bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting on expansion of the microfinance industry in Pakistan
Authors: Azam Muhammad , Ahmad Haseeb , Sadeeque Junaid , Haroon Uzma
Published: August 2024

The main objective of the study is to explore the factors that affect the microfinance industry expansion in Pakistan. To attain the objective of the study we collected the data from the microfinance industry from 2010-2020. Our results show that there is a negative relationship between the previous year's log of the gross loan portfolio and the current year's log of the gross loan portfolio. There is a positive relationship between the loan amount disbursed and the log of the gross loan portfolio. The probability value of the log of loan amount disbursed is 0.2518 which is statistically insignificant. There is a negative relationship between the previous year's log of loan amount disbursed and the current year log of gross loan portfolio There is a positive relationship between the log of several active borrowers and the gross loan portfolio. There is a positive relationship between the previous year’s log of the number of active borrowers and the current year's log of gross loan portfolio. Microfinance is a sort of banking service that is provided to unemployed or low-income persons, and clusters who or else have no other right to use economic services Eventually, microfinance aims to provide low-income groups and circumstances become sovereign by providing a method to save money, the sponge money and obtain insurance.
Stolen Youth: Case Study on Psychological Effects of Parental Separation
Authors: Collantes Kalaya Enyana , Aurelia Desree Jan , Castillo Joemarc Jr. , Mangalindan Grethel Faye , Nicolas Deilayah Vasnie , Villarama Joseph
Published: August 2024

Family is the cradle of every person. It builds a foundation or core principles that a person carries throughout life. This study focuses on an in-depth investigation of the parent-child relationship, mental health, and academic life of a student with separated parents. This qualitative research was approached using a case study model and purposive sampling technique with one subject, after which semi-structured interviews were conducted through Google Meet, and then finally, results were analyzed thematically. Results revealed seven main themes with corresponding subthemes, such as, but not limited to, early independence, loss of a mother figure, and personal and academic life overlap. The parental separation negatively affected the subject, shown through depression, anxiety, abandonment and trust issues, exclusion, emotional isolation, self-harm attempts, and suicidal ideations. Negative impacts were also placed on the subject’s interest in building a future family, affecting academic life, as the subject unhealthily copes with being dismissive of emotions. The subject lost contact with their mother, leaving the residential father as the only parent figure; hence, he needs a genuine and comfortable environment, especially family-wise. Nonetheless, the subject could use the circumstances as fuel to succeed. The findings provide grounds for further research on the psychological effects of parental separation on students while emphasizing the importance of giving undivided attention to children during such a challenging time.
The Future of Legal English Learning: Integrating AI into ESP Education
Authors: Xatamova Nodiraxon , Ashurov Jahongir
Published: August 2024

This study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into English for Specific Purposes (ESP) education, specifically tailored for law students. The importance of ESP in developing legal communication skills is paramount, as it addresses the complexities of legal terminology and discourse. AI is positioned as a transformative tool in this context, offering personalized learning experiences, instant feedback, and advanced language support. The study involved a survey of 500 law students to assess the impact of AI-driven tools on their learning outcomes, particularly in legal vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and writing skills. Results indicate significant benefits from AI integration, including enhanced language proficiency and more effective communication skills essential for legal practice. However, the study also highlights concerns about data security and ethical use of AI, with significant differences observed in students' perceptions of these issues. The Chi-Square analysis confirmed these concerns, revealing statistically significant differences in responses related to satisfaction with privacy and perceptions of AI's ethical use. This research underscores the potential of AI to revolutionize ESP education for law students, while also calling for careful consideration of ethical and privacy issues. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on AI's role in legal education and suggest pathways for future research and development in this field.
LOGÍSTICA E SEUS PRINCIPAIS PILARES NA ATUALIDADE
Authors: Pinheiro Helen Sandy , Pinheiro Marijones , Paiva Paulo Sérgio
Published: August 2024

O seguinte resumo sobre a Logística e seus principais pilares na atualidade, buscaremos compreender de forma objetiva à perspectiva conceituais de forma fidedigna em relação ao nosso tema abordado. Através de método dialético, buscou-se efetuar pesquisas bibliográficas em livros, revistas e artigos científicos. Os resultados obtidos foram primordiais para contribuir na pesquisa do nosso tema. A conclusão da pesquisa introduz um grande volume de conhecimento na temática que foi abordada que correlaciona os aspectos da Logística e seus principais pilares na atualidade. Conforme Sousa (2006) “a redação do resumo de um artigo para publicação é uma etapa muito importante na comunicação dos resultados de uma pesquisa”.
CICLOPATRULHAMENTO: RADIOPATRULHAMENTO REALIZADO COM BICICLETAS
Authors: Tordoro Marcos Antonio
Published: August 2024

This study aims to bring the concept of Bicycle Patrol to the debate, as well as the circumstances of its use and aspects related to police approach in their daily operations. In this context, Community Policing is the basis for the application of this type of policing in urban areas of cities in Paraná and Brazil. Considerations on motorized and non-motorized radio patrols were also brought to this study, based on the author's professional experiences. Furthermore, the approach techniques and their principles were discussed, with the appropriate procedural sequence of actions to carry out a police approach, when carrying out Bicycle Patrols, with their developments and possibilities. In this context of police approach, it was made clear that there is no contradiction in carrying out police actions with rigor and being cordial during motorized or non-motorized radio patrols. Finally, the aim was to highlight the need to carry out police actions focused on prevention through Bicycle Patrols.
O IMPACTO DA SUPLEMENTAÇÃO PROTEICA NA SAÚDE E DESEMPENHO FÍSICO
Authors: Pereira João , Maglio Matheus , Borges Daniel
Published: August 2024

