bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IDENTIFIKASI JENIS TUMBUHAN OBAT TRADISIONAL DI KAWASAN HUTAN OLAT CABE DESA BATU BANGKA KECAMATAN MOYO HILIR KABUPATEN SUMBAWA BESAR
Authors: Jannah Husnul , Safnowandi Safnowandi
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this study was to identify the types of traditional medicinal plants in the Olat Cabe Forest Area of Batu Bangka Village, Moyo Hilir Subdistrict, Sumbawa Besar District. This type of research is explorative descriptive research. Descriptive research in this study was to reveal information about the types of traditional medicinal plants in the Olat Cabe Forest Area of Batu Bangka Village, Moyo Hilir Subdistrict, Sumbawa Besar District using the snowball sampling method. The approach used is a qualitative approach. The population in this study were all types of traditional medicinal plants found in the Olat Cabe Forest Area of Batu Bangka Village, Moyo Hilir Subdistrict, Sumbawa Besar District. While the samples in this study were traditional medicinal plants in the Olat Cabe Forest Area of Batu Bangka Village, Moyo Hilir Subdistrict, Sumbawa Besar District. Data collection techniques used are observation and interview. Data analysis techniques use univariate statistics such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and variance. The purpose of descriptive analysis is to find out the description or distribution of sample or population data. Descriptive analysis was chosen based on the measurement scale. For nominal and interval data, descriptive analysis techniques that can be done are only modes, while interval and ratio scale data can be done by all descriptive analysis techniques. The results of the study identified 40 types of medicinal plants, from 25 families and 40 genus types of medicinal plants commonly used by the community.
KEANEKARAGAMAN CAPUNG JARUM (ZYGOPTERA) DI TAMAN WISATA ALAM KERANDANGAN BATU LAYAR KABUPATEN LOMBOK BARAT
Authors: Rahmawati Lina , Fajri Siti Rabiatul , Armiani Sucika
Published: March 2020

Needle dragonflies are insects belonging to the Odonata order, sub-order Zygoptera. The purpose of the study was to determine the diversity of needle dragonfly and the type of needle dragonfly. This research was conducted in the Kerandangan Nature Tourism Park, West Lombok Regency in April 2019. This study used an entrapping or meshing method with a purposive sampling technique with sampling based on a consideration in which post 1 is a settlement and post 2 is a dense forest. The results showed that the needle dragonfly diversity index was categorized as being moderate in post 1 amounting to 1,220 and post 2 with a low category of 0,562.
PENGARUH ZAT KIMIA PADA BERBAGAI SUHU TERHADAP DENYUT JANTUNG KATAK (Rana sp.) DALAM UPAYA PENGEMBANGAN BUKU PETUNJUK PRAKTIKUM FISIOLOGI HEWAN
Authors: Purnamasari Sry , Setiyadi Muhammad Wahyu
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of chemicals on various temperatures in the heart of frogs (Rana sp.) And to compile valid animal physiology practical instructions. This research is a type of experimental research (true experimental) and this research approach is a qualitative approach. Samples were given 3 different treatments, namely controls with room temperature of 250C-300C, temperature of 00C-100C, and 300C-400C. The results of the study using ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) showed the effect of NaCl solution on the frog heart rate (Rana sp.) Namely Fcount of 5.18 while Ftable of 3.59 so that the results of this study were declared significant. While the effect of saline solution on the frog heart rate (Rana sp.) Is Fcount of 1.78 while Ftable is 3.59 so the results of this study are declared non-significant. So it can be concluded that, NaCl solution at various temperatures significantly influences the frog heart rate (Rana sp.), While saline solution at various temperatures does not significantly influence the frog heart rate (Rana sp.). The process of developing this animal physiology practical guide uses a 3-D development model, which consists of the define, design, and develope stages. The results of the study showed that the practicum instructions for animal physiology were valid, said to be valid because the practicum instructions prepared and developed had met the "valid" criteria.
SYNTHESIS OF NiO/ZnO NANOCOMPOSITES IN ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Authors: Sajjad Bakhtawar , Ali Umer , Nadeem Auswa , Noor Lubna , Farrukh Muhammad Akhyar
Published: March 2020

Ethylene glycol is solvent used in sol-gel method to synthesize NiO/ZnO nanocomposites. ZnCl2 along with NiCl2.6H2O were used as precursors during synthetization of NiO/ZnO nanocomposites. We used various techniques such as Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and particle size analysis for synthesis of the nanocomposites which confirm that these nanocomposites act as catalyst.
Synthesis of NiO/ZnO Nanoparticles using 2-Propanol Solvent and their Applications for Methylene Blue Degradation
Authors: Sajjad Bakhtawar , Nadeem Auswa , Hussain H. Tanzilla , Ali Shaista , Farrukh Muhamad Akhyar
Published: March 2020

