGES
Authors: Mano Abhisha
Published: June 2020

Contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization is applied to obtain local contrast enhancement.retinal blood vessels are segmented by minimum spanning superpixel tree detector.