O presente artigo aborda diversos aspectos referentes ao uso de whey protein, suplemento proteico derivado do soro do leite, o qual é capaz de fornecer aminoácidos essenciais que auxiliam na reparação e no crescimento muscular. Assim, tem-se que o whey protein é consumido de forma bastante popular, especialmente entre os praticantes de atividade física, devido a praticidade do seu uso, além de rápida absorção e digestão. Aqui são apresentados uma gama de tópicos, incluindo os benefícios do whey protein, a digestão e absorção de proteínas, os mecanismos de síntese e degradação proteica, e o impacto hormonal no metabolismo proteico. Além disso, o artigo menciona preocupações sobre o uso indiscriminado e os possíveis efeitos adversos do whey protein na saúde, como impacto na função renal, hepática e microbiota intestinal. Como parte da discussão, aborda-se o fato de que muitos consumidores de suplementos proteicos fazem uso desses produtos sem orientação adequada, frequentemente baseando-se em recomendações de treinadores ou informações da internet, sem plena compreensão dos riscos associados ao consumo excessivo. Portanto, é preciso ressaltar a importância de uma orientação profissional adequada para o uso de suplementos e a necessidade de mais estudos sobre os efeitos a longo prazo da suplementação com whey protein. Além disso, seria relevante sugerir possíveis direções para futuras pesquisas no campo da suplementação alimentar e seus impactos na saúde e no desempenho físico.
Analysis of the Strength of Evidence of Witness a De-Charge Against the Judge's Decision Regarding the Release of the Defendant in a Tax Crime (Study of Decision Number 97/Pid.Sus/2023/PN Pdg)
Authors: Musta Arif Paria , Yulinda Kiki , Gantika Naldi
Published: August 2024

This research examines the strategic significance of defense witnesses in impacting judicial rulings in cases of tax offenses, as illustrated in Decision Number 97/Pid Sus/2023/PN Pdg. A defense witness is a witness enlisted by the accused to undermine or challenge the allegations put forth by the prosecution to lessen or acquit the accused from legal liabilities. In this particular instance, the defense witness delivered pivotal testimony indicating that a third party had settled the tax in question unbeknownst to the defendant. Such testimony played a critical role in the judicial deliberations, convincing the judge to establish that the essential requirements of the charges were not fulfilled, resulting in the defendant's total clearance. This examination reveals that the testimonial influence of defense witnesses carries substantial weight in the adjudicatory process, particularly in intricate scenarios like tax offenses, where robust and credible evidence holds utmost importance. The ruling of the judge to clear the accused stemmed from the non-fulfillment of the requisites causing financial loss to the state, as stipulated in Article 191 Paragraph (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Hence, the findings of this research affirm the vital and strategic function of defense witnesses in shaping the ultimate resolution of a criminal lawsuit, especially within tax legislation necessitating thorough and impartial scrutiny of evidence.
The Analysis Study of Prevalence, Risk Factor and Management of Persistent Pain in Intensive Care Survivors: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Authors: Kurniawan Agung Ganjar , Khairunnisa Shabrina
Published: August 2024

Background: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), encompass physical, cognitive, and mental health deficits that arise and persist following hospitalization for critical illness. This systematic review aims to evaluate the prevalence, risk factor and management of persistent pain in intensive care survivors by analyzing available studies on literatures of the last 10 years. Methods: The study adhered to PRISMA 2020 standards, examining English literature from 2014 to 2024. It excluded editorials, reviews from the same journal, and submissions without a DOI. PubMed, SagePub, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar were utilized as literature sources. Result: Initially retrieving 360 articles from online databases (PubMed, SagePub, SpringerLink and Google Scholar) eight relevant papers were selected after three rounds of screening for full-text analysis. Conclusion: A large proportion of ICU survivors suffer from physical, mental, and cognitive impairments. Holistic approach to post-ICU care, which includes pain management and psychological support, is essential for improving the overall quality of life of ICU survivors.
The Analysis Study of Association of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy and History of Tuberculosis : A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Authors: Putri Syifa Nabila , Pangestu Hedaya Pancar
Published: August 2024