T
he nanoparticles play a significant role in fabrication process which are used at large scale in various fields e.g., sensors, electronics drug delivery, optics, catalysis and in water purification process. Nanoparticles (NiO/ZnO) were synthesized using sol-gel technique. In this method, 2-propanol was taken to analyze the particle size. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of ZnO/NiO. Ultraviolet Visible (UV) data recorded a band gap for ZnO that was 4.1 eV while UV spectrum of methylene blue demonstrated a decrease in concentration of methylene blue while using NiO/ ZnO as catalyst.
Analisis Keterlambatan dan Efektifitas Kinerja Bongkar Muat Petikemas Terhadap Pendapatan Terminal Mirah
Authors: Widyawati Nur , Hinriyani Erlien
Published: March 2020

Penelitian ini dilaksanakan dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui keterlambatan dan efektifitas kinerja bongkar muat petikemas, untuk mengetahui pendapatan yang diperoleh terminal mirah cabang tanjung perak Surabaya. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis regresi linier berganda, dengan tujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh keterlambatan dan efektifitas kinerja bongkar muat petikemas terhadap pendapatan terminal mirah di PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero) Cabang Tanjung Perak.Berdasarkan hasil analisis dan pembahasan, bahwa variabel keterlambatan (X1) memiliki hubungan yang signifikan terhadap pendapatan (Y), variabel efektifitas kinerja bongkar muat secara parsial berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pendapatan dan keterlambaan (X1) dan efektifitas kinerja bongkar muat (X2) secara bersama - sama (simultan) memiliki hubungan yang signifikan terhadap variabel pendapatan (Y).
Connecting Ethnomathematics and Modelling: a mixed methods study to understand the dialogic approach of Ethnomodelling
Authors: Cortes Diego Pereira de Oliveira , Orey Daniel Clark
Published: March 2020

This research on ethnomodelling was conducted in both a state public school and in a local farmers’ market in a metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, in Brazil. The main objective of this study was to identify how dialogic approaches of ethnomodelling could contribute to the process of re-signification of function concepts learned by 38 students in the second year of high school during their interaction with a local farmer and his labor practices. Another objective was to understand the importance of cultural conceptions and elaboration of ethnomodels extracted from the mathematical practices developed by this farmer for use as a pedagogical action in the classrooms. For the data collection, three blocks of activities were used, two questionnaires (initial and final), a semi-structured interview with the farmer, a seminar with students and the farmer, and the teacher-researcher fieldnotes. The collected data, both of a quantitative and qualitative nature, were analyzed simultaneously with the use of the Mixed Method Study through a QUAN + QUAL design. After this analysis, qualitative data were quantified in order to enable the interpretation of the results through the elaboration of three categories School Environment, Out-of-School Environment and Dialogical Environment. The results of this study show that ethnomodelling provides an integrative approach to school mathematics curriculum by considering both the emic and etic mathematical knowledge through the development of a dialogic approach that shows the relevance of its cultural dynamism.
PERBANDINGAN MEKANISME SERTIFIKASI PRODUK HALAL ANTARA INDONESIA DENGAN MALAYSIA
Authors: Muhtadi Tubagus Yudi
Published: March 2020

Penelitian ini dimaksudkan untuk menggambarkanmekanisme pelaksanaan sertifikasi produk halal yang dilaksanakan oleh dua negara, yaitu Indonesia dan Malaysia.Pelaksanaan sertifikasi produk halal di Indonesia diselenggarakan oleh Badan penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH)yang sebelumnya dilaksanakan oleh LPPOM MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia) yang berawal dari gerakan masyarakat yang didukung negara. Tujuan utamanya adalah melindungi umat islam dari barang-barang haram. Sedangkan di Malaysia dilaksanakan oleh JAKIM (Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia). Terdapat perbedaan yang mendasar pelaksanaan sertifikasi halal yang dilaksanakan oleh kedua lembaga di dua negara berbeda ini, walaupun memiliki tujuan yang sama, yakni memberikan keamanan dan kepastian halal kepada masyarakat muslim di kedua negara tersebut dalam mengkonsumsi produk makanan dan minimunnya. Kajian ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka dengan memanfaatkan beragam literatur yang membantu menjelaskan permasalahan yang menjadi fokus kajian. Hasil kajian menerangkan bahwa proses perjalanan pelaksanaan sertifikasi halal baik di Indonesia maupun di Malaysia memiliki kemiripan, dimana semula sertifikasi dilaksanakan oleh bukan lembaga pemerintah kemudian diambil alih oleh lembaga pemerintah. Adapun yang membedakan adalah uji laboratorium dimana di Indonesia dilakukan oleh LPPOM MUI sedangkan di Malaysia dilaksanakan oleh laboratorium independen yang sudah terakreditasi.
‘The worst loups-garous that one can meet’: Reading the Werewolf in the Canadian ‘Wilderness’
Authors: Franck Kaja
Published: March 2020

Ginger Snaps (2000) has been recognised as a significant example of feminist horror. This article analyses the final film in the trilogy, Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning (2004). On first appearance, Ginger Snaps Back reacts to the ending of the first film, in which Brigitte kills her lupine sister Ginger. Set in the nineteenth century, the film draws on Canadian Gothic tropes with the two sisters trapped in an isolated fort, surrounded by frozen forest. In doing so, it echoes another Canadian werewolf narrative, Henry Beaugrand's ‘The Werwolves' (1898). Beaugrand's story opens with a group of settler-colonisers spending the Christmas period in Fort Richelieu, Quebec. This location evokes North American fears, and the representation of the wooded wilderness as full of wild beasts and wild men. Beaugrand collapses the ‘wild beasts’ and ‘wild men’ into one hybrid monster. By comparing the depiction of werewolves in Ginger Snaps Back and Beaugrand's story, this article uncovers the implications of ignoring and appropriating Native Canadian folklore.
Correction: Bennati et al. An Elastic Interface Model for the Delamination of Bending-Extension Coupled Laminates. Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 3560
Authors: Bennati Stefano , Fisicaro Paolo , Taglialegne Luca , Valvo Paolo S.
Published: March 2020

We, the authors, wish to make the following corrections to our paper [...]
Fast Planar Detection System Using a GPU-Based 3D Hough Transform for LiDAR Point Clouds
Authors: Tian Yifei , Song Wei , Chen Long , Sung Yunsick , Kwak Jeonghoon , Sun Su
Published: March 2020

Plane extraction is regarded as a necessary function that supports judgment basis in many applications, including semantic digital map reconstruction and path planning for unmanned ground vehicles. Owing to the heterogeneous density and unstructured spatial distribution of three-dimensional (3D) point clouds collected by light detection and ranging (LiDAR), plane extraction from it is recently a significant challenge. This paper proposed a parallel 3D Hough transform algorithm to realize rapid and precise plane detection from 3D LiDAR point clouds. After transforming all the 3D points from a Cartesian coordinate system to a pre-defined 3D Hough space, the generated Hough space is rasterised into a series of arranged cells to store the resided point counts into individual cells. A 3D connected component labeling algorithm is developed to cluster the cells with high values in Hough space into several clusters. The peaks from these clusters are extracted so that the targeting planar surfaces are obtained in polar coordinates. Because the laser beams emitted by LiDAR sensor holds several fixed angles, the collected 3D point clouds distribute as several horizontal and parallel circles in plane surfaces. This kind of horizontal and parallel circles mislead plane detecting results from horizontal wall surfaces to parallel planes. For detecting accurate plane parameters, this paper adopts a fraction-to-fraction method to gradually transform raw point clouds into a series of sub Hough space buffers. In our proposed planar detection algorithm, a graphic processing unit (GPU) programming technology is applied to speed up the calculation of 3D Hough space updating and peaks searching.
Influence of Surroundings on Radiant Tube Lifetime in Indirect-Fired Vertical Strip Annealing Furnaces
Authors: Büschgens Dominik , Karthik Narayana K. , Schmitz Nico , Pfeifer Herbert
Published: March 2020

The effects of surrounding radiation—emanating from radiation exchange with neighboring partners in indirect-fired vertical strip annealing furnaces, such as the other radiant tubes, the passing strip, and the enclosing furnace chamber—on the radiant tube lifetime were studied. In-house developed and validated numerical models were used to calculate the thermomechanical behavior, especially creep deformations and the corresponding stresses as lifetime indicating parameters. Different setups of recirculating P-type radiant tubes were investigated, including a reference case of an isolated tube. The investigations could be broadly classified into the study of the effects of different tube arrangements, burner operations (synchronous/asynchronous on/off firing), and changes of strip parameters (width/temperature). Results showed higher creep deformation of the central radiant tube in the setup with three tubes arranged horizontally in a row compared to three tubes stacked in a vertical column, even though the respective characteristic temperature values in a firing cycle were similar. Furthermore, the cases with asynchronous burner firing resulted in lower creep rates than other cases, where the burners were operating in synchronous on/off firing modes. In addition, the change of strip width had a higher impact on radiant tube lifetime compared to locally changing strip temperatures across the furnace. Alternating temperatures, caused by burner operation or process changes, such as change of strip’s speed or cross-section, and local temperature gradients were observed to be the main factors influencing the tube’s service life.
Seismic Performance Assessments of RC Frame Structures Strengthened by External Precast Wall Panel
Authors: Choi Seung-Ho , Hwang Jin-Ha , Han Sun-Jin , Joo Hyo-Eun , Yun Hyun-Do , Kim Kang Su
Published: March 2020

In recent years, a variety of strengthening methods have been developed to improve the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with non-seismic details. In this regard, this study proposes a new type of seismic strengthening method that compresses prefabricated precast concrete (PC) walls from the outside of a building. In order to verify the proposed method, a RC frame structure strengthened with precast walls was fabricated, and cyclic loading tests were performed. The results showed that specimens strengthened using the proposed method exhibited further improvements in strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity, compared to RC frame structures with non-seismic details. In addition, a nonlinear analysis method, capable of considering the flexural compression and shear behaviors of the walls, was suggested to analytically evaluate the structural behavior of the frame structures strengthened by the proposed method. Using this, an analysis model for frame structures strengthened with precast walls was proposed. Through the proposed model, the analysis and test results were compared in relation to stiffness, strength, and energy dissipation capacity. Then, the failure mode of the column was evaluated based on the pushover analysis. In addition, this study proposed a simplified analysis model that considered the placement of longitudinal reinforcements in shear walls.
Use of Deep Multi-Target Prediction to Identify Learning Styles
Authors: Gomede Everton , Miranda de Barros Rodolfo , de Souza Mendes Leonardo
Published: March 2020