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition affecting 1 in 1300 to 1 in 5,000 births, particularly in underdeveloped countries. It is characterized by difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, and fatigue. PPCM is more common in women with pre-eclampsia, chronic hypertension, smoking, alcohol abuse, advanced maternal age, malnutrition, long-term tocolysis, or a history of tuberculosis. Untreated PPCM increases the risk of complications like cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, heart failure, cardiopulmonary arrest, and mortality. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review concentrated on full-text English literature published between 2007 and 2024. Editorials and review articles that appeared in the same journal as the submission were not accepted without a DOI. A number of websites, including ScienceDirect, PubMed, and SagePub, were utilized to gather the literature. Result: The study looked at more than 1800 publications using reputable sources including Science Direct, SagePub, and PubMed. After it was decided that eight publications needed greater investigation, a more extensive review of the entire literature was carried out. Conclusion: Pregnancy can lead to the development of Peripartum cardiomyopathy, a potentially fatal disorder, often diagnosed after delivery due to symptoms mimicking normal physiological findings. Tuberculosis, a common cause of maternal and fetal morbidity, often occurs during pregnancy. Diagnosis is often delayed due to overlapping symptoms and clinician reluctance, necessitating coordination between healthcare providers and community services.
Sistem Informasi Manajemen Pengelolaan Nilai Siswa pada SMK Hikmah Yapis Jayapura
Authors: Nurhayati Siti , Suharto Emilda , Tonggiroh Mursalim , Sah Andrian
Published: August 2024

Pengolahan nilai siswa, seperti nilai harian, nilai penilaian tengah semester (PTS) dan nilai Penilaian Akhir Semester (PAS) pada SMK Hikmah masih menggunakan aplikasi Microsoft Excel yang memiliki kekurangan, yakni terformatnya setiap kolom ataupun baris yang ada akan menyebabkan penggabungan nilai dari penambahan materi jika struktur kurikulum berganti, belum terintegrasi dari guru ke guru lainnya membuat pemberian informasi nilai masih menggunakan  flash disk sehingga waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk mengolah nilai cukup lama, presensi siswa masih menggunakan buku presensi, aplikasi tidak menyediakan proses pengolahan nilai harian. Maka diperlukan sebuah sistem informasi manajemen nilai siswa  yang dapat mengolah semua nilai siswa dengan mengintegrasikan setiap alur pada proses pengolahan nilai siswa. Adapun metode yang digunakan untuk menganalisis permasalahan serta memberikan solusi dari permasalahan tersebut adalah metode PIECES, metode perancangan yang digunakan adalah UML. Dari penelitian ini dihasilkan Sistem Informasi Manajemen Pengelolaan  Nilai Siswa yang mengintegrasikan nilai antar guru sehingga dapat mengefektifkan waktu dalam mengolah nilai siswa.
E-COMMERCE PADA TOKO JAYA ELEKTRONIK
Authors: Aulia Haris Riza Nabilah , Widiyantoro M Riandi , Robo Salahudin
Published: August 2024

Jaya elektronik adalah salah satu perusahaan yang bergerak dibidang elektronik di jayapura yang menjual berbagai elektronik. Sistem penjualan online akan berdampak lebih efisien dalam melakukan transaksi penjualan elektronik sehingga akan menghemat waktu dan pelanggan juga dapat melakukan pembayaran secara online dengan pembayaran via transfer atau bisa juga pembayaran langusng (bayar ditempat), menggunakan metode analisi PIECES, melakukan perancangan menggunakan metode Unified Modelling Language (UML), sehingga dari permasalahan tersebut memerlukan sebuah system penjualan dan persediaan berbasis website.
Sistem Informasi Penjualan Hewan Ternak pada Distrik Skanto Kabupaten Keerom
Authors: Jusmawati Jusmawati , Ali Nur Hidayat Muhammad , Tonggiroh Mursalim , Taher Jufri Muhammad
Published: August 2024

Distrik Skanto merupakan sebuah Distrik yang masuk wilayah administratif dari Kabupaten Keerom, mayoritas penduduknya bekerja sebagai peternak hewan. Namun kondisi penjualan hewan ternak pada Distrik Skanto saat ini masih menggunakan cara tradisional, karena kesulitan mencari pembeli, peternak hanya dapat menjual hewan ternaknya kepada pedagang hewan lokal, yang biasanya akan membeli hewan ternak dengan harga yang rendah. Padahal disisi lain ada sebagian orang juga yang sedang mencari hewan ternak, namun tidak bisa membeli langsung kepada peternak yang ingin menjual ternaknya.  Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pengumpulan data yaitu observasi, wawancara dan studi pustaka, menggunakan metode analisis PIECES yang terdiri dari (Performance, Information, Economy, Control, Efficiency, Service), sistem yang akan dibangun adalah pemrograman berorientasi objek sehingga metode perancangan yang cocok digunakan adalah pemodelan Unifield Modelling Language (UML), metode pengembangan sistem yang digunakan adalah Waterfall, pengujian sistem yang digunakan adalah Blackbox. Sistem Informasi penjualan hewan ternak yang dihasilkan dapat memudahkan pengelola dan peternak dalam memanajemen data produk dan mempromosikan hewan ternak yang dimilikinya.
Pengaruh Kompetensi Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pada Dinas Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Kabupaten Ogan Komering Ulu Timur
Authors: Nur Jumriatunnisah  , Aurantia Marina
Published: August 2024

The aim of this research is to determine the extent of the influence of competence on employee performance at the East Ogan Komering Ulu Regency Education and Culture Service, with a total sample of 54 people using the saturated sampling method. Meanwhile, for hypothesis testing, a quantitative approach is used by distributing questionnaires with the aim of obtaining data that can be analyzed accurately and the results can be generalized. The results of this research show that competency has a significant effect on employee performance at the East Oku Education and Culture Service.
Pengaruh Teknologi Informasi dan Pengalaman Terhadap Pengelolaan Keuangan Pada Usaha Mikro
Authors: Ridwan Effendi  , Aurantia Marina  , Nur Jumriantunnisah  , Ahmad Zarkasih  , Muhammad Zulkarnain
Published: August 2024