It is possible to classify students according to the manner they recognize, process, and store information. This classification should be considered when developing adaptive e-learning systems. It also creates a comprehension of the different styles students demonstrate while in the process of learning, which can help adaptive e-learning systems offer advice and instructions to students, teachers, administrators, and parents in order to optimize students’ learning processes. Moreover, e-learning systems using computational and statistical algorithms to analyze students’ learning may offer the opportunity to complement traditional learning evaluation methods with new ones based on analytical intelligence. In this work, we propose a method based on deep multi-target prediction algorithm using Felder–Silverman learning styles model to improve students’ learning evaluation using feature selection, learning styles models, and multiple target classification. As a result, we present a set of features and a model based on an artificial neural network to investigate the possibility of improving the accuracy of automatic learning styles identification. The obtained results show that learning styles allow adaptive e-learning systems to improve the learning processes of students.
Conventional and Deep Learning Methods for Skull Stripping in Brain MRI
Authors: Rehman Hafiz Zia Ur , Hwang Hyunho , Lee Sungon
Published: March 2020

Skull stripping in brain magnetic resonance volume has recently been attracting attention due to an increased demand to develop an efficient, accurate, and general algorithm for diverse datasets of the brain. Accurate skull stripping is a critical step for neuroimaging diagnostic systems because neither the inclusion of non-brain tissues nor removal of brain parts can be corrected in subsequent steps, which results in unfixed error through subsequent analysis. The objective of this review article is to give a comprehensive overview of skull stripping approaches, including recent deep learning-based approaches. In this paper, the current methods of skull stripping have been divided into two distinct groups—conventional or classical approaches, and convolutional neural networks or deep learning approaches. The potentials of several methods are emphasized because they can be applied to standard clinical imaging protocols. Finally, current trends and future developments are addressed giving special attention to recent deep learning algorithms.
Genetic Algorithm for Scheduling Optimization Considering Heterogeneous Containers: A Real-World Case Study
Authors: Rivera Gilberto , Cisneros Luis , Sánchez-Solís Patricia , Rangel-Valdez Nelson , Rodas-Osollo Jorge
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we develop and apply a genetic algorithm to solve surgery scheduling cases in a Mexican Public Hospital. Here, one of the most challenging issues is to process containers with heterogeneous capacity. Many scheduling problems do not share this restriction; because of this reason, we developed and implemented a strategy for the processing of heterogeneous containers in the genetic algorithm. The final product was named “genetic algorithm for scheduling optimization” (GAfSO). The results of GAfSO were tested with real data of a local hospital. Said hospital assigns different operational time to the operating rooms throughout the week. Also, the computational complexity of GAfSO is analyzed. Results show that GAfSO can assign the corresponding capacity to the operating rooms while optimizing their use.
A Bioorthogonally Applicable, Fluorogenic, Large Stokes-Shift Probe for Intracellular Super-Resolution Imaging of Proteins
Authors: Németh Evelin , Knorr Gergely , Németh Krisztina , Kele Péter
Published: March 2020

Herein, we present the synthesis and application of a fluorogenic, large Stokes-shift (>100 nm), bioorthogonally conjugatable, membrane-permeable tetrazine probe, which can be excited at common laser line 488 nm and detected at around 600 nm. The applied design enabled improved fluorogenicity in the orange/red emission range, thus efficient suppression of background and autofluorescence upon imaging biological samples. Moreover, unlike our previous advanced probes, it does not require the presence of special target platforms or microenvironments to achieve similar fluorogenicity and can be generally applied, e.g., on translationally bioorthogonalized proteins. Live-cell labeling schemes revealed that the fluorogenic probe is suitable for specific labeling of intracellular proteins, site-specifically modified with a cyclooctynylated, non-canonical amino acid, even under no-wash conditions. Furthermore, the probe was found to be applicable in stimulated emission depletion (STED) super-resolution microscopy imaging using a 660 nm depletion laser. Probably the most salient feature of this new probe is that the large Stokes-shift allows dual-color labeling schemes of cellular structures using distinct excitation and the same detection wavelengths for the combined probes, which circumvents chromatic aberration related problems.
TLD1433 Photosensitizer Inhibits Conjunctival Melanoma Cells in Zebrafish Ectopic and Orthotopic Tumour Models
Authors: Chen Quanchi , Ramu Vadde , Aydar Yasmin , Groenewoud Arwin , Zhou Xue-Quan , Jager Martine J. , Cole Houston , Cameron Colin G. , McFarland Sherri A. , Bonnet Sylvestre , Snaar-Jagalska B. Ewa
Published: March 2020

The ruthenium-based photosensitizer (PS) TLD1433 has completed a phase I clinical trial for photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment of bladder cancer. Here, we investigated a possible repurposing of this drug for treatment of conjunctival melanoma (CM). CM is a rare but often deadly ocular cancer. The efficacy of TLD1433 was tested on several cell lines from CM (CRMM1, CRMM2 and CM2005), uveal melanoma (OMM1, OMM2.5, MEL270), epidermoid carcinoma (A431) and cutaneous melanoma (A375). Using 15 min green light irradiation (21 mW/cm2, 19 J.cm−2, 520 nm), the highest phototherapeutic index (PI) was reached in CM cells, with cell death occurring via apoptosis and necrosis. The therapeutic potential of TLD1433 was hence further validated in zebrafish ectopic and newly-developed orthotopic CM models. Fluorescent CRMM1 and CRMM2 cells were injected into the circulation of zebrafish (ectopic model) or behind the eye (orthotopic model) and 24 h later, the engrafted embryos were treated with the maximally-tolerated dose of TLD1433. The drug was administrated in three ways, either by (i) incubating the fish in drug-containing water (WA), or (ii) injecting the drug intravenously into the fish (IV), or (iii) injecting the drug retro-orbitally (RO) into the fish. Optimally, four consecutive PDT treatments were performed on engrafted embryos using 60 min drug-to-light intervals and 90 min green light irradiation (21 mW/cm2, 114 J.cm−2, 520 nm). This PDT protocol was not toxic to the fish. In the ectopic tumour model, both systemic administration by IV injection and RO injection of TLD1433 significantly inhibited growth of engrafted CRMM1 and CRMM2 cells. However, in the orthotopic model, tumour growth was only attenuated by localized RO injection of TLD1433. These data unequivocally prove that the zebrafish provides a fast vertebrate cancer model that can be used to test the administration regimen, host toxicity and anti-cancer efficacy of PDT drugs against CM. Based on our results, we suggest repurposing of TLD1433 for treatment of incurable CM and further testing in alternative pre-clinical models.
Potassium Ferrite as Heterogeneous Photo-Fenton Catalyst for Highly Efficient Dye Degradation
Authors: Zhang Xinghui , Geng Zhibin , Jian Juan , He Yiqiang , Lv Zipeng , Liu Xinxin , Yuan Hongming
Published: March 2020

In this work, hexagon-shaped potassium ferrite (K2Fe4O7) crystals with different sizes were prepared using the hydrothermal method. The crystals showed a narrow band gap of 1.44 eV, revealed by UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and was thus used as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst to degrade methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) in the presence of green oxidant H2O2 under visible-light irradiation. Among the investigated crystals, the as-prepared one with an average size of 20 µm (KFO-20) exhibited better photocatalytic activity due to its high surface area. When it was used as a photo-Fenton catalyst, 100% MB and 92% CV were degraded within 35 min. Moreover, the catalyst maintained high photocatalytic activity and was stable after four continuous cycles. The trapping experiments showed that the active hydroxyl radical (·OH) was dominant in the photo-Fenton reaction. Therefore, this new photo-Fenton catalyst has great potential for the photocatalytic degradation of dye contaminants in water.
Integrated and Networked Systems and Processes—A Perspective for Digital Transformation in Thermal Process Engineering
Authors: Maiwald Michael
Published: March 2020

Separation technology as a sub-discipline of thermal process engineering is one of the most critical steps in the production of chemicals, essential for the quality of intermediate and end products. The discipline comprises the construction of facilities that convert raw materials into value-added products along the value chain. Conversions typically take place in repeated reaction and separation steps—either in batch or continuous processes. The end products are the result of several production and separation steps that are not only sequentially linked, but also include the treatment of unused raw materials, by-products and wastes. Production processes in the process industry are particularly susceptible to fluctuations in raw materials and other influences affecting product quality. This is a challenge, despite increasing fluctuations, to deliver targeted quality and simultaneously meet the increasing dynamics of the market, at least for high value fine chemicals. In order to survive successfully in a changed environment, chemical companies must tread new paths. This includes the potential of digital technologies. The full integration and intelligent networking of systems and processes is progressing hesitantly. This contribution aims to encourage a more holistic approach to the digitalization in thermal process engineering by introduction of integrated and networked systems and processes.
Distributions You Can Count On …But What’s the Point?
Authors: McCabe Brendan P. M. , Skeels Christopher L.
Published: March 2020

The Poisson regression model remains an important tool in the econometric analysis of count data. In a pioneering contribution to the econometric analysis of such models, Lung-Fei Lee presented a specification test for a Poisson model against a broad class of discrete distributions sometimes called the Katz family. Two members of this alternative class are the binomial and negative binomial distributions, which are commonly used with count data to allow for under- and over-dispersion, respectively. In this paper we explore the structure of other distributions within the class and their suitability as alternatives to the Poisson model. Potential difficulties with the Katz likelihood leads us to investigate a class of point optimal tests of the Poisson assumption against the alternative of over-dispersion in both the regression and intercept only cases. In a simulation study, we compare score tests of ‘Poisson-ness’ with various point optimal tests, based on the Katz family, and conclude that it is possible to choose a point optimal test which is better in the intercept only case, although the nuisance parameters arising in the regression case are problematic. One possible cause is poor choice of the point at which to optimize. Consequently, we explore the use of Hellinger distance to aid this choice. Ultimately we conclude that score tests remain the most practical approach to testing for over-dispersion in this context.
Mindfulness and Executive Functions: Making the Case for Elementary School Practice
Authors: Ritter Anne , Alvarez Isabel
Published: March 2020