Usaha mikro merupakan usaha yang banyak dilakukan oleh masyarakat saat ini. usaha mikro dilakukan karena berbagai hal, seperti minim modal, tidak memiliki kegiatan, memiliki keinginan untuk memperoleh pendapatan. Walaupun usaha mikro dianggap sangat kecil, akan tetapi bila dikelola dengan baik akan memberikan pendapatan dan dapat berkembang menjadi usaha kecil, menengah maupun usaha skala besar. untuk itu pengelolaan keuangan dapat dipengaruhin oleh berbagai hal seperti teknologi informasi dan juga pengalaman usaha. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh teknologi informasi dan pengalaman usaha terhadap pengelolaan keuangan pada usaha mikro di Kecamatan Ilir Barat Kota Palembang. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode kuantitatif dengan sumber data dari kuesioner penelitian. Sementara sampel yang digunakan adalah sebanyak 30 usaha mikro yang merupakan usaha makanan dan telah mengelola keuangan dengan menggunakan teknologi informasi serta memiliki masa usaha lebih dari 5 tahun. teknik analisis data menggunakan regresi linier berganda.  Hasil penelitian diperoleh bahwa teknologi informasi dan pengalaman usaha secara parsial dan simultan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap pengelolaan keuangan pada usaha mikro yang ada di Kecamatan Ilir Barat Kota Palembang.
Analisis Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Peningkatan Penjualan UMKM (Studi Kasus “OH MY PIE CROFFLE”)
Authors: Marti Utari  , Lailatur Rahmi  , Ferizka Tiara Devani  , Egga Asoka  , Zulkarnain Muhammad
Published: August 2024

Di era globalisasi dan perkembangan teknologi informasi, usaha mikro, kecil dan menengah (UMKM) memegang peranan penting dalam perekonomian suatu negara. UMKM tidak hanya berkontribusi dalam penciptaan lapangan kerja, tetapi juga menjadi sumber inovasi di berbagai sektor, termasuk industri kuliner. Salah satu tren kuliner yang sedang berkembang saat ini adalah produk croffle yang merupakan perpaduan antara croissant dan waffle. Pesatnya pertumbuhan industri croffle menunjukkan potensi besar bagi UMKM yang fokus pada produk ini. Namun untuk memanfaatkan peluang tersebut, UMKM perlu memahami faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi penjualan croffle. Pemahaman mendalam terhadap faktor-faktor tersebut akan membantu UMKM mengoptimalkan strategi pemasarannya, meningkatkan kualitas produk, dan meningkatkan kepuasan pelanggan. Meskipun terdapat penelitian sebelumnya yang menyelidiki faktor penjualan dalam konteks UMKM, namun penelitian yang spesifik pada UMKM kecil masih terbatas. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengisi kesenjangan pengetahuan tersebut dengan menganalisis faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi peningkatan penjualan pada UMKM Croffle. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat memberikan wawasan berharga dalam mengembangkan strategi bisnis UMKM kecil yang efektif dan berkelanjutan
Optimalisasi Pemberian Bantuan Hukum bagi Aparatur Sipil Negara yang Tersangkut Persoalan Hukum di Kota Lhokseumawe
Authors: Herlin
Published: August 2024

Indonesia merupakan negara hukum (Pasal 1 ayat (2) UUD 1945) yang memiliki kewajiban untuk melakukan perlindungan dan pengakuan akan hak asasi manusia dari setiap individu atau warga negaranya. Negara mengakui dan melindungi serta menjamin hak asasi setiap orang/individu sebagai warga negara atas perlakuan yang sama dihadapan hukum (equality before the law), termasuk seorang Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) yang terjebak dalam masalah hukum saat melaksanakan tugas negara dengan mempertimbangkan asas praduga tak bersalah. Penelitian ini hadir untuk meneliti pengaturan pemberian bantuan hukum bagi Aparatur Sipil Negara yang tersangkut permasalahan hukum di Kota Lhokseumawe. Dengan menggunakan metode penelitian yuridis empiris, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa antuan hukum yang diberikan oleh Pemko Lhokseumawe hanya dilakukan pada tingkat penyidikan dan penyelidikan sementara pada proses persidangan di Pengadilan Tipikor Banda Aceh Tanggal 1 April 2024 dengan agenda pembacaan dakwaan terhadap para terdakwa, para terdakwa yang merupakan ASN Pemko Lhokseumawe tidak didampingi oleh kuasa hukum yang diberikan Pemko Lhokseumawe. Seharusnya selama proses hukum terhadap para terdakwa, pendampingan hukum yang diberikan oleh Pemerintah Kota Lhokseumawe juga dilakukan secara komprehensif dalam semua tingkatan, baik penyidikan, penyelidikan maupun penuntutan.
Transparent, Stimuli‐Responsive Films from Cellulose‐Based Organogel Nanoparticles
Authors: Wang Yonggui , Heim Lars‐Oliver , Xu Yeping , Buntkowsky Gerd , Zhang Kai
Published: January 2015