This study explores the use of mindfulness school-based intervention program in an elementary school. Mindfulness training is an accepted and effective didactic approach to improve the executive functions (EFs) of elementary school students. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Mind Yeti program on the executive functions of elementary school students. A diverse sample of third, fourth, and fifth grade elementary school students (n = 177) participated in their natural classroom setting, with six sessions per week for six weeks. Students self-reported their EFs on the Executive Function Student Questionnaire (EFSQ) pre- and posttest. Paired-sample t-tests indicated that students significantly improved on the three of the six EFs examined. Additionally, students in fifth grade responded better to Mind Yeti than students in third grade. Results were consistent with the hypothesis, suggesting that Mind Yeti is an appropriate and effective intervention for improving the EFs of students.
A Review on the Potential of Forest Biomass for Bioenergy in Australia
Authors: Van Holsbeeck Sam , Brown Mark , Srivastava Sanjeev Kumar , Ghaffariyan Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2020

The use of forest biomass for bioenergy in Australia represents only 1% of total energy production but is being recognized for having the potential to deliver low-cost and low-emission, renewable energy solutions. This review addresses the potential of forest biomass for bioenergy production in Australia relative to the amount of biomass energy measures available for production, harvest and transport, conversion, distribution and emission. Thirty-Five Australian studies on forest biomass for bioenergy are reviewed and categorized under five hierarchical terms delimiting the level of assessment on the biomass potential. Most of these studies assess the amount of biomass at a production level using measures such as the allometric volume equation and form factor assumptions linked to forest inventory data or applied in-field weighing of samples to predict the theoretical potential of forest biomass across an area or region. However, when estimating the potential of forest biomass for bioenergy production, it is essential to consider the entire supply chain that includes many limitations and reductions on the recovery of the forest biomass from production in the field to distribution to the network. This review reiterated definitions for theoretical, available, technological, economic and environmental biomass potential and identified missing links between them in the Australian literature. There is a need for further research on the forest biomass potential to explore lower cost and lowest net emission solutions as a replacement to fossil resources for energy production in Australia but methods the could provide promising solutions are available and can be applied to address this gap.
Predicting Frequency, Time-To-Repair and Costs of Wind Turbine Failures
Authors: Ozturk Samet , Fthenakis Vasilis
Published: March 2020

Operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and associated uncertainty, for wind turbines (WTs) is a significant burden for wind farm operators. Many wind turbine failures are unpredictable while causing loss of energy production, and may also cause loss of asset. This study utilized 753 O&M event data from 21 wind turbines operating in Germany, to improve the prediction of failure frequency and associated costs. We applied Bayesian updating to predict wind turbine failure frequency and time-to-repair (TTR), in conjunction to machine learning techniques for assessing costs associated with failures. We found that time-to-failure (TTF), time-to-repair and the cost of failures depend on operational and environmental conditions. High elevation (>100 m) of the wind turbine installation was found to increase both the probability of failures and probability of delayed repairs. Furthermore, it was determined that direct-drive turbines are more favorable at locations with high capacity factor (more than 40%) whereas geared-drive turbines show lower failure costs than direct-drive ones at temperate-coastal locations with medium capacity factors (between 20% and 40%). Based on these findings, we developed a decision support tool that can guide a site-specific selection of wind turbine types, while providing a thorough estimation of O&M budgets.
Do Oil and Gas Risk Factors Matter in the Malaysian Oil and Gas Industry? A Fama-MacBeth Two Stage Panel Regression Approach
Authors: Hoque Mohmmad Enamul , Low Soo Wah , Zaidi Mohd Azlan Shah
Published: March 2020

This study examines whether oil and gas risk factors are priced in the returns of Malaysian oil and gas stocks employing asset pricing model with improved version of Fama-MacBeth two-stage panel regression. The findings reveal that oil price risk, gas price risk, and exchange rate risk are priced factors in the returns of oil and gas stocks, alongside market-based risk factors. Oil price, gas price and exchange rate factors are found to be associated with positive risk premium implying that they are systematic risk factors in the Malaysian oil and gas industry. Investors demand compensation for exposure to changes in oil price, gas price and exchange rate, implying that the risk cannot be eliminated through diversification. The risk premium for common systematic risk factors such as market, book-to-market, and momentum factors are found to be negative. The results suggest that in the Malaysian oil and gas industry, momentum driven strategy produces negative returns and investors receive higher returns from investing in growth oriented oil and gas stocks. Our results offer implications for asset pricing and portfolio management.
Test and Modeling of the Hydraulic Performance of High-Efficiency Cooling Configurations for Gyrotron Resonance Cavities
Authors: Allio Andrea , Difonzo Rosa , Leggieri Alberto , Legrand François , Marchesin Rodolphe , Savoldi Laura
Published: March 2020

The design and manufacturing of different full-size mock-ups of the resonance cavity of gyrotrons, relevant for fusion applications, were performed according to two different cooling strategies. The first one relies on mini-channels, which are very promising in the direction of increasing the heat transfer in the heavily loaded cavity, but which could face an excessively large pressure drop, while the second one adopts the solution of Raschig rings, already successfully used in European operating gyrotrons. The mock-ups, manufactured with conventional techniques, were hydraulically characterized at the Thales premises, using water at room temperature. The measured pressure drop data were used to validate the corresponding numerical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, developed with the commercial software STAR-CCM+ (Siemens PLM Software, Plano TX, U.S.A.) and resulting in excellent agreement with the test results. When the validated models were used to compare the two optimized cooling configurations, it resulted that, for the same water flow, the mini-channel strategy gave a pressure drop was two-fold greater than that of the Raschig rings strategy, allowing a maximum flow rate of 1 × 10−3 m3/s to meet a maximum allowable pressure drop of 0.5 MPa.
Synthesis Gas Composition Prediction for Underground Coal Gasification Using a Thermochemical Equilibrium Modeling Approach
Authors: Otto Christopher , Kempka Thomas
Published: March 2020

Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an in situ conversion technique that enables the production of high-calorific synthesis gas from resources that are economically not minable by conventional methods. A broad range of end-use options is available for the synthesis gas, including fuels and chemical feedstock production. Furthermore, UCG also offers a high potential for integration with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. In the present study, a stoichiometric equilibrium model, based on minimization of the Gibbs function has been used to estimate the equilibrium composition of the synthesis gas. Thereto, we further developed and applied a proven thermodynamic equilibrium model to simulate the relevant thermochemical coal conversion processes (pyrolysis and gasification). Our modeling approach has been validated against thermodynamic models, laboratory gasification experiments and UCG field trial data reported in the literature. The synthesis gas compositions have been found to be in good agreement under a wide range of different operating conditions. Consequently, the presented modeling approach enables an efficient quantification of synthesis gas quality resulting from UCG, considering varying coal and oxidizer compositions at deposit-specific pressures and temperatures.
Formulation of Coefficient of Performance Characteristics of Water-cooled Chillers and Evaluation of Composite COP for Combined Chillers
Authors: Yamamoto Toru , Hayama Hirofumi , Hayashi Takao
Published: March 2020

The Coefficient of Performance of an ordinary water-cooled chiller is presented as a relationship with the chiller load factor and cooling water temperature. However, the cooling water temperature fluctuates according to the processed heat of the cooling tower originating in the cooling energy of the chiller and to the outside temperature and humidity. It is therefore difficult to obtain the cooling water temperature under the processed-heat and weather conditions at the time of evaluation. This, in turn, makes it difficult to determine the Coefficient of Performance of a water-cooled chiller at the evaluation time. In this research, we formulated the Coefficient of Performance of a water-cooled chiller as a relationship with the chiller load factor and specific enthalpy of outside air. Specifically, we used the Number of Transfer Units (NTU) model of a cooling tower to calculate the cooling water temperature corresponding to the cooling-tower load factor targeting a counterflow cooling tower for a range of values of outside-air specific enthalpy. This technique makes it possible to evaluate the Coefficient of Performance of a water-cooled chiller without determining the cooling water temperature. Furthermore, for the case of installing multiple units of chillers, it becomes possible to calculate the composite Coefficient of Performance of those chillers without having to determine the cooling water temperatures for the different operation load factors of those chillers. Moreover, since the composite Coefficient of Performance can be calculated by combining the different installation capacities of these chillers, the energy consumption of multiple chillers can be calculated at the basic planning stage.
Human Health Risk Assessment and Potentially Harmful Element Contents in the Cereals Cultivated on Agricultural Soils
Authors: Gruszecka-Kosowska Agnieszka
Published: March 2020

Potentially harmful element (PHE) contents were investigated in six species of cereals in southern Poland, with human health risk implications assessed afterwards. The PHE contents belonged to the following ranges (mg/kg wet weight): As below the limit of detection (<LOD)–0.013, Cd <LOD–0.291, Co <LOD–0.012, Cu 0.002–11.0, Hg <LOD–0.080, Ni <LOD–8.40, Pb <LOD–12.0, Sb <LOD–0.430, Tl <LOD–0.160, and Zn 5.47–67.7. The Pb and Cd contents exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) values for wheat, oat, rye, and barley in the Śląskie region. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BA) for the total PHE content in the soil indicated that cereals had no potential of PHE accumulation. Regarding the statistical daily consumption of cereals, the PHE intake rates, expressed as a percentage of permissible maximum total daily intake (% PMTDI), were the following: As 0.0003, Cd 0.193, Co 0.0003, Cu 0.075, Hg 0.424, Ni 3.94, Pb 3.16, Sb 0.23, Tl 0.27, and Zn 0.44. The total non-carcinogenic risk values (HQ) exceeded the target risk value of 1 for wheat (HQ = 13.3) and rye (HQ = 3.44). For other cereals, the total non-carcinogenic risk values decreased in the following order: barley (HQ = 0.47) > oat (HQ = 0.38) > maize (HQ = 0.02). The total non-carcinogenic risk value of the statistical daily consumption of cereals was acceptable low (HQ = 0.58). The acceptable cancer risk (CR) level of 1.0 × 10−5 investigated only for As was not exceeded under any of the intake scenarios. Concerning the mean As content in cereals consumed daily in statistical amounts the CR value was equal to 5.1 × 10−8. The health risk value according to the Pb content in cereals using the margin of exposure (MOE) approach was equal to 1.27, indicating an acceptable low risk.
Correction: Cherkaoui, M., Lollier, V., Geairon, A., Bouder, A., Larré, C., Rogniaux, H., Jamet, E., Guillon, F. and Francin-Allami, M. Cell Wall Proteome of Wheat Grain Endosperm and Outer Layers at Two Key Stages of Early Development. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 239
Authors: Cherkaoui Mehdi , Lollier Virginie , Geairon Audrey , Bouder Axelle , Larré Colette , Rogniaux Hélène , Jamet Elisabeth , Guillon Fabienne , Francin-Allami Mathilde
Published: March 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Curcumin Attenuates Both Acute and Chronic Immune Nephritis
Authors: Wu Tianfu , Marakkath Bindiya , Ye Yujin , Khobahy Elhaum , Yan Mei , Hutcheson Jack , Zhu Jiankun , Zhou Xinjin , Mohan Chandra
Published: March 2020