The use of bio‐based nanoscaled cellulose for the construction of novel functional materials has progressed rapidly over the past years. In comparison to most of studies starting with the hydrophilic nanoscaled cellulose, surface‐stearoylated cellulose nanoparticles (SS‐CNPs) are used in this report for the construction of multifunctional, responsive films. SS‐CNPs with an average size of 115 ± 0.5 nm are obtained after the surface‐modification of cellulose under heterogeneous conditions. Crystalline cellulose core is present within SS‐CNPs according to solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. SS‐CNPs show excellent dispersibility in nonpolar solvents and form temperature‐responsive organogels in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at low temperature or after long time storage at room temperature. Moreover, transparent and self‐standing films of SS‐CNPs from their THF‐suspension show solvent‐responsive surface wettability and responsive shape‐memory property. SS‐CNPs can also be used for the fabrication of nanocomposite films together with nonpolar compounds, such as (2‐stearoylaminoethyl) rhodamine B. Thus, these novel SS‐CNPs derived from sustainable cellulose fibers are promising candidates for the construction of novel functional materials.
Lokalisierung eines mechanochemischen Bindungsbruchs durch Einbettung des Mechanophors in einen Makrocyclus
Authors: Schütze Doreen , Holz Katharina , Müller Julian , Beyer Martin K. , Lüning Ulrich , Hartke Bernd
Published: January 2015

Mechanophore besitzen eine mechanisch labile Bindung, die durch eine äußere mechanische Kraft gebrochen werden kann. Mithilfe eines Rasterkraftmikroskops (atomic force microscope, AFM) kann die anliegende Kraft quantitativ gemessen und kontrolliert werden. Hier berichten wir über die Synthese eines Makrocyclus, der den Mechanophor sowie eine aliphatische Kohlenwasserstoffkette enthält, die beim Bindungsbruch im Mechanophor als “Sicherheitsleine” fungiert. Diese Ringöffnungsmechanophoreinheit ist zwischen Polyethylenglykol‐Spacermolekülen eingebettet, um kraftspektroskopische Einzelmolekülstudien zu ermöglichen. Der Längenzuwachs beim Bruch des Mechanophors wird gemessen und mit quantenchemischen Rechnungen verglichen.
Bioinspired Super‐Wettability from Fundamental Research to Practical Applications
Authors: Wen Liping , Tian Ye , Jiang Lei
Published: January 2015

Engineered wettability is a traditional, yet key issue in surface science and attracts tremendous interest in solving large‐scale practical problems. Recently, different super‐wettability systems have been discovered in both nature and experiments. In this Review we present three types of super‐wettability, including the three‐dimensional, two‐dimensional, and one‐dimensional material surfaces. By combining different super‐wettabilities, novel interfacial functional systems could be generated and integrated into devices for use in tackling current and the future problems including resources, energy, environment, and health.
Microconfinement effect on gas barrier and mechanical properties of multilayer rigid/soft thermoplastic polyurethane films
Authors: Huang Rongzhi , Chari Priyakrit , Tseng Jung‐Kai , Zhang Guojun , Cox Mark , Maia Joao M.
Published: January 2015

In this article, rigid/soft thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) films were produced via layer‐multiplying co‐extrusion and the effect of confinement on morphology and gas barrier and mechanical properties is studied. The soft TPU, which is 52% hard‐segment, shows phase separation, while the rigid, 100% hard‐segment TPU exhibits amorphous structures. Even though the viscosity ratio of the two TPUs is over 10 and the elasticity ratio around 100, optical and atomic force microscopies show that a multilayer structure was successfully achieved. Then, the multilayer TPU films were uni‐axially stretched to different amounts of deformations, from 0% to 300%. DSC and WAXS results show that microconfinement occurs during orientation, which causes a significant reduction in oxygen permeability of multilayer TPU films, when stretched at 75%, by comparison to the mono and bi‐layer TPU. The dependence of gas barrier properties on temperature and deformation was also investigated, and a 100% improvement in elongation at break was found when compared to films of the rigid TPU. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41849.
Synthesis of polyacrylonitrile/polystyrene latex particles that contain platinum
Authors: Yang Yuzhen , Daniels Eric S. , Klein Andrew
Published: January 2015

Studies on the incorporation of highly dispersed platinum (Pt) nanoparticles into proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) as a possible catalyst have gained tremendous attention in the past decade. The major obstacle to fully commercialize PEMFCs is the high cost of Pt as the catalyst. In this study, the incorporation of highly dispersed platinum molecules into poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) or polystyrene (PS)/PAN latex particles was carried out to form a possible a catalyst precursor for fuel‐cell applications. Pt‐containing PAN/PS particles were prepared using miniemulsion polymerization. Both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and induction coupled plasma (ICP) measurements indicated that Pt salt was encapsulated into PAN/PS copolymer latex particles. In addition, the encapsulation percentages of Pt salt are all above 90% for different PAN/PS ratios. Additional experiments have been carried out to convert these Pt molecules into nanoparticles and will be elaborated upon subsequent studies. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41933
Highly sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescence determination of cholesterol utilizing a functional electrode with a core–shell nanostructure
Authors: Li Wei , Ge Junying , Zhao Changzhi
Published: January 2015