Curcumin is known to have immunomodulatory potential in addition to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. The aim of the present study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of curcumin on immune-mediated renal disease in an anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) model (representing acute kidney Injury, AKI) and murine lupus model (representing chronic kidney disease, CKD). In the AKI model, female anti-GBM 129/svj mice were administered with curcumin right before disease induction. In the CKD model, female MRL.lpr mice at the age of 8-10 weeks old were treated with curcumin or placebo via oral gavage daily for two months. After treatment, serum autoantibody levels, splenomegaly and spleen cellularity were reduced in murine lupus. Collectively, curcumin ameliorated kidney disease in the two mouse models with either acute or chronic nephritis, as marked by reduced proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, glomerulonephritis, crescent formation, tubule-interstitial disease, and renal infiltration by lymphocytes. In addition, curcumin treatment reduced activation of the NFkB, MAPK, AKT and pBAD pathways either systemically, or within the inflamed kidneys. These findings suggest that natural food supplements could become an alternative approach to ameliorating immune-mediated kidney diseases.
Conventional and Unconventional Therapeutic Strategies for Sialidosis Type I
Authors: Mosca Rosario , van de Vlekkert Diantha , Campos Yvan , Fremuth Leigh E. , Cadaoas Jaclyn , Koppaka Vish , Kakkis Emil , Tifft Cynthia , Toro Camilo , Allievi Simona , Gellera Cinzia , Canafoglia Laura , Visser Gepke , Annunziata Ida , d’Azzo Alessandra
Published: March 2020

Congenital deficiency of the lysosomal sialidase neuraminidase 1 (NEU1) causes the lysosomal storage disease, sialidosis, characterized by impaired processing/degradation of sialo-glycoproteins and sialo-oligosaccharides, and accumulation of sialylated metabolites in tissues and body fluids. Sialidosis is considered an ultra-rare clinical condition and falls into the category of the so-called orphan diseases, for which no therapy is currently available. In this study we aimed to identify potential therapeutic modalities, targeting primarily patients affected by type I sialidosis, the attenuated form of the disease. We tested the beneficial effects of a recombinant protective protein/cathepsin A (PPCA), the natural chaperone of NEU1, as well as pharmacological and dietary compounds on the residual activity of mutant NEU1 in a cohort of patients’ primary fibroblasts. We observed a small, but consistent increase in NEU1 activity, following administration of all therapeutic agents in most of the fibroblasts tested. Interestingly, dietary supplementation of betaine, a natural amino acid derivative, in mouse models with residual NEU1 activity mimicking type I sialidosis, increased the levels of mutant NEU1 and resolved the oligosacchariduria. Overall these findings suggest that carefully balanced, unconventional dietary compounds in combination with conventional therapeutic approaches may prove to be beneficial for the treatment of sialidosis type I.
Corporate Bankruptcy Prediction Model, a Special Focus on Listed Companies in Kenya
Authors: Ogachi Daniel , Ndege Richard , Gaturu Peter , Zoltan Zeman
Published: March 2020

Predicting bankruptcy of companies has been a hot subject of focus for many economists. The rationale for developing and predicting the financial distress of a company is to develop a predictive model used to forecast the financial condition of a company by combining several econometric variables of interest to the researcher. The study sought to introduce deep learning models for corporate bankruptcy forecasting using textual disclosures. The study constructed a comprehensive study model for predicting bankruptcy based on listed companies in Kenya. The study population included all 64 listed companies in the Nairobi Securities Exchange for ten years. Logistic analysis was used in building a model for predicting the financial distress of a company. The findings revealed that asset turnover, total asset, and working capital ratio had positive coefficients. On the other hand, inventory turnover, debt-equity ratio, debtors turnover, debt ratio, and current ratio had negative coefficients. The study concluded that inventory turnover, asset turnover, debt-equity ratio, debtors turnover, total asset, debt ratio, current ratio, and working capital ratio were the most significant ratios for predicting bankruptcy.