A highly sensitive and selective method for the determination of cholesterol is required to evaluate trace amounts of cholesterol in test samples. In this work, selected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and 5‐amino‐2‐mercapto‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole (AMT) were used and a thin film of three‐dimensional gold–AMT core–shell nanoparticles (p‐AMT–AuNPs) was prepared using an electrochemical method. Cholesterol oxidase was then bonded to the film surface to give a functional electrode. Based on catalysis by the electrode functionalized for cholesterol and a luminol–H2O2 electrochemiluminescence (ECL) system, a highly sensitive and selective ECL method was developed for the determination of cholesterol. Under optimized conditions, ECL intensity showed a good linear relationship with cholesterol over the concentration range 0.05–11.0 µg/ml, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 and a limit of detection of 0.02 µg/ml. The proposed method was used to determine cholesterol in dairy products with a relative standard deviation of < 1.8% and recovery rates of 98.1–104%. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NF‐κB, CRE and YY1 elements are key functional regulators of CMV promoter‐driven transient gene expression in CHO cells
Authors: Brown Adam J. , Sweeney Bernie , Mainwaring David O. , James David C.
Published: January 2015

Transient gene expression (TGE) in CHO cells is utilized to produce material for use in early stage drug development. These systems typically utilize the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter to drive recombinant gene transcription. In this study, we have mechanistically dissected CMV‐mediated TGE in CHO cells in order to identify the key regulators of this process. An in silico analysis of the promoter composition of transcription factor regulatory elements (TFREs) and the CHO cell repertoire of transcription factors identified eight TFREs as likely effectors of CMV activity. We determined the regulatory function of these elements by preventing their cognate transcription factors from binding at the CMV promoter. This was achieved by both scrambling promoter binding site sequences and using decoy molecules to sequester intracellular transcription factors. We determined that the vast majority of CMV activity is mediated by just two discrete TFREs, showing that simultaneous inhibition of NF‐κB and CRE‐mediated transactivation reduced CMV‐driven transient secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) production by over 75%. Further, we identified a mechanism by which CMV‐mediated TGE is negatively regulated in CHO cells, showing that inhibition of YY1‐mediated transrepression increased SEAP production 1.5‐fold. This work enables optimization and control of CMV‐mediated TGE in CHO cells, in order to improve transient protein production yields.
Prognostic impact of lymph node metastasis in distal cholangiocarcinoma
Authors:   Nagoya Surgical Oncology Group, Kiriyama M , Ebata T , Aoba T , Kaneoka Y , Arai T , Shimizu Y , Nagino M , Shimoyama Y , Fukami Y , Miyake H , Sakamoto E , Takara D , Shirai K , Ohira S , Tojima Y , Hashimoto M , Akutagawa A , Yamaguchi R , Morofuji N , Kawahara T , Asaba Y , Mizuno S , Kawai S , Yamamoto H , Ikuta K , Matsubara H , Watanabe T
Published: January 2015

Background

The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic impact of lymph node metastasis in cholangiocarcinoma using three different classifications.

Methods

Patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma in 24 hospitals in Japan between 2001 and 2010 were included. Survival was calculated by means of the Kaplan–Meier method and differences between subgroups were assessed with the log rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of survival. χ2 scores were calculated to determine the cut-off value of the number of involved nodes, lymph node ratio (LNR) and total lymph node count (TLNC) for discriminating survival.

Results

Some 370 patients were included. The median (range) TLNC was 19 (3–59). Nodal metastasis occurred in 157 patients (42·4 per cent); the median (range) number of involved nodes and LNR were 2 (1–19) and 0·11 (0·02–0·80) respectively. Four or more involved nodes was associated with a significantly shorter median survival (1·3 versus 2·2 years; P = 0·001), as was a LNR of at least 0·17 (1·4 versus 2·3 years; P = 0·002). Involvement of nodes along the common hepatic artery, present in 21 patients (13·4 per cent), was also associated with a shorter survival (median 1·3 versus 2·1 years; P = 0·046). Multivariable analysis among 157 node-positive patients identified the number of involved nodes as an independent prognostic factor (risk ratio 1·87; P = 0·002).

Conclusion

The number of involved nodes was a strong predictor of survival in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma.
Design and development of a two‐dimensional system based on hydrophilic and reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with on‐line sample treatment for the simultaneous separation of excreted xenobiotics and endogenous metabolites in urine
Authors: García‐Gómez Diego , Rodríguez‐Gonzalo Encarnación , Carabias‐Martínez Rita
Published: January 2015

In the present work we describe a two‐dimensional liquid chromatographic system (2D‐LC) with detection by mass spectrometry (MS) for the simultaneous separation of endogenous metabolites of clinical interest and excreted xenobiotics deriving from exposure to toxic compounds. The 2D‐LC system involves two orthogonal chromatographic modes, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) to separate polar endogenous metabolites and reversed‐phase (RP) chromatography to separate excreted xenobiotics of low and intermediate polarity. Additionally, the present proposal has the novelty of incorporating an on‐line sample treatment based on the use of restricted access materials (RAMs), which permits the direct injection of urine samples into the system. The work is focused on the instrumental coupling, studying all possible options and attempting to circumvent the problems of solvent incompatibility between the RAM device and the two chromatographic columns, HILIC and RP. The instrumental configuration developed, RAM‐HILIC‐RPLC‐MS/MS, allows the simultaneous assessment of urinary metabolites of clinical interest and excreted compounds derived from exposure to toxic agents with minimal sample manipulation. Thus, it may be of interest in areas such as occupational and environmental toxicology in order to explore the possible relationship between the two types of compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A highly sensitive method for the quantification of fludrocortisone in human plasma using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and its pharmacokinetic application
Authors: Banda Jagadeesh , Lakshmanan Ramalingam , Vvs Shiva Prasad , Gudla Srinibas Patro , Prudhivi Rosaiah
Published: January 2015

A simple and high sensitive ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of fludrocortisone in human plasma was developed and validated as per guidelines. The analyte and internal standard (IS), fludrocortisone‐d5, were extracted from human plasma via liquid–liquid extraction using tert‐butyl methyl ether. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Chromolith RP18e column using a mixture of acetonitrile and 2 mm ammonium formate (70:30, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Quantitation was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer employing electrospray ionization technique, operating in multiple reaction monitoring and positive ion mode. The precursors to product ion transitions monitored for fludrocortisone and IS were m/z 381.2 → 343.2 and 386.2 → 348.4, respectively. The assay was validated with linear range of 40–3000 pg/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions (relative standard deviation) were within 0.49–7.13 and 0.83–5.87%, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic studies in humans. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of tamoxifen urinary metabolites in rat by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Domínguez‐Romero Juan C. , García‐Reyes Juan F. , Beneito‐Cambra Miriam , Martínez‐Romero Rubén , Martinez‐Lara Esther , Del Moral‐Leal María L. , Molina‐Díaz Antonio
Published: January 2015

Tamoxifen (TMX) is a nonsteroidal estrogen antagonist drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. It is also included in the list of banned substances of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited in and out of competition. In this work, the excretion of urinary metabolites of TMX after a single therapeutic dose administration in rats has been studied using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography electrospray time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐TOFMS). A systematic strategy based on the search of typical biotransformations that a xenobiotic can undergo in living organisms, based on their corresponding molecular formula modification and accurate mass shifts, was applied for the identification of TMX metabolites. Prior to UHPLC‐TOFMS analyses, a solid‐phase extraction step with polymeric cartridges was applied to urine samples. Up to 38 TMX metabolites were detected. Additional collision induced dissociation (CID) MS/MS fragmentation was performed using UHPLC‐QTOFMS. Compared with recent previous studies in human urine and plasma, new metabolites have been reported for the first time in urine. Metabolites identified in rat urine include the oxygen addition, owing to different possibilities for the hydroxylation of the rings in different positions (m/z 388.2271), the incorporation of two oxygen atoms (m/z 404.2220) (including dihydroxylated derivatives or alternatives such as epoxidation plus hydroxylation or N‐oxidation and hydroxylation), epoxide formation or hydroxylation and dehydrogenation [m/z 386.2114 (+O –H2)], hydroxylation of the ring accompanied by N‐desmethylation (m/z 374.2115), combined hydroxylation and methoxylation (m/z 418.2377), desaturated TMX derivate (m/z 370.2165) and its N‐desmethylated derivate (m/z 356.2009), the two latter modifications not previously being reported in urine. These findings confirm the usefulness of the proposed approach based on UHPLC‐TOFMS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics of pain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Hanisch Frank , Skudlarek Anika , Berndt Janine , Kornhuber Malte E.
Published: January 2015

Background

Pain is an often underestimated and neglected symptom in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

In a cross‐sectional survey, 46 patients with ALS, 46 age‐ and gender matched population‐based controls, and 23 diseased controls with myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) were screened for occurrence, type, distribution, and treatment of pain and cramps. Data were collected with the use of the short form brief pain inventory (BPI).

Results

Pain was reported in 78% of ALS patients,79% of DM2 patients, and 54% of controls (P < 0.05). More ALS patients than controls reported moderate to severe pain (42% vs. 20%). Pain in ALS patients interfered significantly more with daily activities than in controls (median pain interference score: 3.0 vs. 1.2, P < 0.05), especially enjoyment of life (5.0 vs. 1.0) and mood (3.0 vs. 1.0). There was no correlation between the duration of the disease and the severity of pain. Movement‐induced cramps were reported in 63% of ALS patients, mostly in the distal extremities. There was no difference in the duration of ALS disease between patients reporting cramps and those who did not.

Discussion

Our study showed that pain was a relatively frequent symptom which had an important impact on the quality of life. Pain that requires treatment can occur at every stage of ALS.
Depression, anxiety disorders, and metabolic syndrome in a population at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kahl Kai G. , Schweiger Ulrich , Correll Christoph , Müller Conrad , Busch Marie‐Luise , Bauer Michael , Schwarz Peter
Published: January 2015

Background

Depressive symptoms have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but less is known about anxiety disorders that can be comorbid or exist without depression.

Methods

We evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in subjects consecutively examined at an outpatient clinic for diabetes prevention who were at‐risk for T2DM, defined by FINDRISK scores, and compared metabolic syndrome (MetS) frequencies between subjects with and without psychiatric morbidity, entering also relevant variables for MetS into multivariate analyses. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Psychiatric diagnosis was confirmed using a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV.

Results

Of 260 consecutively screened subjects, 150 (56.9 ± 8.1 years old, males = 56.7%, BMI = 27.2 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were at‐risk for T2DM and were included. MetS, present in 27% of males and 25% of females, was significantly associated with having a current anxiety disorder (P < 0.001) and lifetime major depression (P < 0.001). In logistic regression analysis, MetS was significantly associated with lifetime major depression, presence of any anxiety disorder, body weight, and physical activity.

Conclusions

Our data in a high‐risk group for T2DM support the association between depressive disorders and MetS, pointing to a similar role of anxiety disorders. Screening for anxiety and depression is recommended in this group at risk for T2DM.
Inhibition of RANKL‐dependent cellular fusion in pre‐osteoclasts by amiloride and a NHE10‐specific monoclonal antibody
Authors: Mine Yuichi , Shuto Takahiro , Nikawa Hiroki , Kawai Toshihisa , Ohara Masaru , Kawahara Kazuko , Ohta Kouji , Kukita Toshio , Terada Yoshihiro , Makihira Seicho
Published: January 2015

The functions of Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) during osteoclastic differentiation were investigated using the NHE inhibitor amiloride and a monoclonal antibody (MAb). Compared with sRANKL‐stimulated control cells, amiloride decreased the number of large TRAP‐positive osteoclast cells (OCs) with ≥10 nuclei and increased the number of small TRAP‐positive OCs with ≤10 nuclei during sRANKL‐dependent osteoclastic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells. NHE10 mRNA expression and OC differentiation markers were increased by sRANKL stimulation in dose‐ and time‐dependent manners. NHEs 1–9 mRNA expression was not increased by sRANKL stimulation. Similar to amiloride, a rat anti‐mouse NHE10 MAb (clone 6B11) decreased the number of large TRAP‐positive OCs, but increased the number of small TRAP‐positive OCs. These findings suggested that inhibition of NHEs by amiloride or an anti‐NHE10 MAb prevented sRANKL‐promoted cellular fusion. The anti‐NHE10 MAb has the potential for use as an effective inhibitor of bone resorption for targeted bone disease therapy.
Variable moving windows based non‐Gaussian dissimilarity analysis technique for batch processes fault detection and diagnosis
Authors: Li Yuan , Zhang Xinmin
Published: January 2015

In this paper, a novel variable moving windows based non‐Gaussian dissimilarity analysis technique is developed to handle the challenges related to the batch processes such as non‐linearity, non‐Gaussianity and time‐varying dynamics. First, the independent component analysis (ICA) models are developed on the normal reference data sets and the monitored data sets to extract the dominant independent component subspaces through a variable moving windows strategy. Then, non‐Gaussian dissimilarity indices are computed to evaluate the statistical independency of the extracted IC subspaces at each specific time interval. Thus, the process non‐Gaussian features are fully captured and the process trajectories distribution information of batch‐to‐batch is quantitatively estimated for online process monitoring. Further, the non‐Gaussian contribution index based on the mutual information is introduced to identify the variables that may be responsible for the process abnormality. The reliability and validity of the proposed method are verified on the fed‐batch Penicillin Fermentation process. The application results present superior fault detection and diagnosis performance compared with the PCA dissimilarity, MPCA and MICA approaches.
PEGASUS DA framework for distributed program execution control based on application global states monitoring
Authors: Tudruj Marek , Borkowski Janusz , Kopański Damian , Laskowski Eryk , Maśko Łukasz , Smyk Adam
Published: January 2015

The paper presents basic design decisions taken in the implementation of a novel distributed program design framework Program Execution Governed by Asynchronous SUpervision of States in Distributed Applications (PEGASUS DA). This framework supports application program execution control design based on evolved automated program global states monitoring. The framework provides to a programmer a ready‐to‐use infrastructure for defining and handling local and global application states to be used as the basis for program execution control decisions. The paper presents how the provided infrastructure can be used for automated construction of strongly consistent application global states. Also, the use of global states for graphically supported specification of distributed program execution control is covered for clusters of multicore processors based on multithreading and message passing. Both architecture and implementation solutions applied for PEGASUS DA are discussed. Especially, multivariant algorithms for construction of program strongly consistent global states and methods for their use in the design of distributed program global execution control are shown. The use of PEGASUS DA is illustrated with an example of a traveling salesman problem solved by the branch and bound method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transformations for early reply and forward message passing mechanisms
Authors: Olsson Ronald A. , Keen Aaron W. , Williamson Todd
Published: January 2015

Message passing notations (language, package, etc.) typically include some form of asynchronous or synchronous invocation. In a synchronous invocation, the invoker waits for the invocation's servicer to pass back results. Some message passing notations also include early reply or deferred reply (including forwarding), which alters how and when the servicer passes back its results; this additional flexibility is useful in realistic applications. It is well known how to transform a synchronous invocation into only asynchronous invocations. This paper extends such transformations to early reply and forward. This paper also describes the use of these transformations within the implementations of programming notations. Using the transformation simplifies the implementation without significantly affecting run‐time costs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.